Birthday Books by Karissa

Birthdays are special for people of all ages.  In our classes, we have a very fun and easy way to celebrate each child’s special day.  Because several children have summer birthdays, we celebrate their half birthday.  On these special days students may bring a treat if they wish, and they get a homemade crown made by my assistant!  In addition, we make each child a birthday book.
 
The cover of each “Birthday Book” is designed by the birthday boy or girl.  The rest of the pages are created by their peers.  Each page states, “If I could give you something for your birthday I would give you…”  And my students draw a picture to complete the sentence.  With the help teachers and assistants, their drawings are transcribed.  You might think all of the pictures are food, toys or other material possessions.  Don’t get me wrong -- we get a lot of skateboards, balloons, pretty princesses and Transformers.

Surprisingly, we get an equal amount of the following:

• “I would give you a sunshine.”
• “I would give you me and you playing together nicely with the cars.”
• “I would give you my mom because she would give you a big hug!”

These books have become coveted keepsakes.  Two parents on different occasions have said, “That birthday book is my child’s favorite possession.”  Another family has mentioned that their child, Curtis, has to read his birthday book every night before he goes to sleep. I have not had a family this year that does not wish to have their child’s birthday recognized.  However, I do ask each family if they are not interested in participating as part of our home visiting process in the beginning of the year.  In the past there have been families that do not celebrate birthdays.  When this happens, we are still able to make books for our friend—instead, we make “I am special” books.  Everyone involved was happy with this situation.

It makes me smile to think that a child can find so much joy in a gift that we didn’t find at Toys R Us.  It is the true gift of friendship displayed in a classmates drawing and thought about what their friend might enjoy.