Dr. Seuss’ ‘Happy Birthday To You’ Turns 50 With Party, Baby Editions

Yesterday being Dr. Seuss’ 105th birthday and all, it seems like the perfect time to revisit the good doctor’s 1959 classic, Happy Birthday to You. And, this being the 50th birthday of that selfsame classic, Random House has marked the occasion with a colorful new edition aimed at the littlest (pre-)readers in the family.

Borrowing, and in some cases updating (the skinnydipping main character, for instance, now sports trunks!), images from its longer-form sibling, Happy Birthday, Baby! also encourages interaction through features such as textured surfaces, pull tabs and sniffable birthday flowers. It’s short enough to make for a quick bedtime read, but substantial enough that little ones will be squeaking, “Again! Again!” before lights-out.

Happy Birthday to You has also gotten a stylistic upgrade for the big 5-0 — but Dr. Seuss purists needn’t worry. The new “Party Edition” of the book features a vivid foil cover that practically pops off the bookshelf — but from the rhymes to the illustrations, the pages within are just as we remember them.

Happy Birthday, Baby: $US9.99 (Barnes & Noble)

Happy Birthday to You! Party Edition: $US14.95 (Barnes & Noble)