Kipper's Birthday

Kipper organises his own birthday party but doesn't manage to get it quite right. It's his invitations that really cause problems, and confusion abounds with mix-ups over "today", "tomorrow" and "yesterday" that make the poor little dog's head hurt (warning: may have same effect on reader). But everything turns out just fine in the end. And, as Kipper's valiant cake- baking attempts are liable to inspire youthful cooks into action, make sure you've plenty of just- add-water cake-mix and glacé cherries on hand.

Like all Mick Inkpen's books, great fun for adult readers, as well as for youngsters on the receiving end. (Ages 2 to 5) --Lisa Gee

A Big Book edition is also available

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Another super story from Mick Inkpen - Rated
about the lovable character, `Kipper' on his birthday.

`When exactly is Kipper's birthday party?
Is it today? Or tomorrow perhaps?
Or was it yesterday?'

It all comes down to the wording on the patiently hand made invitations and when they get delivered.
I think it would be fair to say that this book has a slightly more mature theme to it with the introduction of past, present and future time
implication, but it is a super story nevertheless.

In this story we find Kipper rather busy with his birthday party preparations. It is all very tiring.....and things don't go quite according to plan, mainly due to the mix up over which day the party is! Kipper is sad when no-one arrives for his party.....'He waited. And he waited. But nobody came. Not even Tiger......'


32 high quality shiny pages, packed full of exciting, descriptive text and endearing illustrations, in the popular 2-page spread format.

Example of text:-

`Kipper slept through the evening and into the night.
He dreamt that he was climbing a mountain made of cake and dodging great cake boulders as they crashed towards him.
Even when the sun streamed through his window the next morning he did not wake, but snored peacefully until noon when he was woken by a knock at the door.
His friends had come.
`Happy Birthday, Kipper!' said Jake.
`Happy Birthday, Kipper!' said Holly.
`And many happy returns!' said Tiger.
Kipper blinked and rubbed his eyes.
`But my birthday was yesterday,' he said sleepily............'


But....all is well that ends well.....and Kipper does get his party....and some rather useful presents, after all!

Cleverly helps children with yesterday/today/tomorrow - Rated
There are many Kipper books, mostly pretty good, and I think this is one of the best. Kipper paints party invites for each of his friends telling them to come at noon tomorrow, and then he leaves it until the following morning to deliver them. And at midday nobody comes, of course, so he eats the cake all himself and has a good long sleep, until noon the following day when his visitors arrive, a day late. Amusingly, Kipper then re-reads the invite and thinks his birthday is yet another tomorrow, but fortunately his friend Tiger can clear up the confusion and they can get on with the celebrations.
I bought this Kipper because we'd read it at a friend's house and I thought it helped explain the relative nature of the yesterday/today/tomorrow concepts which my daughter was beginning to grasp at nearly three. Now at four and a half she completely understands the mix up but my two year old son can't quite follow it. So this particular Kipper is probably better for a three or four year old though the younger child would still enjoy it, and although they wouldn't fully understand it yet they'd grasp the idea with a little rereading.
Finally, as with all Mick Inkpen's books, the illustrations are beautifully done, with clean lines and gently appealing.

Usual good Kipper story based on slightly confusing concept - Rated
Kipper sends out his birthday invitations a day late, but doesn't change the wording ("tomorrow" should have become "today"), so his friends arrive a day late. A toddler might have trouble understanding this concept- my 3 year old does, although he still enjoys reading it, so don't let it put you off too much. It's still a very good book, well illustrated, and worth adding to your Kipper collection.