I absolutely loved this book. It's about a 7 year old girl celebrating her birthday. Reading the book felt like it was really being told by a 7 year old. Tanya Wright wrote it beautifully and really embodied the 7 year old personality in the story perfectly. It really felt like a 7 year old was telling me a story. I will be getting this book for my elementary school library and I know my students will absolutely love it!

This was a cute enough story about a girl who is about to turn 7 and she really wants a bike. Instead, her parents get her a comb and a barrette and she's so bummed, until she realizes she can use her imagination to take herself to "My Magic Nation" where the items talk. My complaint about this book is that the imagination stuff didn't come until about 2/3 in, so I think the rest of this series will be great, but this one was just too much set up.

I Magic Nation…oh to be a child again with a vast imagination. She was witty and knew exactly what she wanted for her birthday. However, her family had other plans. Having a realization that maybe other children didn’t get gifts at all, she was thankful for her family and friends to showered her with love. Assuming there is a part 2, I am interested to see what other adventures she will have with Barbara and Charlie.

Hairiette's hair is all glowy and sparkly, but when she gets hair adornments for her 7th birthday instead of the bike that she REALLY wants disappointment almost rules the day until she learns about imagination. Fun chapter book with needed lessons.
Aunt Zelda!
The illustrations by Ashley Evans are fun, brilliantly colorful, and tell the story, too..
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Pub Date Sep 02, 2025 I requested and received an uncorrected digital galley from SOURCEBOOKS Kids | Sourcebooks Young Readers via NetGalley. ***** #review #goodreads #storygraph #NetGalley @librarythingofficial #TheGreatBirthdaySurprise by Tanya Wright @tanyaishair and illustrated by Ashley Evans @ash_from_queens #HairietteofHarlemBk1 @sourcebookskids #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensbookillustration @childrensbookcouncil #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk @indigo #kidsbooks #imagination #creativity #family #hairsalon #birthdaypresent #friendship #sparkles #disappointment #chapterbook

Hairiette is proud of her beautiful hair that glows like a beautiful milky way galaxy. She was a fun main character to read about with an interesting heritage, warm, loving family, and a close connection to her city. I liked the story about her imagination, her birthday, and her connection to "magic nation" based on the word "imagination".

I kept wondering what happened with the bike and why everyone was winking? I assume there will be a sequel. This was a fun transitional chapter book that I recommend for schools and libraries.