I Love Birthdays

PreS-K—This precious and uncomplicated picture book expresses pure joy through simple rhyming text and endearing watercolors. Ollie, a zebralike creature, lists all the things he loves about birthdays. "I love treasure hunts,/a yummy treat,/party hats, and dancing feet!" Ollie's animal friends, including his dog Fred, all join him in celebrating. For Ollie, the best part comes at the end of the day. "What I love best is to giggle with Fred, with a birthday balloon above my bed." The text is short and sweet with only a handful of words on each page. Share this with your youngest audiences or hand it to new readers seeking something unintimidating. Walker's whimsical smiling creatures (reminiscent of a child's beanbag toys) appear against a pure white background, putting them center stage. Amusing layouts in which animals peek over the edge of the page or the birthday boy sails upward on a fistful of balloons emphasize the lighthearted tone.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI