From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-A high-interest look at a special day that is universally recognized. Brief chapters cover customs in Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Sweden. Each one begins with a short description of the country's location or geography, or a historical note. Birthday foods, decorations, games, history, and present-giving habits are all described in simple language. The accompanying illustrations, done in soft pastels, depict family-centered festivities. A chapter on "Birthday Superstitions"; lists of the gems, flowers, and character traits linked to each month in America; and instructions for throwing an "Around the World Birthday Party" further fuel interest. This is an engrossing introduction to the study of world cultures and will be a useful tool in both libraries and classrooms.
Hannah Hoppe, Miles City Public Library, MTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Lankford adds another solid title to her collection of books about international games and celebrations that began with
Hopscotch around the World (1992). This time she highlights how birthdays are celebrated in seven countries--Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Sweden. On each spread, she briefly introduces a country and then explores its birthday games, food, gifts, and other traditions. A succinct introduction gives an overview of birthday history, including holy birthdays celebrated by Christians, Buddhists, and other faiths, and Lankford reminisces about her own Texas birthday traditions in a warm, personal author's note. The collection of countries is a bit odd. With only seven countries represented, why choose two from Scandinavia? But Lankford selects just the right details to engage children's interest, and Dugan's colorful paint-and-pencil pictures of joyful celebrations will easily draw children back to the text. Sure to find wide curricular appeal; its attractive layouts and manageable length will also invite browsers.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
