The Birthday Book

Deborah L. Begoray is chair of the Department of Curriculum and
Instruction in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria in
British Columbia.

“Special days like birthdays are rare, aren’t they? You probably
wish there were more of them. One way to relive the fun is to save
mementos.” The Birthday Book is a fun, old-fashioned book filled with
the kind of pre-television and pre-computer activities that will remind
parents and grandparents of their own childhood birthdays. The main
focus of the book is to show readers how to assemble artifacts for a
time capsule. Along the way, readers are encouraged to make up new ways
to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey (e.g., pin the nose on the clown),
create a collage from wrapping paper, and press leaves.

The instructions for creating the time capsule are detailed and even
include “museum standard” information (e.g., use acid-free paper so
your artifacts will not deteriorate over a long period). Unfortunately,
the items suggested for inclusion are often simply listed rather than
described in detail (how does one press leaves?).

The book also provides information about birthday-related topics such
as how birthdays are celebrated in other countries and cultures.
Although interesting, such information is not well integrated with the
memory-capsule focus. Nevertheless, the illustrations are colourful and
eye-catching. Recommended with reservations.