Enjoy it at 2, at 12, at 52

Not Really a Children’s Book

So I normally write about books I read with my boys – books that help them learn and grow and books that help me teach and share, and this is not exactly the kind of book we’d keep in the book bin next to the couch. However, I have no doubt we’ll read it again and again, and I am so in love with it I had to share! Your Birthday Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, is an interactive record of your child’s life, revisited each year on (or around) his or her birthday. I stumbled across it while browsing on Amazon, it arrived just before B’s birthday, and our “exclusive interview” was the talk of his birthday party! (The party that drained away my blogging time, as I mentioned in my Grown-Up-Boy post.) The description from the back of the book:

“This is not anything like a baby book. It’s a birthday book! It was born from the simple idea that birthdays provide the perfect annual opportunity to preserve a sweet moment in time as your child changes from year to year. From toddler hood to young adulthood, this journal contains space to stick birthday photos, fun and thought-provoking interview questions to ask your kid, and a time-capsule envelope for stashing away odds and ends.”

But a Really Special Child’s Book

Your Birthday Book is filled in a few pages at a time, once a year; we can handle that, right? The timing of my discovery of this book could not have been more perfect – the first 3 years of the book are mostly devoted to parent entries and picture spots, but then the interview pages begin! I am in love with the “exclusive interview” featured for each year.

The questions are sure to generate priceless responses. Some repeat from year to year: “Who is the last person you kissed?” and others are more age-relevant: “Where do you find spiritual fulfillment?” (at birthday 17). Additionally, there are spots to record memories from the birthday itself, a space for a photo, an envelope page for keepsakes, and bonus question pages to further engage your child in discussion.

Memories in the Making

I completed the “exclusive interview” with B the day before his birthday, then left the book open to that page on the table during the party. Our family and guests loved reading his answers to the questions, and I can only imagine how much we’ll enjoy reading those same answers, and others as years go on, at his 18th birthday party. My favorite response so far, when asked what he thought of when I said the word “love,” he said, “everybody that we know in this world.” Wow. This idea also really resonated with me as I began working on my own childhood memory blog, animo memoria, in the Mommy’s Piggy Tales project.


I Love Birthdays

I’m also peppering this post with a few pics from B’s party. He had a blast, as did the other 10 kids and 20-some adults. Birthdays are a big deal in my family, and I’m so pleased to add another special tradition to our celebration. Do you have any special birthday traditions?


Appropriate for: everyone!


Linked up With:

Feed Me Books Friday

Meme’s the Word (on Saturday)