New York City-Bailey's Birthday (Birthdays Children's Books) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Happy (Author), Andra Chase (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Seventeen days until Margot's seventh birthday- and then it will be Bailey's birthday, too! It's the Great Birthday Month!

And birthdays mean presents- or so Bailey has heard.

"I'm sure you'll get lots," says Claudia. Her owner Nicki always gets FABULOUS gifts.

"We must have to be good...," says Margot, "before we get all our presents, too."

And Bailey isgood. He doesn't bark. He doesn't jump on Aunt Syl. He doesn't sleep on the sofa. Bailey is actually CALM! "Here come the presents, " thinks the hopeful dalmatian.

Bailey will soon discover that the best presents are not gift-wrapped.

Set in New York City, author Elizabeth Happy's story of great expectations presents a dog's eye view of big city life- from comfortable brownstones to soaring skyscrapers, from the din of early morning garbage collectors to the clamor of evening rush hour, form Central Park to the Staten Island Ferry.

Illustrator Andra Chase has captured the whole scene in vivid watercolors. And her depictions of the eager-to-please Bailey and his muddled sidekick Claudia are heart stealing.

Bailey's Birthday is "a kiss and a bandanna" and a gift of love to readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gifts from the heart are the best gifts of all. That's the message drummed into readers in this decidedly less-than-subtle picture book. Bailey, a frisky dalmatian, and Margot, his owner, are due to celebrate a birthday. Meanwhile, Bailey attends Margot's friend's birthday party and concludes that if he's good enough, he, too, will get an enormous pile of loot. But Margot's parents are going through tough times financially, and the presents, when the big day finally arrives, are humble, the main focus being a fun family outing for all. The tale suffers from an excess of earnestness, and children are unlikely to enjoy being preached to by a dalmatian. However, readers can't help but sympathize with the dog's dashed hopes. Chase's ever-sunny watercolors of the Manhattan setting provide a welcoming backdrop. A videocassette and an activity book are also available, either separately or packaged with the book. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Bailey, a dalmatian, and his soon-to-be seven-year-old owner Margot anxiously await their shared birthday. The pup is sure he'll receive lots of presents and spends weeks being on his best behavior. When the big day arrives, he gets an orange bandanna, a kiss, and a piece of Margot's birthday cake. The lesson, explained in a full page at the end of the book (in case it wasn't obvious), is to appreciate worth and goodness not by material rewards but by love and a sense of belonging. The text is wordy, self-conscious, and filled with extraneous details that bring the flow of the text to a distracting halt. The watercolor illustrations are appealing and convey an exciting, if totally sanitized, view of modern urban life, making the two-page spread about the history of New York City unnecessary. This well-intentioned fable is a rather pedestrian effort.
Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Self-Esteem and Self Respect Publications - MarshMedia (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559420596
• ISBN-13: 978-1559420594
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #982,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)