Review Detail

Tim Hopgood's picture book Two Birthdays illustrates the beauty of friendship and how to deal with disappointments from friends. Cedric the alligator and Boo the elephant are the best of friends. When it's Boo's birthday Cedric celebrates him with a giant card and a thoughtful birthday gift. A few weeks later it's Cedric's birthday, but Boo completely forgets. There is disappointment and sadness for Cedric, and embarrassment for Boo since he has forgotten the big day. It ends with a positive note as Boo makes amends to Cedric.

Bright and bold illustrations make the book very eye-catching. One of Hopgood's talents is that he can capture a wide range of emotions in his characters. Whether Cedric is sad or Boo is blushing, young readers will understand the feelings of their favorite characters. I also liked that the book didn't shy away from showing that even good friends can disappoint you and hurt your feelings.

Two Birthdays is a book that young readers will enjoy while learning a valuable lesson about friendship and forgiveness.