Book excerpt: Do children really need over-the-top birthday parties with pony rides, bounce houses, corporate movie characters, food trucks, and themed decorations? Or destination parties that require renting nail salons, skating rinks, restaurants, and video arcades? Over-the-top parties can lead to more stress, despite parents urge to outsource party planning. In Best Buddies Birthdays, mother-daughter authors Sally Butzin and Charlotte Beal offer a detailed and specific guide on how to plan and host a fabulous party--without all the craziness--that will bring joy and satisfaction to the five- to ten-year-old child. It covers planning, sending invitations, buying prizes, offering refreshments, and writing thank-you notes. But its centerpiece is 50 clearly explained, child-tested party games and activities to choose from. This guide emphasizes the important life lessons children learn through Best Buddies Birthdays, including empathy, hospitality, graciousness, appreciation, sportsmanship, and kindness. Field-tested with real kids, Best Buddies Birthdays can bring back the joy and innocence of childhood, while instilling positive values and saving money. It takes a step away from the norm of over-the-top parties and embraces a more down-to-earth approach to giving children a special day.