Happy Birthday, Little Hoo!

“Happy Birthday, Little Hoo!” is more about the anticipation every child feels about their birthday than the birthday itself. Each page he asks, “Is today my birthday?” and his mother answers, “Not today, Little Hoo…” and then tells him how many more days until his birthday. Oh yes, I’ve been there. Whether you’re a child or a parent, this story is relatable. We’ve been playing this game in my house since December, and my daughter’s birthday isn’t until May! I haven’t been counting down the days, but rather the months. From an educational standpoint this book is perfect. The story is repetitive enough to make for easy memorization, an important skill for young readers. It also assists in learning the days of the week, starting with Monday on the first page, Tuesday the second, Wednesday the third, and so on for all ten days. Kids also get a double dose of numbers. Each day is counted down with a large number, and then the number is spelled out as well. My kindergarten daughter’s and my favorite part was going through and doing the look-and-find portion. It shows you different items in the beginning and at the end of the book to find throughout the story. She always enjoys these. This one was a little simpler than most, as I think it’s meant for two and three year olds to be able to do, but it was still fun. All in all, this is a great story for little ones. I’d suggest it for ages 0-5. The pictures, along with the story, are simplistic but colorful and cute, and it’s written well. So much is being taught here, and it’s done so well your child probably won’t even realize they’re learning. I personally love buying books like this for my daughter.