You should read Oliver Jeffers’ 2025 picture book I’m Very Busy: A (nearly forgotten) BIRTHDAY BOOK. Of course, since it is by Oliver Jeffers, you already knew that and my work here is done. Bye!
More seriously, this is quite a strong picture book. It takes a kid-friendly idea (birthdays), a kid-appropriate trauma (people forgetting that birthday), and presents a story with a clear structure via well-chosen and well-positioned words–and engaging images.
Bridget is looking forward to spending her birthday with her friends, but they are all busy, some in charming ways (like Rodney and his “dog”–is it invisible? A ghost? Not yet on the leash with the empty collar?). She asks each, but each is busy. Then Pearl overhears Bridget mention she’ll have to blow out her own candles. Pearl rallies the kids, who manage to scrape together a party on the fly.
This doesn’t do justice to the gracefully bending images, or the way they and their shadows are positioned on the page, but to see those, you’ll need to read the book.
