ALA Booklist (Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2019)

From the writer and illustrator of Stick and Stone? (2015), this picture book sets out the ground rules for an enduring ritual that begins in early childhood: making a birthday wish. Can there possibly be 10 rules? Why, yes: (1) Sometime near your birthday, (2) at a party, (3) with a dessert (quite possibly cake), (4) a candle is lit and (5) a song is sung. (6) Close your eyes, (7) take a deep breath, (8) make a wish, (9) blow out the flame with one breath, and, finally, (10) keep your wish a secret. While that may sound straightforward, Ferry ingeniously comes up with exceptions and amendments as she considers various silly scenarios that involve beasts, birds, bugs, and sea creatures attempting to follow the traditional birthday rules. Meanwhile, Lichtenheld illustrates the scenes with endearing animal characters and plenty of humor. The large-scale pictures show up very well from a distance, making this picture book a natural for sharing with groups of children. A treat that will make any birthday (or storytime) a little happier.

Kirkus Reviews

A happy count-up to a birthday wish. The opening page proclaims, "There are, / there most definitely are, / 10 / very specific, tried and true, / and absolutely essential / Rules For The Making of / a Birthday Wish." The ensuing spreads detail these rules, all delivered in an exuberant, humorous tone, as well as exceptions and modifications to those rules. For example, the second rule instructs, "You must have a PARTY!" at which balloons are recommended décor, unless "you are a rhinoceros, a swordfish, / a sea urchin, or pointy in any way." The accompanying illustrations show these "pointy" creatures popping said balloons with sound-effect "POP!"s and apologies of "oopsie," "sorry," and "my bad" issuing from their mouths. Every step up to and including the clever 10th rule, "Don't forget that ‘wish' ends in / ‘shhhhhh' / so keep your wish quiet, / silent, / hush-hush," is satisfyingly humorous and sure to gift readers with guffaws. Lichtenheld's art matches the text's humor on each spread, with anthropomorphic animal antics and a few human revelers, too. A spare moment at the sixth rule fearlessly embraces the white of the page as the text states "You must close your eyes," and art shows a sweep of lashes on either side of the gutter indicating closed eyes plus an embellishment of a flower to symbolize "something extraordinary" in a birthday wish. A gift of a book to open again and again. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A series of animals demonstrate how to observe a birthday properly through 10 rules in this tale by the creators of Stick and Stone. Yet it immediately-and amusingly-becomes clear that every rule has exceptions. -It must be your birthday- and -your age should have increased by one,- doesn-t apply to certain creatures: -If your life cycle is a month or a week or sniff, sniff, only a single day, please celebrate immediately!- A party is necessary and balloons suggested unless -you are a rhinoceros, a swordfish, a sea urchin, or pointy in any way.- -Combining rules- is okay, too, so -If you are a frog, consider using fireflies as your candles AND your dessert.- Lichtenheld-s exuberant mixed-media illustrations offer all the fun of a birthday fete, and images of cartoon critters partying in their own way (an aloof moose blows bubbles on the back of an elephant) fortify Ferry-s droll message that there are no intractable rules for celebration. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator-s agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. (Feb.)