How to Have the Best Birthday Ever! By Me (Lana Kittie)

PreS-Gr 2—A perky kitten shows prospective celebrators how to prepare for their "most specialist day ever." In order to avoid sitting in a time-out because of bad manners, Lana Kittie recommends having lots of pretend birthdays first. With her toy robot, whale, and doll acting as guests, she offers advice on party invitations, wardrobe, how to properly welcome a guest, fun activities, good food, blowing out candles, and saying good-bye. The most important thing is to practice opening a present so that guests feel happy about their gifts. Good: "Wow! Underpants! I love underpants. I wear them every day!" Bad: "Yuck! Underpants. That's the worst present ever! I already have a million of those." The cheerful cartoon illustrations feature colorful borders and backgrounds. The print looks like a child's scrawl and matches the childlike artwork. This playful book presents a dull theme in a unique way that will appeal to kids. Great fun with a good message.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT