I'm Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers

It was a lovely day, Bridget thought, a lovely day to spend time with friends. So she set out to see them. First she saw Royal and asked if he was doing anything later. Yes, he said, he had people to see. Then there was Rodney with his invisible dog. But he too had people to see. Later she asked Regis, but he was busy washing his hair. Each of her friends had something else to do, they were too busy to stop and spend time with their friend, Bridget. Penelope was busy digging a hole, Pearl was busy with her lists, so Bridget had no choice but to return home to blow out her birthday candles alone.

Her friends were shocked, what had they done to their friend?

Pearl asks Rodney if he knew it was Bridget’s birthday, and Rodney asked Royal, then Royal asked Regis, and Regis asked Penelope, and even though they had all said that they were too busy to meet their friend, they all rushed to prepare a birthday celebration. One made a cake, one a card, one blew up the balloons, and the others set up a table and decorations for a party. Bridget was thrilled because this was the sort of lovely day she wanted to spend with her friends. So everything came together to make it just that. 

A lovely laugh out loud story will win hearts as children sympathise with Bridget, and then be happy with her and her friends who find a way not to be too busy to meet their friend. This poignant look at friendships and what makes them work will encourage children to look at the way they treat their friends, how they want to be treated themselves and what to do when forgetting a birthday.

This very funny easily relatable look at friendships, would be very helpful in a classroom or at home where adults are open to discussing issues with their students or offspring. In making a common situation humorous allows the reader to see the story with open eyes. I love the demeanour of Bridget as she goes from a very confident young girl at the start to a stooped shouldered, dejected looking girl going back home to celebrate alone. 

A book to be savoured again and again.

Themes: Friendship, Birthdays, Business.

Fran Knight