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American Girl: Kit #4
Happy Birthday, Kit!: A Springtime Story
On a visit to Cincinnati from rural Kentucky during the Great Depression, Aunt Millie impresses Kit with her money-saving cleverness.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Valerie Tripp
284 books476 followersValerie Tripp is a children's book author, best known for her work with the American Girl series.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 7, 2020
Aunt Millie is so iconic, though. Also I legitimately wanted the teal feed sack dress when I was 9.
August 25, 2026
"I know I can't have a party like the one in the picture. I shouldn't really want any party at all. But I can't help it. I do."
Kit is turning ten and any other year this would be a day of excitement and joy...but this year, it's a bit different.
The Great Depression has pivoted the entire Kittredge household from a place of fun to necessity. And birthdays are not necessities.
Just when things start to truly look dire, Aunt Millie comes to town and begins to help the Kittredge family scrimp, save, and get by with less. At first, Kit and her friends are excited by this endeavor, but when they go grocery shopping...Kit begins to rethink her feelings.
Yet for some reason, Kit squirmed. Everyone in this store must know my family's too poor to pay full prices.
Aunt Millie quickly picks up in Kit's feelings, and after a bit prompting, the two of them have a conversation.
"I meant," Kit faltered, "it's. . . hard to be poor in front of people."
"Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of," said Aunt Millie stoutly, "especially these days with so many people in the same boat."
But then Aunt Millie plans a birthday party of Kit...and immediately, Kit feels a deep, burning shame.
Alrighty, by now you've picked up that Kit is quickly becoming one of my favorite American Girl stories.
The backdrop of the Great Depression, plucky Kit and her charming family, the never-give-up attitude - all an instant success in my mind.
This story did a great job of highlighting a rich-in-spirit sort of family, regardless of their financial status. I loved Aunt Millie's outlook on life - heck, I wheel and deal for the best grocery prices and try to reuse whatever I can as well!
The one thing that did stick out enough to keep this from being 5 stars is the ending.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Basically, despite the conversations where Kit clearly communicates to Aunt Millie about how uncomfortable she felt about others knowing that she was extremely poor, Aunt Millie decides to throw a Penny Pinching Party.
To do this, Aunt Millie marches up to the classroom and invites the ENTIRE class, and even offers to teach them to make bloomers (loose, baggy underpants).
AND THEN Aunt Millie acts completely shocked when Kit is horrifically embarrassed and says something out of turn?
So, Aunt Millie does the only logical thing - she ups and leaves for the train station. But not before leaving a truly gorgeous dress hanging in Kit's room.
Obviously, Kit finds it in her heart to forgive Aunt Millie and once mollified, Aunt Millie comes home and throws a fabulous party - but I don't think that was quite the right answer.
To be clear: Aunt Millie knew that Kit felt uncomfortable with even the grocer knowing she was poor, yet she choose to make a party themed around poverty. Furthermore, when Kit didn't act delighted, Aunt Millie literally ran away.
Meaning, there was a real possibility that she was going to leave Kit in a bind. The entire class coming over and Kit had no preparations, no food, no bloomer-making plans. This could have been a real disaster.
I feel like Aunt Millie's character would have understood Kit's feelings on the matter and could have apologized as well.
Yes, this is very minor BUT I do feel strongly on it. But other than that plot point, the story was overall quite good!
More Reviews in the Kit-verse
Main Series:
Meet Kit - ★★★★★
Kit Learns a Lesson - ★★★★★
Kit's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Kit - ★★★★☆
Kit Saves the Day - ★★★★☆
Changes for Kit - ★★★★★
Kit's Boxed Set - ★★★★★
Best Friend Book:
Really Truly Ruthie - ★★★★★
Short Stories:
Kit's Home Run - ★★★★★
Kit's Tree House - ★★★★★
Kit's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆
Mystery Books:
Danger at the Zoo - ★★★★☆
Midnight in Lonesome Hollow - ★★★★☆
A Thief in the Theater - ★★★★☆
Missing Grace - ★★☆☆☆
Intruders at Rivermead Manor - ★★★★★
The Jazzman's Trumpet - ★★★★☆
Menace at Mammoth Cave - ★★★☆☆
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2014):
Read All about It: A Kit Classic Volume 1 - ★★★☆☆
Turning Things Around: A Kit Classic Volume 2 - ★★★★☆
Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2020):
Kit: Read All about It - ★★★★☆
Kit: Turning Things Around - ★★★★☆
Kit's Historical and Activity Books:
Kit's Cooking Studio Book - ★★★★☆
Kit's Friendship Fun - ★★★★☆
Kit's Railway Adventure - ★★★★★
Kit's World: A Girl's-eye View of the Great Depression - ★★★★★
Welcome to Kit's World · 1934 - ★★★★★
Additional Historical and Activity Books Featuring Kit:
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and It's Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever - ★★★★☆
American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook - ★☆☆☆☆
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From American Girl - ★★★☆☆
Minute Mysteries - ★★★★☆
Minute Mysteries 2 - ★★★★☆
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Picture Book:
Time for School! - ★★★★☆
August 17, 2020
[Rereading the American Girl books in quarantine to feel something 4/7]
9-year-old me would have sold all my earthly possessions for Kit’s chicken-feed sack dress.
9-year-old me would have sold all my earthly possessions for Kit’s chicken-feed sack dress.
October 29, 2024
Aunt Millie is really fun, but she really should have asked Kit before coming to her class....
March 19, 2021
This part of Kit’s story always holds fond memories for me. My family knows how much I adore Kit and growing up I thought I was her for the most part.
What makes this story so special? Grace- the old Bassett Hound. My grandma adopted a Bassett hound (she wanted company around the house when her Boston terrier passed) from another family who couldn’t afford to keep her any longer. The dog’s name? Gracie.
Whenever I read this book, I think of the fond memories my grandma (who is as sweet as Aunt Millie) and Gracie (my very own Grace) and I think of the summer I was Kit: typewriter, dog and all
What makes this story so special? Grace- the old Bassett Hound. My grandma adopted a Bassett hound (she wanted company around the house when her Boston terrier passed) from another family who couldn’t afford to keep her any longer. The dog’s name? Gracie.
Whenever I read this book, I think of the fond memories my grandma (who is as sweet as Aunt Millie) and Gracie (my very own Grace) and I think of the summer I was Kit: typewriter, dog and all
August 11, 2021
It’s Kit’s birthday, but this book is really about Aunt Millie – and in the process, it tells us a lot about Kit’s parents. Dad was an orphan taken in by Millie and her husband in rural Kentucky. From there, we can connect the dots: Presumably he grew up and went to seek his fortune in the big city of Cincinnati, where he did well as a car salesman, married a nice young lady, bought a nice house on credit in the flush of the 1920s and had two kids. Clearly Mother – who hates to look poor, who loves to host fancy lunches for her garden club – grew up in a family more like Ruthie’s. We can clearly see where Kit’s embarrassment about being poor comes from.
But Aunt Millie is intensely practical and she’s here to teach Kit and co. how to make the most of what they have. She knows how to get good deals by being friendly to the butcher or the rag man (a different kind of social capital than Mother’s garden club). She sees the value of a vegetable garden and a chicken coop, and she can get extra wear out of sheets and shirts.
All that is useful, but what’s lovely to see is how Kit reacts to her. Because they’re already close, Kit treats most of her advice like magic, even (along with Ruthie and Stirling) recording it in a book. I love seeing that tight intergenerational bond. Yes, there is a bit of a blow-up near the end – conflict has to come in somewhere, and this one is rooted in differences that we’ve seen simmering all the way through. But we also have the perfect peace offering already prepared.
It isn’t spelled out, but one key takeaway from the ending is the importance of communicating what you want and what you find upsetting. Like Ruthie’s attempt to help in Surprise, Aunt Millie is trying to do something nice, but gets tripped up by triggers that Kit hasn’t managed to explain to her. Fortunately, Kit finds a way to apologize much more quickly this time. Character growth, y’all.
Another sign of growth: I really liked that Stirling has clearly become part of the gang in the months since Learns a Lesson. He and Ruthie stay in the background this time around, but the duo is now a trio, and it’s really good.
Lastly, since this is a birthday book, of course we have animals. The chickens make their entrance, but the real star is Grace. Unlike most other AG dogs – Bennett, Jip, Caro, Tatlo, all male puppies – Grace is an older dog, and the note Kit finds makes it clear that she is female. Grace and Lone Dog make an odd pairing, but they’re the two AG dogs who feel most like characters rather than props. I love how she comes by her name – I love Aunt Millie’s sense of humor in general – and I love that after all the commotion when she first arrives, she and the chickens promptly become friends.
More Kit babble
Meet Kit | Kit Learns a Lesson | Kit’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Kit | Kit Saves the Day | Changes for Kit
Really, Truly Ruthie
Kit’s Home Run | Kit’s Tree House | Kit’s Short Story Collection
Danger at the Zoo | Midnight in Lonesome Hollow | A Thief at the Theater | Missing Grace | Intruders at Rivermead Manor | The Jazzman’s Trumpet | Menace at Mammoth Cave
But Aunt Millie is intensely practical and she’s here to teach Kit and co. how to make the most of what they have. She knows how to get good deals by being friendly to the butcher or the rag man (a different kind of social capital than Mother’s garden club). She sees the value of a vegetable garden and a chicken coop, and she can get extra wear out of sheets and shirts.
All that is useful, but what’s lovely to see is how Kit reacts to her. Because they’re already close, Kit treats most of her advice like magic, even (along with Ruthie and Stirling) recording it in a book. I love seeing that tight intergenerational bond. Yes, there is a bit of a blow-up near the end – conflict has to come in somewhere, and this one is rooted in differences that we’ve seen simmering all the way through. But we also have the perfect peace offering already prepared.
It isn’t spelled out, but one key takeaway from the ending is the importance of communicating what you want and what you find upsetting. Like Ruthie’s attempt to help in Surprise, Aunt Millie is trying to do something nice, but gets tripped up by triggers that Kit hasn’t managed to explain to her. Fortunately, Kit finds a way to apologize much more quickly this time. Character growth, y’all.
Another sign of growth: I really liked that Stirling has clearly become part of the gang in the months since Learns a Lesson. He and Ruthie stay in the background this time around, but the duo is now a trio, and it’s really good.
Lastly, since this is a birthday book, of course we have animals. The chickens make their entrance, but the real star is Grace. Unlike most other AG dogs – Bennett, Jip, Caro, Tatlo, all male puppies – Grace is an older dog, and the note Kit finds makes it clear that she is female. Grace and Lone Dog make an odd pairing, but they’re the two AG dogs who feel most like characters rather than props. I love how she comes by her name – I love Aunt Millie’s sense of humor in general – and I love that after all the commotion when she first arrives, she and the chickens promptly become friends.
More Kit babble
Meet Kit | Kit Learns a Lesson | Kit’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Kit | Kit Saves the Day | Changes for Kit
Really, Truly Ruthie
Kit’s Home Run | Kit’s Tree House | Kit’s Short Story Collection
Danger at the Zoo | Midnight in Lonesome Hollow | A Thief at the Theater | Missing Grace | Intruders at Rivermead Manor | The Jazzman’s Trumpet | Menace at Mammoth Cave
March 11, 2023
all these years later and i still think the feed sack dress is the cutest item of clothing to exist
May 25, 2012
This is a really fun book, and it might be my favorite of the American Girl birthday books. It has a strong plot and satisfying character arc, introduces lots of new elements to the story, and brings in the incredibly vivid, memorable character of Aunt Millie. I could never forget her country background and penny-pinching ways, but I didn't fully realize how much fun it was going to be to read this book again through the lens of modern movements. Aunt Millie is the ultimate zero waste queen!
One thing that I didn't remember is that Aunt Millie was not a biological relative. I thought that she was Kit's dad's aunt, but she was actually his adoptive mother, because when his parents died, she and her husband took him in. I didn't remember that at all, and was extremely interested in this backstory tidbit now, especially because of the contrast between his upbringing as an orphan in a poor coal-mining town in Kentucky and his wife's status as a society lady in Cincinnati. How did they end up together? When did they meet? It's such an interesting potential story, but alas, I will never know the details, unless I decide to write fan fiction about it.
That's such a testament to the quality of the American Girl books, though. Usually, childhood favorites lose some of their luster when you reread them in adulthood, but I'm just like, "Wait. In addition to this being great, I want MORE. I want the backstory about all the adults!" This series is so well-crafted, with so many colorful and memorable characters, and they all seem like real people. The parents and other grown-ups aren't just stock characters that fulfill roles, but could be the subjects of their own novels.
Also, Grace is a fabulous fictional dog. Dogs, like small children, are often presented as being Extremely Cute and So Funny in fiction, but then rarely are. The characterization of Grace is appealing, realistic, and hilarious, and she truly becomes part of the family. I love the different details related to the pet adoption, and Grace is probably my favorite fictional dog, along with Hound from the Jeanne Birdsall Penderwicks series.
One thing that I didn't remember is that Aunt Millie was not a biological relative. I thought that she was Kit's dad's aunt, but she was actually his adoptive mother, because when his parents died, she and her husband took him in. I didn't remember that at all, and was extremely interested in this backstory tidbit now, especially because of the contrast between his upbringing as an orphan in a poor coal-mining town in Kentucky and his wife's status as a society lady in Cincinnati. How did they end up together? When did they meet? It's such an interesting potential story, but alas, I will never know the details, unless I decide to write fan fiction about it.
That's such a testament to the quality of the American Girl books, though. Usually, childhood favorites lose some of their luster when you reread them in adulthood, but I'm just like, "Wait. In addition to this being great, I want MORE. I want the backstory about all the adults!" This series is so well-crafted, with so many colorful and memorable characters, and they all seem like real people. The parents and other grown-ups aren't just stock characters that fulfill roles, but could be the subjects of their own novels.
Also, Grace is a fabulous fictional dog. Dogs, like small children, are often presented as being Extremely Cute and So Funny in fiction, but then rarely are. The characterization of Grace is appealing, realistic, and hilarious, and she truly becomes part of the family. I love the different details related to the pet adoption, and Grace is probably my favorite fictional dog, along with Hound from the Jeanne Birdsall Penderwicks series.
August 3, 2025
Rereading all of the Kit books has been so fun but this one has been my favorite so far and definitely gave me the most nostalgia feels. Aunt Millie is iconic and waste-not-want-not was seared into my brain as a child reading these books hahaha
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September 3, 2026{September 2026 Reread}
Yay for Aunt Millie! She's a real one.
Yay for Aunt Millie! She's a real one.
September 29, 2022
Sheltering for the hurricane has given me a chance to read some more nostalgic books, and the happy birthday American Girls were ones I used to read every year for my birthdays. A great lover of Shakespeare, Aunt Millie comes to the Kittredge household to stay and help the family save money during the Depression. Kit's dog Grace also gets introduced for the first time-yay!
November 9, 2024
This is a book of High Highs and some Low Lows, but mainly the Highs.
Aunt Millie is an *excellent* character. She feels so fully realized - we've known Of her through Kit's middle name, but now we get to see just why she's so important. I love that she gets to have the character traits of both "thrifty country woman" and "well-read Shakespeare fan". She's got depth!
And I loved the commentary on how the family - particularly Mom and Kit - feel shame for their poverty. 1/3rd of the country is going through the same thing, and yet they still are conditioned to feel this deep embarrassment and desire to hide their circumstances. It's not subtle per se, but it's also not as on-the-nose as some of AG messaging has been in the past.
But also... a) I have never been fond of the AG animal companions, and this is no exception. Grace is far from the worst of the bunch, but I'm still not inclined to be fond of a dog whose primary purpose in the plot is to cause problems around the house. b) I think it's weird that Kit is the only one who has to apologize?? Like Aunt Millie I love you. But it's weird to go in front of her entire class to invite them to a party, and it's weird to not ask Kit about the theme first.
Aunt Millie is an *excellent* character. She feels so fully realized - we've known Of her through Kit's middle name, but now we get to see just why she's so important. I love that she gets to have the character traits of both "thrifty country woman" and "well-read Shakespeare fan". She's got depth!
And I loved the commentary on how the family - particularly Mom and Kit - feel shame for their poverty. 1/3rd of the country is going through the same thing, and yet they still are conditioned to feel this deep embarrassment and desire to hide their circumstances. It's not subtle per se, but it's also not as on-the-nose as some of AG messaging has been in the past.
But also... a) I have never been fond of the AG animal companions, and this is no exception. Grace is far from the worst of the bunch, but I'm still not inclined to be fond of a dog whose primary purpose in the plot is to cause problems around the house. b) I think it's weird that Kit is the only one who has to apologize?? Like Aunt Millie I love you. But it's weird to go in front of her entire class to invite them to a party, and it's weird to not ask Kit about the theme first.
October 29, 2024
In book four, Kit’s Aunt Millie blows in like a breeze and in a very short amount of time, changes everything with her wise, penny-pinching ways. Sometimes Kit thought she was brilliant. Sometimes, Kit was embarrassed.
I enjoyed all of Aunt Millie’s Southern antics and wise ways, but sometimes she went a little far….
Squeaky clean and wholesome.
Stay tuned for more in-depth monthly book reviews on my cozy YT channel. 💙☕📚
I enjoyed all of Aunt Millie’s Southern antics and wise ways, but sometimes she went a little far….
Squeaky clean and wholesome.
Stay tuned for more in-depth monthly book reviews on my cozy YT channel. 💙☕📚
June 8, 2008
I learned that It takes courage to be an americangirl.. And that kit is a realy amazing girl she is smart, and intelligent, and a brave girl..
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August 2, 2022I love this book for Aunt Millie, the beautiful green dress, and GRACE! I am still insulted they call Grace HOMELY. That dog is a beautiful creature.
I prefer the original cover for this book, but the newer cover is cute too.
I prefer the original cover for this book, but the newer cover is cute too.
August 2, 2022
Aunt Millie is such a fucking icon.
August 6, 2022
Honestly thought this one was a little boring.
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March 21, 2024I think this was one of my favorites back in grade school.
It’s my favorite in the series so far. I love Aunt Millie.
It’s my favorite in the series so far. I love Aunt Millie.
August 18, 2024
grace is the best character ever to exist in a book.
September 15, 2025
GRACE MY BELOVED
November 4, 2025
Love this one but also lady, how can you invite her whole class to a birthday party you're going to throw and then get your feelings hurt and try to leave before the party. Like she's nine, chill out.
December 4, 2025
My favorite so far!
So many fun tips and tricks. But also begging an important question and exploring the answer.
Good! I'll read this again, someday!
So many fun tips and tricks. But also begging an important question and exploring the answer.
Good! I'll read this again, someday!
July 11, 2024
Knocking off a star for the Basset Hound slander. Basset Hounds are adorable, not homely 😠
June 7, 2014
I loved it
August 5, 2014
This one of my top books
January 20, 2026
The Great Depression rages on and things are finances are still tight in Kit's family and she's sad knowing they won't be able to afford the tenth birthday part of her dreams. But Kit is thrilled when her Aunt Millie, the woman who raised her father, arrives for a visit. Aunt Millie is the queen of thriftiness and soon takes over the household with her enterprising and thrifty ways.
Aunt Millie was such an interesting character! I would love to learn more about how she came to raise Kit's father. I loved all of her penny-pinching methods on ways to make do around the house. Aunt Millie has the household cutting sheets in half and flipping them around when the middles get worn, planting a garden, and purchases chickens and sending Kit and Stirling door to door to sell eggs. While Kit's mother is clearly annoyed to have her taking over the household and how it is run, I love that Kit is very into it (until it comes to her birthday party) and happily embraces Aunt Millie's role in the household and even sharing her attic room with her.
I did think the plot wasn't as fully developed as some of the other American Girl books. There wasn't as much tension in this. Basically, Kit ends up hurting Aunt Millie's feelings and then asking forgiveness. Which is great! I was glad to see her making mistakes and then working to correct them, which is a great life lesson. But I just wanted something more from the plot. I wish we had gotten more backstory on Aunt Millie including her past, the job she lost, and her history with the family.
Aunt Millie was such an interesting character! I would love to learn more about how she came to raise Kit's father. I loved all of her penny-pinching methods on ways to make do around the house. Aunt Millie has the household cutting sheets in half and flipping them around when the middles get worn, planting a garden, and purchases chickens and sending Kit and Stirling door to door to sell eggs. While Kit's mother is clearly annoyed to have her taking over the household and how it is run, I love that Kit is very into it (until it comes to her birthday party) and happily embraces Aunt Millie's role in the household and even sharing her attic room with her.
I did think the plot wasn't as fully developed as some of the other American Girl books. There wasn't as much tension in this. Basically, Kit ends up hurting Aunt Millie's feelings and then asking forgiveness. Which is great! I was glad to see her making mistakes and then working to correct them, which is a great life lesson. But I just wanted something more from the plot. I wish we had gotten more backstory on Aunt Millie including her past, the job she lost, and her history with the family.
November 3, 2026
““I think,” Stirling said slowly, “that it is okay to want something, even if it seems impossible. Isn’t that the same as hoping?”
“That’s right,” said Ruthie. “And hope is always good. If we just give up on everything, how will anything ever get better?””
Continuing my quest to read through the American Girl Doll novels of my childhood, I picked up Happy Birthday, Kit by Valerie Tripp. This was such a cute book with lots of important life lessons about resiliency, creativity, and hope. Happy Birthday, Kit is one of the books I remembered best from growing up–to this day I recall Kit and her Aunt Millie making salad out of dandelion weeds, and new dresses out of feed-sacks. I did not remember, however, how Aunt Millie often quotes Shakespeare in the story, which as a high school English teacher I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot remember if Aunt Millie stays in the next few books but I hope she does–I loved her can-do attitude, her boundless energy and the way she breathed new life in the Kittredge house overcoming challenges and hardships. I also love how Grace and Kit found each other and how Kit was able to have a wonderful birthday party despite the hardships of the Depression. I would give Happy Birthday, Kit by Valerie Tripp four out of five stars.
“That’s right,” said Ruthie. “And hope is always good. If we just give up on everything, how will anything ever get better?””
Continuing my quest to read through the American Girl Doll novels of my childhood, I picked up Happy Birthday, Kit by Valerie Tripp. This was such a cute book with lots of important life lessons about resiliency, creativity, and hope. Happy Birthday, Kit is one of the books I remembered best from growing up–to this day I recall Kit and her Aunt Millie making salad out of dandelion weeds, and new dresses out of feed-sacks. I did not remember, however, how Aunt Millie often quotes Shakespeare in the story, which as a high school English teacher I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot remember if Aunt Millie stays in the next few books but I hope she does–I loved her can-do attitude, her boundless energy and the way she breathed new life in the Kittredge house overcoming challenges and hardships. I also love how Grace and Kit found each other and how Kit was able to have a wonderful birthday party despite the hardships of the Depression. I would give Happy Birthday, Kit by Valerie Tripp four out of five stars.
October 19, 2022
The best Kit book so far, largely because of Aunt Millie. I think this is the one Kit book that really concentrates on the necessary thriftiness that defines popular imagination about the Depression. Kit and her friends are initially fascinated by Aunt Millie's money saving ideas, but Kit eventually reflects her mother's embarrassment at not being able to keep up appearances. The ending is a little neat, with Kit's entire class also being enthralled by Aunt Millie and her penny pinching, which seems a bit of a fantasy to me. Then again, probably almost every single student in the class is experiencing at least as much hardship as Kit's family.
A side note about the peak into the past: I'm 99% sure that the glassware on the last page is actually uranium glass. I recently started a small collection of uranium glass, and it is extremely cool. I know there wasn't space here to note how amazing this stuff is, so I wanted to encourage readers to check it out on their own. It glows!
A side note about the peak into the past: I'm 99% sure that the glassware on the last page is actually uranium glass. I recently started a small collection of uranium glass, and it is extremely cool. I know there wasn't space here to note how amazing this stuff is, so I wanted to encourage readers to check it out on their own. It glows!
January 28, 2018
The depression has hit Aunt Millie and temporarily comes to stay, she has unique ways of living which no one in Kits house are used too. Though soon enough Kit becomes fascinated by her thrifty ways of saving money and re-using products that can be saved and re-functioned. Her mother struggles with the embarrassment of what she was doing and soon Kit feels as her mother does. But without her they feel lost and would miss her help and realise these ways to help were really clever and they shouldn’t be embarrassed.
It was a cute book, I liked all the things she was teaching the family to do to scrimp and save; and how Kit admired everything (until she felt embarrassed) and documented all in her book.
It was a cute book, I liked all the things she was teaching the family to do to scrimp and save; and how Kit admired everything (until she felt embarrassed) and documented all in her book.
November 17, 2022
Kit's story continues when Aunt Millie from Kentucky arrives and teaches the family thrifty ways to stretch their limited budget. Kit also rescues an abandoned older dog and celebrates her birthday. Aunt Millie reminded me a bit of Minnie Pearl for some reason. She knows a lot about Shakespeare, thriftness, gardening. etc. but despite being a school teacher she doesn't recognize Kit's shame at being poor after being upper middle class and there is a quickly resolved conflict where it appears that Aunt Millie might leave. Good for middle grade fans of historical fiction. Lovely illustrations.
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