The Toy Museum

The Boy Who Gave His Birthdays Back

by Mark Roland Langdale

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Pub Date 28 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 25 Feb 2021

Troubador Publishing Ltd. | Matador

Children's Fiction | Teens & YA

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Description

Alfie Jolly is 59 and unhappy with his life. More specifically, with his birthdays. You see, none of them have been any good and with his sixtieth on its way, Alfie can’t help but think he’s been wronged. Spur of the moment, Alfie decides he wants to return/recycle all of his old birthdays. The only trick now is to find out how. A trip the North Pole, a chat with Father Christmas, and a flight to Egypt later, Alfie meets Father Birthday who, eventually, agrees to help turn back the clock. Literally.

Suddenly Alfie is a child again, reliving each birthday and making new and better memories. Like in 1966 when he and his family travel to Disney World, or go to the fair in 1967 or when he relives the moon landing where the love his life, pretty Suzy Gentry, sits next to him on the sofa. His life is great with dancing again in classes and racing around with his twin, but it isn’t long before shadows start creeping in to this dream childhood of never-ending birthdays. Is it a case of be careful what you wish for or be grateful for every moment you have – before it ends?

A Note From the Publisher

Mark Roland Langdale has had a varied life and career. He has worked with children and teenagers, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in an effort to fundraise, travelled down the Amazon and is a longtime member of Greenpeace. Mark likes to write modern day fairytales with an undercurrent of real life issues such as mental health, environment, dyslexia which he suffers from himself, and autism.

Mark Roland Langdale has had a varied life and career. He has worked with children and teenagers, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in an effort to fundraise, travelled down the Amazon and is a longtime...

Available Editions

EDITION	Ebook
ISBN	9781800467675
PRICE	US$4.99 (USD)
PAGES	200

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Additional Information

Average rating from 8 members

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Featured Reviews

Kelly M, Media/Journalist

The Toy Museum -The Boy Who Gave His Birthdays Back is a heart-warming yet sad and poignant look at what birthdays mean to people.
It's cleverly written so will appeal to both children and adults and is something they can read and discuss together.

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Clara C, Educator

This is a really lovely book highlighting the importance of appreciating all we have and the importance of memories. How wonderful it was to see Alfie’s enjoyment of retrospectively visiting Disney World with his family and reliving life altering experiences such as Neill Armstrong’s first steps on the moon when he thought those memories were long gone and almost forgotten. This book teachers the reader to cherish all we have and all that we experience, to cherish our loved ones and those we hold dear, because they won’t be around forever.

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Sheila T, Reviewer

This book is sweet and sad at the same time. Some people do not like celebrating their birthdays. In this book, Alfie wants to give away his birthdays.

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Abby S, Reviewer

A lovely touching story of birthdays.Of what birthdays mean to people most love celebrating their special day.There are people who would be happy to give theirs away..A book adults and children will relate to.#netgalley #troubador books,