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Kipper the Dog
Kipper's Birthday
Kipper diligently plans his birthday party by baking a cake and writing up invitations, but he delivers the invitations late, and his friends are unsure what day the party actually is. Reprint.
28 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
4 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Mick Inkpen
381 books62 followersMick Inkpen is one of the most popular author/illustrators in the world. His books have sold over 4 million copies, and have been translated into over twenty different languages. His best-loved characters are probably Kipper and Wibbly Pig – who are both stars of their very own TV series!
He began his career as a graphic designer, and worked with another children’s author Nick Butterworth (of Percy the Park Keeper fame) on a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express. In 1989 The Blue Balloon was published to great acclaim, and established him as an important and original voice in children’s picture books. He and his wife, Debbie, also had children of their own by this point: “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
Mick lives in Essex with his wife and two children.
He began his career as a graphic designer, declining a place to study English at Cambridge University. During this period he worked with Nick Butterworth, a fellow children’s author, from whom he learned design and typography. Together they developed a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express magazine, later to become a first series of children’s picture books. They also worked in children’s television.
In 1989 The Blue Balloon established him as a truly original voice in children’s picture books, by which time Mick and his wife Debbie had two children of their own. “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
He began his career as a graphic designer, and worked with another children’s author Nick Butterworth (of Percy the Park Keeper fame) on a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express. In 1989 The Blue Balloon was published to great acclaim, and established him as an important and original voice in children’s picture books. He and his wife, Debbie, also had children of their own by this point: “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
Mick lives in Essex with his wife and two children.
He began his career as a graphic designer, declining a place to study English at Cambridge University. During this period he worked with Nick Butterworth, a fellow children’s author, from whom he learned design and typography. Together they developed a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express magazine, later to become a first series of children’s picture books. They also worked in children’s television.
In 1989 The Blue Balloon established him as a truly original voice in children’s picture books, by which time Mick and his wife Debbie had two children of their own. “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 18, 2020
A excellent story that looks at a possible situation in any small child’s life. Even mine these days. Another good family read.
November 12, 2023
Toller 2 Minuten read!
March 20, 2025
Very fun and silly! The illustrations are beautiful and the cakes look delicious 😋
August 29, 2020
Lovely, foolish, beautifully-minded Kipper x
December 20, 2012
Kipper’s Birthday by Mick Inkpen.
Kipper is a book about a Dog which faces the struggles that a child between the ages of 3-7 may face in everyday life. In this story Kipper faces the dilemma of throwing a birthday party, and has to overcome problems such as making his cake and sending out invitations. But after preparing everything for his party which is meant to be the next day, Kipper becomes tired and decides to post the invitations on the day of his birthday. So when no one arrives Kipper eats the cake to console himself whilst the day after he receives a surprise party because of his confusion over what the words yesterday and tomorrow meant. This book is written in a clever manner showing how easily children can be confused with the meaning of words and by portraying the situation it makes it easier for the children to understand. Using this book in Key stage 1 would be appropriate and depending how much the children understand it could be used to read in a group or individually on a one on one basis. It may be useful when the children are writing invitations to invite their parents to watch them in a play or a performance in the class.
Kipper is a book about a Dog which faces the struggles that a child between the ages of 3-7 may face in everyday life. In this story Kipper faces the dilemma of throwing a birthday party, and has to overcome problems such as making his cake and sending out invitations. But after preparing everything for his party which is meant to be the next day, Kipper becomes tired and decides to post the invitations on the day of his birthday. So when no one arrives Kipper eats the cake to console himself whilst the day after he receives a surprise party because of his confusion over what the words yesterday and tomorrow meant. This book is written in a clever manner showing how easily children can be confused with the meaning of words and by portraying the situation it makes it easier for the children to understand. Using this book in Key stage 1 would be appropriate and depending how much the children understand it could be used to read in a group or individually on a one on one basis. It may be useful when the children are writing invitations to invite their parents to watch them in a play or a performance in the class.
March 13, 2023
Tessu järjestää itselleen synttärijuhlat mutta kutsuu vahingossa ystävänsä väärälle päivälle.
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October 12, 2021Nice
September 30, 2020
I enjoyed this book as it is cleverly written portraying how children can become easily confused with the meaning of the words; the effective use of handwritten text for the invitations within the book is also very clever. The ending is lovely in the way that Kipper's friends turn up after he was expecting them to due to his own confusion but it brings a happy ending to the end of the book. I think this book would be great to read and work with a year 1 class as throughout the book it has many decodable and phase 5 words such as birthday, cake, make etc. It could also be a good literacy topic, where children could write invitations, a type of writing technique.
September 5, 2020
I love the illustrations and text in this book. The book contains handwritten text (written by the character in the story), which I think is effective at retaining children's interest. I especially love the part where Kipper makes his own birthday cake. The repetition of adding 'currants' into the bowel creates a sense of humour as the reader can see his ingredients are disproportional. Children can also relate to the storyline of this book- the excitement of birthdays and the preparation needed for birthdays are experiences that they may have encountered.
December 19, 2024
I had to give this one star, which is disappointing because I usually like the Kipper books. The reasoning for the low rating is because Kipper eats a cake full of currants which is irresponsible as currants are toxic to dogs. With two dogs at home, I don't want my son learning that it is ok for them to eat that because Kipper had some. The reason Kipper slept so long wasn't because he was tired, it was because he has poisoned himself.
Elijah's Verdict (4 months old)
The pictures were enough to capture his attention, but he did not interact with this book.
Elijah's Verdict (4 months old)
The pictures were enough to capture his attention, but he did not interact with this book.
June 5, 2025
Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…
…that this is a lesson of my previous read turning theory into practice. Has Kipper ever wanted to call his friends assholes and sulked when they’ve not been on the same page? No, because that’s the wrong approach apparently?! A bit meta on dates too! Is tmrw plural? Sometimes simplicity is the best approach
…that this is a lesson of my previous read turning theory into practice. Has Kipper ever wanted to call his friends assholes and sulked when they’ve not been on the same page? No, because that’s the wrong approach apparently?! A bit meta on dates too! Is tmrw plural? Sometimes simplicity is the best approach
March 16, 2023
Kept me guessing right until the end. I honestly thought nobody would turn up to the birthday party, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The cake looked especially interesting, and I hope to see the recipe on BBC goodfoods soon
The cake looked especially interesting, and I hope to see the recipe on BBC goodfoods soon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2019
What a very sweet book about a misunderstanding on a very special day for Kipper :)
June 18, 2022
Great to link with Maths and counting on for EYFS
August 17, 2025
This was a very fun book to practice predicting what would happen next. I was worried about Kipper being sad on his birthday. but there was no need to panic in the end.
June 5, 2012
Kipper is going to have a birthday party and he sets out to write Birthday invitations. However the problem is he gets confused with the words ‘yesterday, today and tomorrow’. So on the day of Kipper’s birthday when no one turns up he is a little down but as always with Kipper things turn out well in the end.
A beautiful book with lots of surprises with big pictures. The book can have endless list of possibilities to choose from. I used this book in my reception class and then worked with children to make invitation cards and they learnt a lot from it.
I would recommend this book for early years practice.
A beautiful book with lots of surprises with big pictures. The book can have endless list of possibilities to choose from. I used this book in my reception class and then worked with children to make invitation cards and they learnt a lot from it.
I would recommend this book for early years practice.
August 27, 2009
Luke got this out of the box that Marybel brought down. Strangely I had never read it before. A laugh out loud children's book. When Tiger tries to explain the confusion caused by the party invitation and the expression of complete confusion on Kipper's face. We all get that face from time to time when someone is giving a full explanation and our eyes just glaze over. Mother when explaining the TV remote control for example.
September 16, 2015
3.5
Kipper, the loveable little dog, is having a birthday party. Everything is prepared - the invitations written, the birthday cake made - but Kipper is very tired.
He decides to send out invitations the next day, the day of his birthday.
But, things begin to go wrong when nobody comes to his party! Has there been a misunderstanding? Or have Kipper's friends forgotten about him?
An adorable story about Kipper.
Kipper, the loveable little dog, is having a birthday party. Everything is prepared - the invitations written, the birthday cake made - but Kipper is very tired.
He decides to send out invitations the next day, the day of his birthday.
But, things begin to go wrong when nobody comes to his party! Has there been a misunderstanding? Or have Kipper's friends forgotten about him?
An adorable story about Kipper.
April 24, 2014
In this book Kipper is getting excited for his birthday party he's having and wants to invite his friends. He hand makes his invitations about when he puts them aside to dry he gets too tired to deliver them so the next morning his birthday he delivers them forgetting in the invitations he says "tomorrow" so that day no one comes for his birthday! But the next day they all come to wish him a happy day
May 14, 2011
Mike Inkpen has created a lovable if somewhat confused character with Kipper the dog. It is going to be Kipper's birthday, but somehow the concept of today, tomorrow, and yesterday becomes a jumble causing all of Kipper's friends to show up to his party a day late. But have no fear, late or not, cake always makes everything better!
January 16, 2014
I'm not a dog person, but Kipper is the cutest pup ever! This time it's his birthday, but a mix-up with the invitations means he spends it alone. But who says a birthday can't be celebrated tomorrow? Kipper's friends come to the rescue...
August 25, 2016
I just love Kipper. In such a quiet way the humor sneaks up on you and then I laugh for days. Maybe it's because it touches on something wry about our human nature. Kipper makes mistakes but his heart is in the right place.
November 28, 2009
I get a twitchy eye when I hear the word Kipper, this story had to be on in the car ALL the time when my daughter was small...
October 3, 2011
A little bit weird, but that seems to be Inkpen's style. Marzieh continues to love these books. I've taken to changing all the male pronouns to female.
October 21, 2011
i did not like it
March 28, 2012
it was an ok book my kids didnt ask for me to read it again but they enjoyed it
January 24, 2015
Kipper's Birthday
by Mick Inkpen
a cute emergent reader book series related to the pbs show that helps kids recognize words and topics related to school, home and outside.
by Mick Inkpen
a cute emergent reader book series related to the pbs show that helps kids recognize words and topics related to school, home and outside.
January 17, 2014
Too wordy.
May 7, 2014
Oh no! Kipper thinks no one wanted to come to his birthday, to his surprise, his invitations had the wrong date! Important story about instructions and paying attention!
July 12, 2010
Favorite Line: "I have made a flat thing"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews