Stop This Birthday

by Rowan Cutler

Zephyr can hardly wait for her birthday. And when it comes, she has so much fun she wishes her birthday would come every day. When her wish is granted, Zephyr learns that some things are special because they come only once a year. This vibrant picture book from a debut author-illustrator team tackles the issue of patience with humour while also teaching kids about time--the year, month, day, hour, minute and second.Ages 3-7

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811837653
• ISBN13: 9780811837651
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 3 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

Beautiful & Fun

The book is delightful to read out loud to small children. The watercolor illustrations are vibrant and contain so much detail that children spend lots of time finding all of the hidden features. Makes a great birthday gift for kids.

Make a wish, any wish...

Zephyr can't wait for her birthday to arrive. Not only will she be another year older, but there will be presents to open and a cake with candles to blow out! Zephyr is so excited she can barely settle down and fall asleep the night before. Finally, it is her birthday. By that afternoon, everything is ready, party favors, cake and balloons. She gleefully answers the doorbell ten times to admit her ten closest friends, all celebrating her birthday. By the time she goes to sleep that night, Zephyr has had the best birthday ever, already dreaming of the next. Zephyr is certainly surprised when the Birthday Fairy appears on the evening of her party, offering to fulfill one wish. Wasting no time, Zephyr wishes to have her birthday every day! The next day, when Zephyr wakes up, it is her birthday all over again, the party dress, the friends, the present, the cake... all of it just the same. Zephyr is thrilled with this turn of events, so when the Birthday Fairy reappears again the next night, Zephyr announces her new wish right away, "I want it to be my birthday every minute!" The next day begins another full day, of party, presents, friends and cake. That night the over-stimulated little girl is ready for the birthday fairy and has her wish ready, "I want my birthday every minute" and the next night, "I want my birthday every second!" Oh dear, this is getting out of hand. Before she knows it, Zephyr is overwhelmed by too much, too fast, shouting, "Stop this birthday!!!" Luckily, the Birthday Fairy is close by (she has been very busy on Zephyr's behalf!) and grants her wish. Sighing with relief, Zephyr settles back in her tree fort to contemplate the good sense of celebrating a birthday once a year, one party and one cake at a time. She thinks she understands better why such celebrations are special, something to look forward to and plan for all year long. The illustrations are imaginatively done, snappy drawings of a little girl caught up in the excitement of the moment, surrounded by chaos and way too much of everything, presents, balloons, friends and party favors everywhere. Later, as the sun goes down, Zephyr perches in the backyard tree fort, counting stars in the night sky, happy to be exactly where she is. Luan Gaines/2005.