Confession time: I forgot my nephew’s December birthday once. (Holiday madness!) So when I found A Birthday Fairy Tail, it stabbed me right in the guilty feels. Megan Pighetti—who I think also wrote The Forgetful Elf?—gets how Christmas overshadows kid-sized tragedies.

Reese’s party doom is painfully relatable: Dad’s waist-deep in garlands, Mom’s icing snowflake cookies (so not birthday cake). The illustrations scream vintage Hallmark with their rosy cheeks and floating fairy dust. But here’s the genius—the fairy doesn’t fix things magically. She just helps Reese find her voice (subtle win for emotional EQ).

Best bits?
• The rhyme scheme—so smooth you’ll accidentally sing it (”Maybe if I wish aloud… will my fairy hear me now?”)
• Reese’s pajamas—striped and basically my kid’s exact Target pair (twinning!)
• No villainy—just overwhelmed parents learning to pause (sweet reassurance for hearings)

Pro Tip: Pair with Llama Llama Holiday Drama for a double feature on Communication > Tantrums. Art nerd note: The painterly style reminds me of Sophie’s Squash—warm brushes, soft light.