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The Secret Birthday Message Paperback – Picture Book, May 23, 1986

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 181 ratings

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A message in code starts a little boy off on an exciting treasure hunt through a dark cave, an underground tunnel, and more—until at the end he finds a happy surprise.

This classic picture book from the beloved Eric Carle can be shared as an enjoyable story. Preschoolers will be intrigued by the adventures and pleased by the puppy at the conclusion.

The Secret Birthday Message can also be used as a fun spring board for teaching some basic concepts. As Publishers Weekly notes: The book introduces "pattern recognition, matching shapes, map-reading, and directional relationships in full-color pages that allow preschoolers to participate fully in the enticing adventure."

The nonprofit MathThroughStories organization recommends reading the book and then having "children hide a 'treasure' somewhere in the classroom and create their own map with directions for how to find the hidden treasure. Encourage the children to use geometric shapes to represent objects and furniture in the classroom. When the maps are finished, children give the map to another treasure hunter."

Other favorite classic books from Eric Carle include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Grouchy Ladybug, From Head to Toe, and many others.

Discover teachers' picks. Discover%20teachers%27%20picks.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A small boy follows a coded message to find his birthday surprise. PW noted that this book introduces "pattern recognition, matching shapes, map-reading, and directional relationships in full-color pages that allow preschoolers to participate fully in the enticing adventure."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

It is Tim's birthday. Instead of a package, Tim gets a mysterious letter -- written in code! Tim -- and the reader -- are off, following the clues. And at the end of the treasure hunt is a wonderful birthday surprise!

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint edition (May 23, 1986)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0064430995
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0064430999
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 390L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.25 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 181 ratings

About the author

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Eric Carle
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Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 62 languages and sold over 41 million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.

Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."

Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He divides his time between the Florida Keys and the hills of North Carolina.

For more information about Eric Carle and his books please visit:

The Official Eric Carle web site: http://www.eric-carle.com

Eric Carle's Blog: http://www.ericcarleblog.blogspot.com

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: http://www.carlemuseum.org

The World of Eric Carle Amazon UK page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/1658013031

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
181 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a special birthday gift for children with secret messages and a fantastic journey. They appreciate the colorful illustrations by Eric Carle.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

4 customers mention "Birthday gift"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the birthday gift. They say it's a special gift that is like a game and book in one, with secret messages for a birthday surprise.

"...It is going to be a gift for a child." Read more

"My four-year-old son loves this book. It makes a special birthday gift that is kind of like a game and book in one." Read more

"Love this book. Perfect birthday gift!" Read more

"Secret messages to a birthday surprise..." Read more

4 customers mention "Book for children"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book for children. They find it a fantastic journey for children and appreciate Eric Carle's writing style.

"...Eric Carle writes great books for children!!!!" Read more

"...But it's not meant to be taken literally. It's a fantastical journey for children...." Read more

"...While the BOY is ok (even though I purchased if for a granddaughter's birthday), it would have been lovely if the eventual gift would have been..." Read more

"Great for my grandson. Thank you." Read more

3 customers mention "Color palette"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's colorful illustrations by Eric Carle. They find the book clever and different.

"...The format of the book is clever and different and Eric Carle's illustrations are always terrific...." Read more

"...The pictures are clear, attracting , colorfull" Read more

"...My grandkids love this book and very colorful." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2014
    This is such a fun book to read to children. The format of the book is clever and different and Eric Carle's illustrations are always terrific. Our beloved kindergarten teacher would always read this book to her incoming students on "Meet the Teacher Night". I would recommend it for kindergarten age children or younger. I just bought two copies, one for a birthday gift and one for my daughter's classroom who will be teaching kindergarten for the first time.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2017
    What can I say about Eric Carle, just love his books. I'm his number one fan. As a bilingual kindergarten and preschool teacher back in Argentina ,his books are one of the writers I can't get away from ,and love how the little ones get engaged enthusiastic with his different stories. The pictures are clear, attracting , colorfull
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2013
    This is a wonderful book and has such an adventure waiting for you as you read it. Has a maze and have to work your way back. Can go wrong with Eric Carle books anyway. My grandkids love this book and very colorful.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2013
    I bought this for a three year old boy I watch and he loved it! Eric Carle writes great books for children!!!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2013
    This is one of my favorite books and I could not find it anywhere else. It is going to be a gift for a child.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019
    My 3 year old son loves this book! But now he wants me to hide a puppy for him through some secret passageway under the house.

    The only reason to ding a star is that we had first seen the hardcover version and loved it. So we ordered the Board Book and it doesn't have the very last page, which says, "can you find your way back?" Not an important page to be missing, but my son would have loved to have the book in its entirety.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2020
    I love any of Eric Carl’s books
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2012
    As a kindergarten teacher of 5 year olds, I have adored this book for years. Now my 3 year old grandson is enjoying his very own brand-new copy. He is now an Eric Carle fan, too!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Emily Turco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2022
    Great book
  • Carlos Alberto Balancieri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 14, 2021
    Highly recommended
  • sg
    5.0 out of 5 stars très beau livre
    Reviewed in France on March 8, 2023
    très beau livre d'Eric Carl. Facile à lire et ludique.
  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ameno y ágil
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 11, 2020
    Muy buen libro, a mi hijo de 3 años le gusta mucho, es diferente que las páginas vengan troqueladas y usa las formas geométricas en el relato, que por cierto a mi hijo le gustan mucho... lo recomiendo sin duda
  • hjhs happy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant Eric Carle book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2019
    Love this book, hasn’t heard of it before finding it on YouTube and when I ordered a hard copy I was pleasantly surprised that it had cut outs and pages that were really interesting. Brilliant story for my class.