• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

A quest for the perfect birthday present leads to ever grander (and ever more imperfect) gift ideas in this clever metafiction story that's hilarious any day of the year.

“I wanted to get you the greatest present ever,” our narrator tells us. But somehow, none of the best ideas seemed to pan out. First, there was the pair of hand-knitted birthday socks (have you ever tried knitting birthday socks?). Then, the ten-scoop ice cream cone (a disaster to carry), the magic kit (it disappeared, just like magic!), the apple juice-fueled jet pack (still a few kinks to work out) and the dinosaur (I couldn't find one anywhere). And now, time has run out, and our narrator still has nothing to give. Or, maybe there is something after all. Something that contains all those awesome gifts in one. Something that can be enjoyed again and again, just by turning the pages ...

In their debut picture book, Emmy Award-winning children's television writers Mike Erskine-Kellie and Susan McLennan have created a laugh-out-loud story filled with heart. The metafiction approach (speaking directly to “you”) and fun story together with the antic exuberance of Cale Atkinson's bold and colorful illustrations make this a lively read-aloud that will keep even the youngest children engaged. Though a book about finding the perfect birthday present is itself the perfect birthday present, it's also simply a delightful read for any time of year. It also offers an excellent character education lesson on perseverance.

Mike Erskine-Kellie is a writer and producer for television. I Got You a Present!, which he wrote with his wife, Susan McLennan, is his first picture book. Mike lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Mike Erskine-Kellie's profile page

Susan McLennan is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer for television. I Got You a Present!, which she wrote with her husband Mike Erskine-Kellie, is her first picture book. Susan lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Susan McLennan's profile page

Cale Atkinson est illustrateur, auteur et animateur. Ses oeuvres se retrouvent dans des livres pour enfants, des courts-métrages, des jeux et à la télévision. Il a signé les illustrations de l'album If I Had a Gryphon de Vikki VanSickle. Cale habite à Kelowna, en Colombie-Britannique.

Cale Atkinson is an illustrator, writer, animator whose work can be found in children's books, animated shorts, television, and games. Cale is the illustrator of If I Had a Gryphon by Vikki VanSickle. He lives in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Cale Atkinson's profile page

... endlessly inventive ...

Kirkus Reviews

With a comic feeling that is reminiscent of Mo Willems or Ben Clanton's picture books, I Got You a Present! is sure to be a hit with the kindergarten crowd and will likely be enjoyed by older kids as well.

CM Magazine

A sweet and silly birthday treat.

Booklist

... appealing and engaging .... a delightful picture book that is appropriate for young children ages 4 through 7.

KIDS FIRST!