The Law Of Birthdays: A Story About Choice (2024)

The power of choice is important as much as it is delicious.

Favorite Line: CAKE THE CHILDREN! 🍰

Best read in your most regal voice.
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My thanks to Cardinal Rule Press. I was given an early copy of this funny gem.

My thanks to Brenna Jeanneret- for being an awesome CP. I’m so proud of you! Cheers (with cake, but only if you want a slice.)

Brenna is a story-telling genius. This story has everything you need—silly banter, gorgeous illos, and CAKE! A must have for your kiddos’ library!!!

I had the opportunity to read an eARC of this delightful book. Cleverly written text and playful illustrations make this a fun read aloud. With a clear message about making choices, even when it comes to birthday cake, readers will enjoy the humor and charm of this kid relatable book!

With a light touch, this delightful, funny story also serves as a conversation starter to talk about choice in all contexts. The illustrations are adorable and complement the text perfectly. I did not see the ending coming, but it was absolutely perfect!

The Law of Birthdays is an awesome story demonstrating a key concept in child rearing: CHOICE. All humans, even young ones, deserve a choice. In the end, it is not about the cake; it is about the choice. And I love the critical thinking questions in the beginning! They help to extend the learning opportunities to our youngest (and sometimes oldest) ears. Bravo!

The Law of Birthdays is about the power of choice. When one little girl decides the required eating of birthday cake is not something she wishes to do, she takes her case all the way to the top! Through persuasive explanations to the king, she allows him to understand a viewpoint other than his own. It is a cute, funny, and empowering story that includes fun dialogue (to read out loud), a child with an impressive, reasonable, and affective approach to conflict resolution, and a king willing to listen and learn. The backmatter (and even a prologue of sorts) speaks directly to children about peer pressure, the power of choice, and the right to change one's mind--and asks them to think about how they navigate these issues in their own lives. What a great entry point to a thoughtful group discussion!

When our kids were little we had family birthday parties. We served a themed cake, sometimes made and decorated by me and other times purchased, and ice cream. One year, our son Bennett asked if he could have something different than cake for his party. I was shocked because apparently, I didn’t realize that he didn’t like cake all that much. I had never asked him. After that birthday, we served brownies or cookies, and one year, we had an ice cream truck stop by instead of serving cake. I learned that it was important to give our kids a choice.

In this story, the King is celebrating his birthday and at his party, everyone must eat cake. It’s the law. So, as all the guests are served cake, a girl says, “No thanks”. Everyone stops and looks at the girl. The guards don’t know what to do. It’s the law to eat cake on the King’s birthday. When she won’t change her mind, she is sent to see the King.

With an emphasis on the power of personal choice, using our voice, and that it is okay to have different opinions, THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS reminds kids that it’s ok to make decisions that are best for you. Kids may have allergies or dislike a certain food. They may prefer reading under a tree to playing kickball at recess. They might want to wear the blue shirt today instead of the red shirt. It’s all about having their say. Having choices helps kids feel like they have some say in the decisions being made around them. This helps them learn decision-making skills later in life when it seems every day is full of all kinds of choices and decisions.

THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS turns a challenging topic into a fun story that is relatable and understandable for kids. With illustrations that show the shocked reactions of the guards and king and the determination of the girl, kids will find this story fun. It will open up an opportunity for a discussion about choices and decisions as well. The end of the book includes a discussion about the six main factors when making food choices at mealtime. After the King decrees that guests can choose to have cake or not at his birthday party, the girl makes a decision that will surprise everyone and it reminds all of us that sometimes we might want to change our mind.

Introducing The Law of Birthdays, a delightful children's book by Brenna Jeanneret that challenges the traditional notion that every child must eat cake at birthday parties. When a young girl bravely refuses cake at the King's birthday celebration, it sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to a profound lesson in empathy and understanding. Despite the King's initial resistance to her refusal, the girl's patience and determination eventually prompt her to share her reasons in a way that even he cannot ignore. Through this heartwarming story, The Law of Birthdays teaches young readers about the importance of respecting individual choices and embracing differences with compassion and open-mindedness.

I am happy to join @cardinalrulepress on their #booktour for The Law of Birthdays. Parents, teachers, and counselors will definitely benefit from owning this book to use as a social emotional lesson about choice, boundaries, and having an open mind to listen to diverse perspectives.

✨I received an ARC of this book for my review.

Birthdays are a very popular topic in children's books, but this book is unusual. Why? Because it's about one of the most ubiquitous parts of the celebration, the eating of cake. BUT what if you don't want to eat cake? And what if the king makes it the law of the land? What then? And what if the king doesn't want to listen? Love how a book that's ultimately about making a personal choice and sticking to it is tucked within this fun and funny story. There's even a "prep" page with questions to ask a child before, during, and after reading the book, and back pages to guide follow-up discussion about choice. Brilliant!!! Plus, the illustrations knock this story out of the park. This will be a book that kids will want to read over and over again for the sheer delight of taking a stand against the king and getting him to come around to their way of thinking. Plus, there's a little twist at the end that will leave everyone grinning. Highly recommended!!

I had the honor of reading an advanced copy of THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS and was both dazzled and delighted. I thoroughly enjoyed the multi-generational humor written and illustrated across the pages. The story is packed full of fun and witty comments, all delivered with effortless ease. My favorite line is ‘cake the children’. It’s an evergreen phrase that perfectly captures a real-life scenario at a children's birthday party over the span of the last six decades when ‘cutting the cake time’ starts and adults begin the cake-on-paper-plate-push. It’s brilliant.

In addition to all the fun things that make this book special, the most memorable is the underlying message of CHOICE. It’s rare to find a humorous children’s book that can also serve as a launching pad for more robust conversations. Brenna Jeannert has given us that gift.

You can’t have a birthday party without cake right?!
But what if you don’t WANT cake! Isn’t the Law of Birthdays that ‘Kids attending birthday parties must have cake’?!

A little girl creates quite a stir when she refuses a piece of cake at the king’s birthday party. The guards do not understand why she wouldn’t want cake! She has her reasons, but most importantly, she teaches them an important lesson about choice. Because: “if you are old enough to have a birthday, you’re old enough to have a choice.”

What a fabulous book! This led to so many great discussions about choice.

Backmatter includes learning about six main factors in making food choices which was super interesting. For example, social pressure is a factor that impacts food choices. This also led to a great discussion about not choosing something just because everyone else does.

Thanks to Cardinal Rule Press for gifting me this book for an honest review.

I actually really liked this book, a lot!!!

The artwork was great, not too busy but definitely detailed. I also enjoyed all of the bright colors, it conveyed the "birthday party" theme well.

As for the story, that was also phenomenal! It makes me think of a sticker I saw once: "'No does not mean 'convince me'". Except that quote was expressed in this book in an easy-to-understand way that was perfect for the intended audience. In addition to that, the story had a clear beginning-middle-end format that was very effective for the book. This all worked together to keep me entertained and interested the entire time while reading.

The only critique I have is I would change the wording towards the end from:
"Everyone *should* have a choice" to:
"Everyone *has* a choice".

Overall, amazing book!

What a delightful read about honoring children's opinions and choices (and allowing them to change their minds). Based around the child-relatable concept of birthdays, the main character refuses to eat cake on the king's birthday. The adults around her are baffled about her choice and try to get her to change her mind. The dialogue-only text reads smoothly, and playful illustrations contribute to the story's light tone.

I love how this story pushes back on how adults sometimes control how children celebrate and express joy. And as a lifelong chocolate-hater, I'm always delighted to see a story that normalizes unusual dessert preferences.

For fans of DON'T HUG DOUG, this story makes a perfect birthday treat!

The Law of Birthdays is a clever and fun read aloud about a serious and important topic - choice.
It's a birthday celebration and time for cake but the birthday girl doesn't care for a slice. She politely refuses but the king won't let her. Cake is the law. After kindly listing her reasons, she gets frustrated then reverses the situation by showing the king how awful it is when he isn't allowed to make a choice.
Written in witty dialogue with bright fun colors, this is a story about a girl who knows what she wants and doesn't want. And, that we all have the right to make our own decisions - and change our minds.
Highly recommended!

Yummy! What a delicious, inspiring, playful story. The story shows social emotional learning with a powerful message that encourages children to embrace their own voices and make decisions that align with their authentic selves. It is really touching that the main character was courageous to have her voice heard & stand up for what she believes in. The story also shows that it's ok to change your mind, just like the Girl, did when she wanted a vegan piece of cake. A touch of royalty, diversity, celebration, & deliciousness, this story is a magical read. So, embark on a journey to discoverthesweet taste of empowerment.

The King enacted a law that all children attending birthday parties must eat a cake. Except a little girl doesn’t want any cake, which causes a big problem at the Royal Court : how will the King react ?

The Law of Birthdays is a very smart book about free will and the importance of respecting other people’s choices. Using a simple example of a cake, Brenna Jeanneret illustrates how other people feel when their choice is taken away from them. It is a funny and tender story and the illustrations are truly beautiful.

That you love cake or not, The Law of Birthdays is an enchanting and beautiful story with a fairytale atmosphere that young readers will enjoy.

In this fabulous tale, a young girl cleverly teaches the ruler about choice through birthday cake. I loved this book because every child can understand principles that aren't spelled out in books e.g. laws, and choice, pleasure and the right to change one's mind.

The voice is catchy and I love how the protagonist teaches a lesson. This book should be on every kids' shelves. It's one of a kind book!

The art work pulled me in and I loved the whimsical and fairy like drawings. Definitely a keeper!

THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS uses humor to explore an important theme: that everyone should have the freedom to make choices, especially about what kinds of food they eat. The illustrations add so much expression and pair perfectly with the humorous text. Kids will love the laugh-out-loud moments, the excitement of cake and birthday parties, and the twist ending. Back matter provides wonderful educational content that parents or educators can use to explore the topics of choice and food preferences. I highly recommend THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS. It’s sure to be a hit in homes and classrooms!

This picture book is a seriously fun yarn with a seriously important message about choices — not only for kids, but also for the grown-ups in their lives. I've fallen in love with the heroine, with her fabulous mane of enthusiastic hair, her great sneakers, and her ideas about choice-making that are thought-provoking enough to get even the king to reconsider his views.

I can see this book serving as a springboard for families to talk about all sorts of choices we all make each day. It's a great read.

An enchanting tale unfolds in this fun book where the whimsical debate over birthday cake takes center stage. Brenna masterfully weaves together humor, wit, and a touch of royalty to create a story that captivates both young and old readers alike. Through clever dialogue and charming characters, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery and the importance of choice. With its heartwarming message and engaging illustrations, this book is sure to leave a smile on your face and a craving for cake in your heart.

Adorable, hilarious & unique!

I particularly loved this young character, who knew exactly what she wanted and why. Most books I've read to my first-grade students about boundaries and choice show the MC on a journey of discovery.
But in this story, the character is teaching the ADULT--helping him understand what a choice and a boundary is.

My students are going to love this---and the front & back matter opens tons of doors to discussions with my kiddos.

Thank you to Cardinal Rule Press for letting me have an advanced read!

A birthday story with a twist! It’s the king’s birthday and the law of the land decrees that everyone must celebrate with cake. But one little girl is having none of it, leaving the castle servers with no choice but to go directly to the king to help them get her in line. And does he? Read this delightful tale to find out! Playful illustrations by Marina Kondrakhina perfectly match Jeanneret’s playful text, all while highlighting an important topic for young readers - we all deserve choices. Such a fun read!

Brenna Jenneret has created a wonderful new spokesmodel for freedom of choice. I love that this character has the confidence to demand to be heard. Despite having a different opinion than the king, she manages to have an impact by sticking to solid reasoning. The illustrations by Marina Kondrakhina are spot on and give this assertive character the perfect demeanor to remain likable while pushing an idea that is initially unpopular. Great pace, great storytelling, fun must read. Anyone looking for a birthday gift should jump on this one.

I love everything about this book! THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS is cleverly written and entertaining story about the important topic of choice. The King has a law that all the children must eat cake on his birthday, but one little girl doesn't want to. The main character of the story is so loveable and confident and the art pairs perfectly with the text. This story is one kids will beg to read again and again.

I love this book! I love a child telling truth to power in a respectful way. And she also knows her self, what she wants, and what she needs. She was reasonable and offered to eat french fries instead. All great lessons for children.

This is one of those stories that will be read and reread as your littles admire the self possessed heroin! The illustrations really move the story along. There weren't a lot of characters in the book, but good to see a bit of diversity in there.

I adore this book! It’s a funny, modern day fairytale riff on The Emperor's Clothes with a king who decrees that everyone in the kingdom must have cake on his birthday and a little girl that says no thank you. Entertaining and at the same time models a healthy way to make an argument for change and how to hold your boundaries. I’m happy this picture book exists and for every child that gets to hear or read it.

I LOVE my birthday and I was surprised about this book. I did not know where it was going when it started, but I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. The author did a fantastic job demonstrating how adults and children can have a respectful voice. The title is so catchy too. When you think about about birthday most people think about cake. I love how Breanna formatted the book and we sat back and watched a young girl be brave about her choice!

This humorous new picture book starts out with a kind who has decided that every child shall eat cake at birthday parties. When one young girl refuses she is sent before the king. Filled with humor this book beautifully illustrates that everyone is different and why we shouldn’t assume our preferences are everyone else’s. It shows the importance of choice and respecting others opinions all while under the playful storyline of birthday cake!

The Law of Birthdays: A Story About Choice written by Breanna Jeanneret and illustrated by Marina Kondrakhina is a laugh out loud story not only about the importance of providing children with choices, but also thinking about how some of the "adult" rules are a bit arbitrary and probably not necessary. It's also a story about being open-minded and trying new things. The illustrations match the humor and absurdity of "making" kids eat cake. A truly fun read.

Wow! There are so many gems in this book. I love how it speaks about the importance of having a choice in such a fun way. It also shows how people are different with different desires and opinions. It's the perfect balance of educational humor! The illustrations are a perfect match for the text, too!
Oh, and one more thing, I really appreciated how the main character held firm to her boundary/decision and only changed her mind on her own terms! That's a great lesson, in and of itself, to not allow others to make you waver in whatever your convictions are.