I'm Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book

by Oliver Jeffers, Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)

Overview

A poignant—and laugh-out-loud funny—story about our busy lives and how we can fix our mistakes to show our friends how much we care.

It’s Bridget’s birthday, and she thinks it would be fun to spend the day with friends. But Royal has places to go, Rodney has to see a man about a dog, Regis has to wash his hair, and Pearl has a list of items she needs to cross off as quickly as she can. Bridget’s friends are all too busy to hang out!

Will Bridget have to spend her birthday all alone? 

In a story that shows how friends are more important than the busy-ness of a day, Oliver Jeffers’ bold and brilliant art pair with a powerful story that makes readers realize what truly matters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593622315
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/07/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist and author working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance and sculpture. His engagements and practice are truly international in scope. His critically acclaimed picture books have been the recipients of numerous awards, including a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award, TIME Best Book of the Year, Bologna Ragazzi Award, an Irish Book Award, a United Kingdom Literary Association Award, and two Emmy Awards for the Apple TV adaptation of Here We Are: Notes For Living on Planet Earth. He has exhibited at institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the National Portrait Gallery in London, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Jeffers' work is currently featured in the new long-term exhibition “Building Stories” at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. He also recently received a Member of the Order of the British Empire Award (MBE) for his Services in Art.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for I'm Very Busy:

"Quirky illustrations, droll humor, and an amusing twist elevate this concisely told tale... Cleverly avoiding the predictable, this jaunty tale nonetheless offers a happy ending and celebrates the joys of friendship." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-05-30
The story of a birthday party that almost didn’t happen.

Bridget invites her friends to celebrate with her, but everyone is busy. Hilariously adult phrases roll off the other kids’ tongues. Rodney has to “see a man about a dog,” Penelope is “up to her eyes,” and Regis is “washing his hair.” Young listeners might miss some of the text’s dry humor, but they’ll definitely get the visual jokes. Rodney’s dog is nonexistent (or perhaps invisible). Penelope is literally up to her eyes in a very large hole, and Regis is bald. Adults will appreciate the absurdity of the excuses (and may even squirm in recognition). Disappointed, Bridget heads home to celebrate with a motley crew of stuffed animals and other toys, most of whom appear as disconsolate as she is. Although her friends have, in fact, completely forgotten her birthday, all is not lost as they scramble to provide all the elements of a terrific party. Quirky illustrations, droll humor, and an amusing twist elevate this concisely told tale. Bridget and her friends each appear in a different, fantastical hue, including teal, pink, blue, lavender, green, and orange. Simply drawn faces convey a wealth of emotions. Sporting distinctive articles of clothing, each character sprouts exaggeratedly skinny arms and legs. Backgrounds are minimal, with a few key details standing out against the abundant white space.

Cleverly avoiding the predictable, this jaunty tale nonetheless offers a happy ending and celebrates the joys of friendship.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews