Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish

by Beth Ferry, Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

A joyful picture book that celebrates every kid's favorite day of the year, full of adorable art from the illustrator of Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site and I Wish You More.

The most important rule is #1: It must be your birthday.

After that's been established, a crew of hilarious animals help picture book pros Tom Lichtenheld and Beth Ferry take readers through a joyous romp that covers the most important elements of every year's most essential holiday, including singing; closing your eyes and making a wish; blowing out candles on a cake, then settling into bed and dreaming of your wish coming true.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Storytime, Fiction, Holiday

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2019

About the author

Beth Ferry is the author of the picture books Stick and Stone and Land Shark. Her family has cared for myriad pets, including two land sharks, a hedgehog, a blue-tongued skink, and a heap of hamsters, but her absolutely perfect pet is an English bulldog named Winston. She lives in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book throws in some jokes that adults can catch while being for kids. I appreciate that.

Example: There is a cartoon of an insect birthday party and the caption of one bug is saying about a bug playing Pin the Stinger on the Human “No Fair, she has compound eyes!” I thought it was funny and I had to explain it to the nephew and he told me that it wasn’t funny.

This story makes 10 rules out of the Birthday ritual. It’s cute with all different kinds of animals throughout the story. There are Bugs and monsters and so many things. So, the nephew thought this was a great book.

This is fun and cute and would be a great book for a kid who is coming up on a birthday to get them excited for the day.

The nephew loves birthdays and just had one. This book got him thinking about his next birthday. He gave this 5 stars today. There were so many rules and pictures he really enjoyed. He wants a copy so he can check the rules off each year.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a cute premise and amusing illustrations, but in the wrong hands, it could be a recipe for disappointment. Why? Because it could make kids think they're entitled to a birthday party with fancy desserts, decorations, lots of friends, and loud singing... all of which are deemed absolutely necessary for making the birthday wish. So if your parents don't have the means to throw you a party and/or you don't have any friends, you're out of luck. No wishes for you.

This could've worked if the tone hadn't been so... authoritative. But there's no room for improvising to fit realistic needs. Showing kids that they could've had a proper birthday wish if only they'd followed all these rules to the letter (when some of them might not have been possible given economic, social, or even medical reasons) seems a bit cruel.

The illustrations are fun, and there are cute little touches throughout. But I just don't like the "all or nothing" attitude this book espouses. The only way to make a birthday wish, according to this book, is to follow all of its rules. Let's try not to taunt kids with things that they--for whatever reason--might not be able to have.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

خییلی بانمک بو‌د
هی وسطش خندت میگیره از چیزای باحالش😂😍

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Beth Ferry and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld, who previously collaborated on Stick and Stone , join forces again in this lighthearted picture-book examination of making a birthday wish. Setting out the ten rules involved in such a wish, from having a party to keeping one's longing secret, they conclude with the birthday bear heading to bed, with the hope that the wish will come true...

A sweetly engaging "guidebook" style narrative is paired with colorful, expressive artwork in Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish. Although the covers features a giraffe prominently - for some reason, I get asked for giraffe picture-books a lot, at work - the animal cast inside includes all kinds of species, with no one particular individual predominating. This isn't really a story, but it will undoubtedly find an audience, especially with those looking for birthday-related picture-books.

[Mim_farahani · Rating 4 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی:
ده قانون خیلی مهم برای تولد

خیلی بامزه بود :))

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rousing and joyful account of why everyone's birthday is worth celebrating. I love how every rule has an exception...don't they all...and how each of us is encouraged to celebrate in our own special way. Makes you want to put on your favorite hat, bake some cupcakes, and have a party!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld as they take you into the world of birthday celebrations. Somehow they manage to cover all of the animal kingdom with their ten rules for birthdays. It's delightful fun.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a colorful, active, and wordy book that shows many different animals going through the traditional birthday celebration in a variety of ways.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests, these are the ten rules of making a birthday wish. Most rules have exceptions, though. For example, you should have balloons, unless you are a rhinoceros or swordfish. And most people celebrate every year. …unless their life cycle is only a week or one day long. Then they should celebrate immediately. HAHA! The illustrations were done in pencil, watercolor, colored pencil, and pastel.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute :)

[Zahra Labbafan · Rating 2 out of 5]

نقاشی هاش قشنگ‌ بود

ترجمه که از فاطمه شمسی نشر پرتقال خوندم خیلی خوب نبود

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody loves a birthday party! Did you know there were rules to follow? Beth Ferry has written a delightful picture book text outlining the ten rules of a birthday wish. They are all quite obvious – it must be your birthday, you much have a party, and more. I love the illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld. He used pencil, watercolor, colored pencil and pastel to create them. The characters in his pictures are all animals. The artwork is festively done and adds to the story. I think kids will enjoy these illustrations as well as the story. It really is a fun book.

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is on my list for Mock Caldecott 2020! I can’t wait to share it with my students.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and funny, and involves a lot of the "rules" I was told when I was a kid. (All in one breath, keep it secret!)
However, I'm not sure I like the YOU MUST HAVE A PARTY and THERE MUST BE A CAKE because not every kid wants these things and not every family can give these things to their kids and I don't want anybody to read this book and feel sad that their wish doesn't count.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birthday wishes are so important at a birthday party! In this book are ten rules for making that wish the best it can be. Fun story with fabulous, bright illustrations.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Funny. Traditional. Colorful. Might be a fun read before you have a party. But make sure you've read before to make sure YOU follow the rules (i.e. have time to get everything together! )

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun moments in this one and the illustrations are really nice, but you definitely DON’T have to follow all the rules.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is a children's picture book written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. It is about a series of animals demonstrating how to observe a birthday properly through ten rules. Since today is my birthday, I thought it would be apropos in reading this picture book today.

Ferry's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. She lists ten rules in order to have a birthday wish with many amendments to each rule stated. It is a humorous book that is rather fun to read. Lichtenheld's exuberant mixed-media illustrations offer all the fun of a birthday fete, and images of cartoon critters partying in their own way.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Despite listing ten rules for a proper birthday wish, it is immediately and amusingly becomes clear that every rule has exceptions. Despite not following most of these rules, I still made a birthday wish regardless.

All in all, Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is a wonderfully humorous guidebook on how to make birthday wishes.

[Danielle H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I would recommend to every parent who is looking for something to bring in to read in their child’s classroom.

[Jennifer J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun to read birthday book

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There are, there most definitely are, 10 very specific, tried and true, and absolutely essential Rules For The Making of the Birthday Wish."

Up next is Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish According to Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld. You may recognize Beth Ferry as the children's author behind titles such as Land Shark and Stick and Stone (also with Tom Lichtenheld!); while Tom Lichtenheld is an author-illustrator behind popular titles such as Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (written by Sherri Duskey Rinker), and I Wish You More (written by Amy Krouse Rosental). In Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish, readers are taken through the ten specific rules, with each of the rules containing important side notes and some major caveats that are essential to making a perfect birthday wish. Readers may be delighted to find that they have been following some if not all of the rules; but perhaps the most surprising and giggle-inducing component of the rules are the notes, digressions and accompanying illustrations. For example, if you are a pufferfish celebrating a birthday, you cannot follow rule number seven of taking a deep breath because, well, "then you will puff out and all your guests will be concerned"! Overall, what a wonderful treat of a picture book this is; laugh out loud funny and super charming. Lichtenheld's immediately recognizable art style is, as ever, appealingly bold and exuberant, matching Ferry's wonderfully smooth, supremely engaging and energetic storytelling. Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is a fun, easy-to-enjoy ride, making it a good read aloud pick for smaller storytime or school groups (probably late preschool, or Kindergarten and up). Readers who are looking for and/or simply love a great book about birthdays or parties, or stories along the lines of When's My Birthday?, Hooray for Hat!, Xander's Panda Party, or A Piece of Cake, Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is a splendidly funny, sweet and witty story- for birthday time, for any time...and for any age!

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute pictures, but I felt conflicted. We don't turn the lights off before we blow out the candles . . . so I found out I am a rule breaker? Wondering how children will feel if there are things on the list they do not do. So while I really appreciate the idea of the book, I didn't end up loving it as much as I wanted to.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is absolutely no way to stop it. It arrives every year on the same day at the same time and it leaves not a second earlier or later than it should. A lot of individuals can hardly wait for the date. A few choose to ignore it

In some households it is a cause for a special event. It's a time to honor the celebrant. There might be a party. There might be games. There might be special food. And there might be gifts. Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish (G. P. Putnam's Sons, February 12, 2019) written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld focuses on one of the most significant elements of observing a birthday.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are delightful and there is a lot of humor intertwined throughout the story. I did like how the elements of a traditional birthday start out as human, but then get connected to insects and animals. However, I didn't like birthdays being celebrated with "rules" and "must haves". With that language, it isolates students who celebrate birthdays in other ways. It also makes me think of students who don't get to celebrate with parties and cakes for various reasons and birthdays actually become a stressful time instead of one for celebration. I like what this book is trying to do, but feel it leaves out more children than it includes.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun birthday present this book would be to a young reader who loves a good party. This is a terrific list of all of the "rules" of celebrating a birthday properly. The lively, colorful illustrations and the humorous informational style make this a fun book to have on the shelf everyday, not just birthdays. This could be a fun mentor text for young writers who want to write their own books of rules.

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers ten rules that must be followed when making a birthday wish. While the rules may be familiar to children, the author adds humor by explaining the exceptions to each rule. For example, rhinos, swordfish, and other pointy animals may want to skip the balloons. Young readers will relate to the idea of making birthday wishes, and the illustrations add even more humor. This is a book kids will want to read again and again.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I love the humor, illustrations, language, and animal jokes, I agree with many goodreads reviewer comments that this might not work as a read aloud. I know Precious Child and many other charities collect birthday cakes and candles so that families can give their children the "traditional" American birthday party. I did appreciate that presents were not included. I also liked the emphasis on the Bithday WISH.

[Great Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Ferry does a marvelous job going through the ten rules of celebrating your birthday. Each rule has a hilarious illustration to match the page. All ten rules are paired with an animal and how that particular animal might use the rules on their special day. A definite must read with any toddler/preschooler that enjoys their birthday. Reviewer: 6

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun counting down book about birthday rules. The illustrations are big and fun with bug life cycles, party plans, kinds of birthday cake, singing, lots of interesting guests, making the wish and blowing out the candles. And then you hope for the wish to come true. Colorful and many different animals included in the illustrations to talk about.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious--just so funny and voicey! This book details all the rules of making a birthday wish (and exceptions to the rules--like don’t take a deep breath if you’re a puffer fish, for example, and don’t blow out the candles if you’re a camel because you'll get spit everywhere). (also is this the same illustrator who does Groovy Joe? Those dinosaurs looked familiar...)

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age: Preschool+

There are ten tried and true rules for the making of an excellent birthday wish. Along the way, there may be some exceptions to these rules such as the whale's exemption to rule number 4: "You must have a light to blow out" or the pufferfish exemption to rule number 7: "You must take a deep breath." A unique, funny, and intriguing addition to the birthday shelf. Divine!