An odd way to start a review is to say I did not really care for I’m Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers. If you did not like something why take the time to write about it? Honestly I thought that I wouldn’t until I got to thinking about if I had a customer looking for a birthday book that was a bit goofy and different, but has some common elements too, what could I give them? Well, Jeffers book was it.
The main character asks friends what they are doing and if they wish to spend time with her, but they keep saying they are too busy to come and play with her. Accidentally one of the friends overhears our character talking to herself about her birthday, which triggers a reverse asking of all the other characters asking each other if they knew about the birthday? Of course, they say they do (but of course they didn’t ) and that’s how things will eventually wrap up with a big party and our birthday girl is none the wiser.
That idea of “oh I’m lying but I’m pretending I’m not” did not hit home for me. Yet, I had this inkling that people would be amused by it. That people saw a mistake and fixed it. Honestly Jeffers can be hit or miss with me, but I always appreciate their work. They have a unique style to their story’s text and their illustrations really are quirky and are a personal choice when it comes to taste. I like the colors, and this time the sparseness (that is easy but not simple or lacking in anything) was good. Things worked well for the ideas and I am assuming what he wanted to say.
In October 2025 you can find a finished copy or find an online reader like I did.