What do you think?
Rate this book
When's My Birthday?
when’s my birthday?
where’s my birthday?
how many days until my birthday?
i’d like a big cake on my birthday
with lots of chocolate on my birthday
and lots of candles on my birthday
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6! In this joyous celebration of all things BIRTHDAY, acclaimed author Julie Fogliano and award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson bring you the perfect birthday book! Join our excited narrator in breathless anticipation as she lists all the things that will make her birthday the BEST birthday.
where’s my birthday?
how many days until my birthday?
i’d like a big cake on my birthday
with lots of chocolate on my birthday
and lots of candles on my birthday
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6! In this joyous celebration of all things BIRTHDAY, acclaimed author Julie Fogliano and award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson bring you the perfect birthday book! Join our excited narrator in breathless anticipation as she lists all the things that will make her birthday the BEST birthday.
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2017
5 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Julie Fogliano
14 books150 followersJulie Fogliano has spent her entire life reading children's books. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and three children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
August 11, 2017
Thank you to the #kidlitexchange network for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. This book will be released 9.5.17!!!
This is such a cute, short book that centers around the buzz and excitement a young child has anticipating their birthday. Parents can easily identify with the numerous one sentenced questions and ideas that are brought up throughout the story. I often turned to my daughter and commented that it reminded me of someone. Having just celebrated her seventh birthday, she giggled and looked back at me innocently. I could easily relate to the page where the narrator was inviting anyone and anything they came across to their party.
We really loved the chart at the end that asks "When's Your Birthday?" My daughter enjoyed pointing out the months and dates of all of her loved ones. We also loved the unique size of this book as well as the pastel and muted colors of the mixed media illustrations.
This is such a cute, short book that centers around the buzz and excitement a young child has anticipating their birthday. Parents can easily identify with the numerous one sentenced questions and ideas that are brought up throughout the story. I often turned to my daughter and commented that it reminded me of someone. Having just celebrated her seventh birthday, she giggled and looked back at me innocently. I could easily relate to the page where the narrator was inviting anyone and anything they came across to their party.
We really loved the chart at the end that asks "When's Your Birthday?" My daughter enjoyed pointing out the months and dates of all of her loved ones. We also loved the unique size of this book as well as the pastel and muted colors of the mixed media illustrations.
September 22, 2017
You can just feel the excitement coming out of this one! As a parent, though, I would expect it could get old quick after reading it aloud a dozen times.
September 7, 2017
I feel like this book could quickly become as annoying as a child constantly wondering when his/her birthday is. I kind of wanted a character in the book to be like, YOUR BIRTHDAY IS FOREVER AWAY STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. Instead, the book ends with a little birthday party. Ask when your birthday is for long enough, and eventually it will be your birthday.
The illustrations are adorable, especially the animals, like the giraffe and the sloth who are invited to the birthday party.
The end has a cute little chart of months and numbers to help a child show when their birthday is. (Mine is today!)
The illustrations are adorable, especially the animals, like the giraffe and the sloth who are invited to the birthday party.
The end has a cute little chart of months and numbers to help a child show when their birthday is. (Mine is today!)
November 29, 2022
I love this book so much. I recently read it for a virtual story time (the week after my birthday because of some unforeseen scheduling difficulties), and it was such a joy. The text is so ebullient and it is a true pleasure to read aloud. I read it for my birthday, but it would also be a good January story time book to kick off the year and talk about everyone's birthday.
November 7, 2017
Could this book possibly be more perfect?!
February 19, 2020
If your child loves birthdays as much as my son loves them then they will like this
August 28, 2017
It's one day out of three hundred sixty-five days when you (and family and friends, if you are fortunate) celebrate your presence on our planet. Every year on the day you were born, depending on the customs of your country and traditions within your family or among your friends, it's a time usually filled with gifts, fabulous food and the merry-making of memories. On this day, for children, their essence seems to glow.
For many gals and guys, they start the countdown to their next birthday on the morning after the previous birthday. They leave hints about presents they would love to receive. They repeatedly mention their favorite foods. And they secretly begin a list of wishes if they know they will have a cake with birthday candles. When's My Birthday? (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, September 5, 2017) written by Julie Fogliano with illustrations by Christian Robinson is a lively look at a child who can hardly wait for their birthday to arrive.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
For many gals and guys, they start the countdown to their next birthday on the morning after the previous birthday. They leave hints about presents they would love to receive. They repeatedly mention their favorite foods. And they secretly begin a list of wishes if they know they will have a cake with birthday candles. When's My Birthday? (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, September 5, 2017) written by Julie Fogliano with illustrations by Christian Robinson is a lively look at a child who can hardly wait for their birthday to arrive.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
January 13, 2024
Format can make the difference in a book, and the choice of a tall, narrow format just doesn't work well here. And I like the retro art, but I don't think that it succeeds in combination with the text, (which is all in lower case letters) or has good flow. A disappointing book from someone capable of something much better, which makes it all the sadder. Especially since there aren't that many good birthday books out there!
November 3, 2017
Infectiously bouncy and hopeful, perfectly capturing the uncertainty, joy, and wishful imagining of a small child.
July 26, 2020
There is no denying that birthday excitement may be one of the most universal experiences. The pure and perfect text combines with equally universal characters and settings in ways that will make this a favorite.
September 17, 2017
Encapsulated the agony and ecstasy of waiting for that one special day.
October 9, 2017
Vividly evokes memories of childhood and that happy anticipation of an upcoming birthday. Robinson’s illustrations and the palette of this book feel almost retro. Simple book but a winner. Cute :)
February 7, 2018
Super cute and great for storytime!
August 30, 2024
This is a charming picture book. It's the first I've read that captures kids' obsessions with, but hilarious incomprehension of, their birthdays. "will my birthday be in winter? will my birthday be in spring?...if it is ever my birthday...I'm just dreaming of my bluuuurfday..." Ha!
Illustrator Christian Robinson's free-spirited and youthful collage art style works wonderfully with writer Julie Fogliano's playful riffs and repetitions of language. It also helps parents out by covering a lot more ground than a typical birthday book, moving between seasons, multiple characters all wondering about their birthdays, imagining who to invite to a birthday party, and end pages where readers can see the months and days of the year to actually count them. Because, yes, I love cake, but I can only say so much in a book completely about cake and presents.
Plus the book, thin and vertical, is surprising and fun to hold. You could buy it for me for my birthday.
Illustrator Christian Robinson's free-spirited and youthful collage art style works wonderfully with writer Julie Fogliano's playful riffs and repetitions of language. It also helps parents out by covering a lot more ground than a typical birthday book, moving between seasons, multiple characters all wondering about their birthdays, imagining who to invite to a birthday party, and end pages where readers can see the months and days of the year to actually count them. Because, yes, I love cake, but I can only say so much in a book completely about cake and presents.
Plus the book, thin and vertical, is surprising and fun to hold. You could buy it for me for my birthday.
Read
April 5, 2022I loved the formatting of this book! I found the different art mediums to add excitement to the story as well. My favorite line was " I'd like some wishes on my birthday. I'd like some kisses on my birthday. I'd like some berries on my birthday and tiny sandwiches with soup." My birthday is coming up and this book made me even more excited lol.
June 26, 2017
Super cute.
June 27, 2017
I love the artwork, and how careful Robinson is to create images that may seem subtle, such as the child that wants a ball to bounce--illustrated as a young girl.
August 28, 2017
Such a fun story with fantastic illustrations.
March 10, 2018
A little something in here for every reader.
January 12, 2019
I loved everything about this book! The text is simple and playful, like a poem. The illustrations are beautiful, like everything Christian Robinson does.
Read
August 14, 2025Read in Barnes & Noble bc they’re LEAVING (they’re just moving locations)!!!! Super cute book.
August 25, 2017
Thanks to the #kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own. @kidlitexchange
--------
Birthdays. As children and even young adults, these are days we look forward to. They bring us closer to goals and momentous life events. As a child they make you feel accomplished and “grown up.” For those single digit kiddos, it represents not only becoming a “big kid," it’s also all about the FUN! The excitement builds as their birthday month draws near, perhaps plans for party and festivities are in the works. Cake and ice cream and presents all tease from, what seems like, a faraway place. Author, Julie Fogliano, captures the essence of what it is to be a child with an approaching birthday – and quite honestly – a birthday in general. The sentences are childlike in their simplicity and abruptness. As I was reading the words I felt myself becoming more and more excited for this big day, as the sentences become more and more forceful and detailed with the child’s requests. I appreciated the illustration style of Christian Robinson. They were aptly childlike and reminded me of homemade construction paper cards – which is very fitting for a six-year olds birthday. This book was a nice reminder that no matter our age, we should be excited to celebrate another year and that we should build up this excitement for our children because it’s a big deal!
--------
Birthdays. As children and even young adults, these are days we look forward to. They bring us closer to goals and momentous life events. As a child they make you feel accomplished and “grown up.” For those single digit kiddos, it represents not only becoming a “big kid," it’s also all about the FUN! The excitement builds as their birthday month draws near, perhaps plans for party and festivities are in the works. Cake and ice cream and presents all tease from, what seems like, a faraway place. Author, Julie Fogliano, captures the essence of what it is to be a child with an approaching birthday – and quite honestly – a birthday in general. The sentences are childlike in their simplicity and abruptness. As I was reading the words I felt myself becoming more and more excited for this big day, as the sentences become more and more forceful and detailed with the child’s requests. I appreciated the illustration style of Christian Robinson. They were aptly childlike and reminded me of homemade construction paper cards – which is very fitting for a six-year olds birthday. This book was a nice reminder that no matter our age, we should be excited to celebrate another year and that we should build up this excitement for our children because it’s a big deal!
September 7, 2017
Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for providing this free review copy! All opinions are my own. 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂/5 When's My Birthday? by Julie Fogliano is a super sweet story that will remind you of every young child you know and the excitement they have for their birthday! They ask all the same questions: When is it? Where will it be? How many more days? What will I get? What kind of cake?
They will make never ending lists of everything they want: bikes, scooters, skates, books, necklaces, balls, a pony.
This is a great story with simple text and fabulous illustrations to read with your child when their birthday is approaching. But if they are anything like my soon-to-be seven year old, they start talking and asking about it about 364 days before! Lol!
They will make never ending lists of everything they want: bikes, scooters, skates, books, necklaces, balls, a pony.
This is a great story with simple text and fabulous illustrations to read with your child when their birthday is approaching. But if they are anything like my soon-to-be seven year old, they start talking and asking about it about 364 days before! Lol!
December 4, 2017
Hahaha. This is super true to life. 😂 When’s my birthday? Huh? Huh? Huh? When is it? Is it today? Is it tomorrow? Can I invite him? And her? And every person I’ve ever met? That is basically my kids, anyway. Adorable illustrations, too.
July 31, 2017
This book perfectly captures the childhood anticipation of a birthday.
October 23, 2017
What a darling book! The storyline is simple (more like a nursery rhyme), as are the illustrations. It sounds like something you may hear your own child say as they are waiting for their special day.
The author, Julie Fogliano, has also written And Then It's Spring and If You Want to See a Whale as well as the poetry collection, When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons. She is the recipient of the 2013 Ezra Jack Keats award.
The illustrator, Christian Robinson, is also an animator. He is based in San Francisco and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. He also illustrated Last Stop on Market Street, Antoinette, and School's First Day of School--all lovely books. Check them out together and discuss.
Check out Christian's website here: http://theartoffun.com/books/
The author, Julie Fogliano, has also written And Then It's Spring and If You Want to See a Whale as well as the poetry collection, When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons. She is the recipient of the 2013 Ezra Jack Keats award.
The illustrator, Christian Robinson, is also an animator. He is based in San Francisco and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. He also illustrated Last Stop on Market Street, Antoinette, and School's First Day of School--all lovely books. Check them out together and discuss.
Check out Christian's website here: http://theartoffun.com/books/
December 20, 2017
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of WHEN’S MY BIRTHDAY? As always, all opinions are my own.
I just loved this picture book and only wish I had it years ago when my kids were smaller. It begins:
“When’s my birthday?
Where’s my birthday?
How many days until my birthday?”
Each page turn features a different child, each asking the same question in a different way. No matter the month, the season, or how distant the date in question, these kids are making plans. They know what kind of cake they want, what the menu will contain, and exactly what gifts will be required.
The spare text is hilarious, absolutely nailing a child’s voice and thought process. The repetition of the word “birthday” throughout makes the book fast-paced and fun to read. I felt like a kid again, reliving the magic of the weeks leading up to my annual big day.
Christian Robinson’s illustrations perfectly complement the text—joyful, childlike, and full of diverse children. Most everyone can see themselves in this book.
WHEN’S MY BIRTHDAY will be a wonderful gift for kids turning 3–6 years old. You may just need to give it to them a few weeks in advance.
I just loved this picture book and only wish I had it years ago when my kids were smaller. It begins:
“When’s my birthday?
Where’s my birthday?
How many days until my birthday?”
Each page turn features a different child, each asking the same question in a different way. No matter the month, the season, or how distant the date in question, these kids are making plans. They know what kind of cake they want, what the menu will contain, and exactly what gifts will be required.
The spare text is hilarious, absolutely nailing a child’s voice and thought process. The repetition of the word “birthday” throughout makes the book fast-paced and fun to read. I felt like a kid again, reliving the magic of the weeks leading up to my annual big day.
Christian Robinson’s illustrations perfectly complement the text—joyful, childlike, and full of diverse children. Most everyone can see themselves in this book.
WHEN’S MY BIRTHDAY will be a wonderful gift for kids turning 3–6 years old. You may just need to give it to them a few weeks in advance.
January 2, 2018
🎂 Thank you to @kidlitexchange for a review copy of When's My Birthday? by Julie Fogliano and Christian Robinson. All opinions are my own.
🎈 Birthday talk is a popular conversation in my house. As a parent, I have answered every question posed by the narrator in this book. And between my two children, they have asked every question asked by the narrator who is eager for a birthday celebration. When's My Birthday? asks the questions all over again, but provides avenues and avenues of discussion about birthdays and birthday parties. ❤️The best part of this picture book isn't necessarily the words in the book, but the conversation that happens around the book and the smiles that fill the faces of those reading as they talk about one of the best days in a child's year: her birthday. 😁 The illustrations are also to be celebrated, for the materials and textures used by Christian Robinson are so realistic that my three-year-old reached out to touch a birthday hat and was surprised by the smooth feel of the page rather than the rough texture pictured. 🎉 This book is ideal for the preschool set but can still evoke a smile from the kindergarten and first grade reader as well.
🎈 Birthday talk is a popular conversation in my house. As a parent, I have answered every question posed by the narrator in this book. And between my two children, they have asked every question asked by the narrator who is eager for a birthday celebration. When's My Birthday? asks the questions all over again, but provides avenues and avenues of discussion about birthdays and birthday parties. ❤️The best part of this picture book isn't necessarily the words in the book, but the conversation that happens around the book and the smiles that fill the faces of those reading as they talk about one of the best days in a child's year: her birthday. 😁 The illustrations are also to be celebrated, for the materials and textures used by Christian Robinson are so realistic that my three-year-old reached out to touch a birthday hat and was surprised by the smooth feel of the page rather than the rough texture pictured. 🎉 This book is ideal for the preschool set but can still evoke a smile from the kindergarten and first grade reader as well.
August 20, 2018
When? Where? Will we? You can feel the anticipation and the excitement with each turn of the page in this children's book, as the child in the book waits for her birthday to arrive. How many more days? She is so excited that she's planning what will happen on her big day. What day will it fall on?
How many more days? She wants this, no she wants that. She will be six and the cake she wants is so huge she needs a ladder to climb up on to light the candles. Who does she invite to her party? Well, you, and of course, all of you, it will be one grand party! What will you be wearing? What will we be doing at the party? But wait, all this anticipation and IT'S TOMORROW! Finally!! She can't sleep.......
It's a fun, dramatic book that kids will love to read. I wished the colors on the pages were brighter but I love the heavy cardstock paper and I enjoy the illustrations. I like the back page with the months written out and the numbers 1-31 written out in different colors so kids can find their birthdays and other important days. Cute book.
How many more days? She wants this, no she wants that. She will be six and the cake she wants is so huge she needs a ladder to climb up on to light the candles. Who does she invite to her party? Well, you, and of course, all of you, it will be one grand party! What will you be wearing? What will we be doing at the party? But wait, all this anticipation and IT'S TOMORROW! Finally!! She can't sleep.......
It's a fun, dramatic book that kids will love to read. I wished the colors on the pages were brighter but I love the heavy cardstock paper and I enjoy the illustrations. I like the back page with the months written out and the numbers 1-31 written out in different colors so kids can find their birthdays and other important days. Cute book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews