The Secret Birthday Message
Paperback – Picture Book, May 23, 1986
HarperCollins · Paperback · May 23, 1986
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.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A treasure hunt pairs playful discovery with shapes, patterns, and a little map-reading.
- Themes
- Treasure hunt, Coded message, Early learning concepts
- Pacing
- Fast
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
Lunar New Year With the Very Hungry CaterpillarEric Carle54% matchShares Interactive Adventures
A Day at the Beach With the Very Hungry CaterpillarEric Carle58% matchShares Interactive Adventures
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Peekaboo HalloweenEric Carle56% matchShares Interactive Adventures
Let's PlayLeo Lionni56% match
It's My BirthdayHelen Oxenbury60% matchShares Birthday Stories
A Book of LovesCynthia Rylant54% match
The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric Carle60% match
Please Bury Me in the LibraryJ. Patrick Lewis58% match
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
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.
Continue reading
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.
Clues in Color
A treasure hunt pairs playful discovery with shapes, patterns, and a little map-reading.
Come here for
- A message in code and an adventure through shadowy spaces
- Colorful clues that invite preschoolers to notice shapes and directions
Expect
- An engaging read-aloud with a happy surprise
- A story that can open the door to simple map-making
Where it sits
| Math Stories | 40% |
|---|---|
| Interactive Adventures | 26% |
| Birthday Stories | 25% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Color Books
- Size & Shape
- Family Stories
- Christmas & Advent
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Birthday Stories
- Interactive Adventures
- Early Readers
- Imagination & Play
- Authors
- Eric Carle
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- May 23, 1986
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Treasure hunt · Coded message · Early learning concepts
- Reading lane
- Color Books