cover image Oliver's Birthday

Oliver's Birthday

Marilee R. Burton. HarperCollins Publishers, $11.95 (24pp) ISBN 978-0-06-020879-0

Poor Oliver! It's his birthday but none of his friends seems to have remembered it. Oliver (an ostrich) waits and worries mournfully, while his palsan elephant, a lion, some giraffes and a few other animalsprepare a party in the background. Finallysurprise, surprise!the animals come into the open bearing gifts, banners and balloons. Burton's deliberately simplified illustrations are soothing and unambiguous; her minimal text also conveys the story succinctly. Young children may be relieved to see that feelings of being left out can be followed by a happy ending. (3-5)