Duncan Dorfman, April Blunt, and Nate Saviano don’t appear to have much in common. Duncan Dorfman is the new kid in town who is trying to keep his mysterious power that he can read with his fingertips a secret. Duncan no longer wants to be nobody in middle school, so he shows his talent but a student overlooks and plans to use his power dishonestly in the Scrabble game. April Blunt wants to prove to her sports family that Scrabble is also a game. She desperately wants to locate a boy she met three years ago, but she doesn’t even know his name. Nate Saviano is home-schooled, but would rather be skateboarding. He plays Scrabble, but doesn’t love the game. His father expects him to be the best and win.

Duncan, April, and Nate live throughout the United States, but they arrive with their game partners to compete in the national Youth Scrabble Tournament in Florida. We meet and learn about each character separately then watch them use their Scrabble talents. It is much more than just a Scrabble game as they learn about themselves and make the right choices. It’s a very humorous book loaded with Scrabble information, such as two letter words and tricks to get high scores. The book will keep your interest until you discover the Scrabble Tournament outcome. So, I challenge you to analyze all possible anagrams and make as many bingos as possible, but please no coffee-housing or brailing. I’ve never been a fan of the classic word game, but after reading The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman I may need to play soon. The book had a similar writing style compared to E.L. Konigsburg. The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman was an enjoyable read.

Scrabble Glossary (What is coffee-housing?)

The Story Behind Scrabble

My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.

― Abraham Lincoln

I picked this quotation in honor of President’s Day and I have the same birthday as Abraham Lincoln (February 12th).

Cupcake isn’t technically a birthday book, but everyone enjoys a delicious cupcake on their birthday. The book begins when Cupcake was born (baked in the oven) then went off to meet his brothers and sisters. He discovered he was in a bright cupcake family that included Chocolaty Chocolate Cupcake, Polka-Dot Cupcake, Rainbow-Sprinkles Cupcake, and more. However, nobody picked Vanilla Cupcake because he was just too plain and white. Cupcake began crying, but then Candle hopped over and explained that he also has a fancy family. Candle’s family members include Number Candle, Twisty Candle, Colored Candle, and more. Candle has the bright idea that Cupcake needs a special topping. So, Candle and Cupcake experiment with different toppings. A few topping suggestions are pickles, spaghetti, peas, and even a squirrel. Candle discovers a nut on Cupcake’s head from the squirrel and hops up to get it off. Finally, Candle is now Cupcake’s topping. However, they still don’t realize that they’re the perfect match and continue testing toppings tomorrow. Cupcake is very humorous as each Cupcake has personality and the comments between Vanilla Cupcake and Candle are cute. The book includes a delicious recipe for plain vanilla cupcakes.

This concludes my birthday book celebration. I hope you enjoyed these birthday books! Thank you for all your birthday wishes!

Day 8 Birthday Book Celebration!

The birthday girl has big plans for her birthday party, yet it’s still 5 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, and 8 hours away. She wants it to be the best birthday party that she’s ever had. Her party plans soon become very extravagant. A few items she plans to have at her birthday party are 9,000 pink balloons, the tallest cake in the world, a magician, a parade, camel and elephant rides, and even fireworks. She even believes the President of the United States and the Queen of England will send her birthday cards. After months of planning, her birthday finally arrives but she doesn’t find everything on her list. However, she does discover pink balloons, tons of frosting, and the guests sing so loudly they must cover their ears. Her grand plans may not be at her party, but she’s still having the best birthday party ever. Of course, it’s never too early to start planning for next year.

Day 7 Birthday Book Celebration!

Scaredy Squirrel’s birthday is approaching and he decides to throw himself a party. The guest list is very small – just himself. There are many surprises that Scaredy Squirrel thinks will destroy a party which includes clownfish, ants, ponies, porcupines, Bigfoot, and confetti. He keeps a list of exactly what needs to be done so everything runs smoothly at the party and there are no unwelcome surprises. Scaredy Squirrel picks a safe location, practices breathing to blow balloons, and mails an invitation to himself. He then decides to invite one guest, so the party plans are revised so no bad surprises happen. Scaredy Squirrel even practices conversations, reviews activities that should be done at a party, and plans the party schedule. He’s most comfortable sitting quietly. However, Scaredy Squirrel is surprised when party animals arrive at his party. After he panics, screams, and finally passes out for a few hours Scaredy Squirrel notices that all the animals are ready for him to blow out the candles. He’s so touched that he decides to plan and invite guests for next year.

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party is the fifth book in a series. Oh, I wish I discovered Scaredy Squirrel sooner because I often feel the same way at parties. Perhaps not as nervous as Scaredy Squirrel, but I’m not a fan of people singing Happy Birthday to me and nobody would ever surprise me with a party. The illustrations are very humorous as the reader sees his party plans.

Day 6 Birthday Book Celebration!

Every Year On Your Birthday is based on the author’s experience adopting a girl from China. The story begins when the woman thinks back to how she wasn’t there at the girl’s birth, but she was home waiting to be her mother. The girl gradually grows up as the book celebrates to her fifth birthday. Each birthday brings something new. On her first birthday family celebrates as she blows out candles, her second birthday she becomes a United States citizen, her third birthday she flies a kite at the beach, her fourth birthday she receives a puppy, and her fifth birthday is celebrated at a picnic watching the dragon boat festival. The story also goes back to the girl’s time in China, such as when she was in the nursery with other Chinese baby girls waiting for adoption. Every Year On Your Birthday is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations. There is a good mix with Chinese and American cultures to celebrate her birthday. Rose Lewis wrote another book, I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, based upon her travels to China when she adopted the girl.

Day 5 Birthday Book Celebration!

Ben is hosting a surprise party for his friend Doris the dragon. Of course, this isn’t your typical party because monsters are on the guest list. The guests include an alien, ghost, robot, mummy, skeleton, and vampire. The book is simple, but very humorous since monsters act and talk differently. There’s brief text, but also jokes and conversations between the guests. A few party highlights include: the robot destroys a piñata, the mummy dances the twist, the ghost jump ropes, Ben gets stuck on the ceiling after playing parachute, and everyone runs when the dragon blows out the birthday candles. I think adults will also get a laugh from the jokes, such as Ben asks the robot if he’d like some nuts and the robot’s response: ‘No thank you… robot prefer bolts!’. Happy Birthday, Monster! is a cute book that will get laughs and no scares.

Day 4 Birthday Book Celebration!

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, “Life will never be the same.” Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world.

Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born.

Nancy Tillman (On the Night You Were Born)

On the Night You Were Born is a sweet melody as it celebrates when you were born into this world. The message throughout the book is that there is only one you and the world will never be the same now that you are here. Musical notes fill each page as the sound of your name travels through all lands. It travels across the ocean, through trees, and past farmlands. When the great news of your birth was heard the panda bears danced, the geese flew home, and the moon stayed up until the morning. The pictures are beautiful and the words are poetic. Both young and old readers will smile as they imagine how the world changed when they were born.

Day 3 Birthday Book Celebration!

Tim receives a birthday letter the night before his birthday with a secret message. The message has words, but the missing spaces are filled with shapes. The book follows the message with the first symbol, which is a moon. Similar to other Eric Carle books the pages have cut outs for more interaction. For example, there’s a triangle cut for the entrance to a cave, a circle to climb through, and a rectangle to peep through the door to see the birthday present. The final page has the entire path that followed the secret birthday message with arrows. The pictures are beautiful with bright and bold colors. Children can identify similar shapes in the room while reading.

Day 2 Birthday Book Celebration!

Happy Birthday to You! 

This delightful Dr. Seuss book takes place in the town of Katroo where they sure know how to celebrate each birthday. Katroo is the only place with the Great Birthday Bird who awakes the birthday person and takes on a journey to enjoy their special day. Along the journey, they enjoy hot dogs rolled on a spool, pick the fanciest pet, greeted by Drummers and Strummers at the Birthday Pal-alace, and eat the only birthday cake made of guaranteed certified strictly Grade-A peppermint cucumber sausage-paste butter! (I’m not sure I’d like to taste that cake.) Happy Birthday to You! is slow at times, but it’s a fun book that’s sure to make you smile.

Today you are you! That is truer than true!

There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

Shout loud, “I am lucky to be what I am!

Thank goodness I’m not just a clam or a ham

Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam! 

I am what I am! That’s a great thing to be!

If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 

- Dr. Seuss (Happy Birthday to You!)

Day 1 Birthday Book Celebration!

Love isn’t what makes the world go around, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

- Elizabeth Browning 

I took this photo at a local park in China. I’m not sure if the fire started on purpose, but I think if it’s not handled carefully someone may regret the outcome later.

This photo was taken at the same park. There were small birds inside these cages. I thought it was strange how cages hung in trees inside a public park. I’m sure these birds regret being locked up and wish they could fly freely.

This photo was taken near a temple. I thought the translation was funny. I’m sure if someone does scribble upon the temple and statues then they may later regret the punishment.

Where did I park my bike? No, none of the bikes are mine but I’m sure I’d have difficulties finding my bike and regret where I parked it. Bikes were parked everywhere like this.

Do you have an appetite for some corn ice cream? It sounded odd to me, so I took a small bite. I’m glad it was a small bite, because it tasted disgusting. I regret not buying another flavor.

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Ruby loves Valentine’s Day and spends time making the perfect Valentine’s Day card with a special rhyme for her classmates. She lightly teases other students’ cards, since she can make perfect hearts and has already finished. She plans to wear all red on Valentine’s Day. Finally, on Valentine’s Day she bundles up for the cold weather and takes her homemade cards to school. However, the strong wind causes the cards to fly out of the bag. She arrives at school upset, but decides to make Valentine’s Day cards with the supplies in the classroom yet there’s no more red paper. She remembers the candy hearts from her parents and gives them to her classmates. Ruby learns that cards don’t need to be perfect, instead it’s the message that counts.

Rhyme Time Valentine is a sweet book with rhymes. If you’d like to remember making Valentine’s cards and passing them out to mailboxes in class then you’ll enjoy this book.