The Best Birthday Present Ever!

“The sweetest book demonstrating friendship and imagination! I love how graciously Bear accepts his gift from Squirrel, and that he truly appreciates it, even though the others don't think it's that amazing. Bear and Squirrel know how to put the gift to use with their imaginations, creating way more fun than just another toy, and they do it all while sharing it together! :) Plus, the illustrations are so cute!”

“Who hasn't agonized over the perfect gift for a friend? Poor squirrel wants to find the absolute perfect gift for his friend bear. The animal characters are charming, the pacing is perfect. Ben Mantel is spot-on describing bear's opening of gifts and that anxious moment when bear opens squirrel's gift and hasn't commented. It is a wonderful thing to know a friend so well that you really can choose "The Best Birthday Present Ever!" It might even be that the real gift is friendship.”

“I still remember the anxiety I felt as a child of having the birthday gift I brought to a party unwrapped and wondering what their reaction would be, so as Squirrel watches Bear unwrap fancier and fancier presents and questions the carefully chosen stick he'd brought, I felt with him, but Bear's reaction is utterly perfect and priceless and teaches a great lesson about imagination, graciousness and the power of friendship. The illustrations are adorable too!”