Today is a special day: the birthday of the world, when God and all God's creatures celebrate the beauty of life. As God asks each dear creature in turn whether it has been the best that it can be, this simple affirmation of life and goodness applauds the contribution that each and every one of us - from the mightiest elephant to the smallest child - can make. The whimsical animals in Alison Jay's perfectly composed crackled paintings will make this a favorite book on the family shelf.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
God is the voice in this whimsical picture book that imagines a celebration of the world’s birthday. In an affectionate address to each animal, from a giraffe to a cow, God points out everyone’s unique gifts and the ways that each contributes to the world’s well-being, whether it is the bee who spreads pollen, the cow who provides milk to feed children, or the tiny worm: “Did you tunnel about, / Happy that I’d chosen you to bring rain underground?” God’s final words are aimed at a child: “Did you laugh and have fun, / Happy that I’d chosen you to lift the world’s spirit?” The loving words, organized into rhymed couplets that scan easily, partner well with the glowing, colorful illustrations that show a smiling Earth populated with fancifully oversized animals. Shifts in scale and perspectives, which move from intimate close-ups to expansive vistas, add to the visual playfulness. Together, the text and art create an inspirational, whimsical offering that emphasizes kindness, individual purpose, and the interconnections among all beings. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Shelle Rosenfeld
About the Author
Linda Heller lives in New York City.
Allison Jay lives in London, England.
Allison Jay lives in London, England.
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Where My Ideas Came From
The idea for Today is the Birthday of the World came during a Rosh Hashanah service. I heard the words "Today is the birthday of the world. Today all of God's creatures pass before God..." and I realized that children would adore this procession. And such an all-inclusive parade seemed the perfect illustration of the idea that every living creature has a vital contribution to make if our world is to flourish.
My grandparents died before I was born. When I was a child my parents told me they'd crossed the Atlantic in steerage. I knew little else about them and yearned to know more. In the end I read history books, visited Ellis Island and wrote my own tale. When I illustrated The Castle on Hester Street I modeled the grandfather after my father and the grandmother after my father's mother. Boris Kulikov illustrated the 25th Anniversary Edition and his talent as a set designer coupled with the fact that he, like my grandparents, emigrated from Russia gave the new edition a dazzling sense of place.
I loved to read as a child and my favorite books were about large happy families. I never saw myself in any book though and later when I had the opportunity to write and illustrate children's books I put myself in Lily at the Table and Horace Morris. These days I'm working on texts that will tell children about the happy world I eventually found.
I've just completed a heartening non-fiction book for adults filled with interviews with people who transformed their pain into joy. This work was fueled by my desire to learn to trust and welcome whatever came my way.
The idea for Today is the Birthday of the World came during a Rosh Hashanah service. I heard the words "Today is the birthday of the world. Today all of God's creatures pass before God..." and I realized that children would adore this procession. And such an all-inclusive parade seemed the perfect illustration of the idea that every living creature has a vital contribution to make if our world is to flourish.
My grandparents died before I was born. When I was a child my parents told me they'd crossed the Atlantic in steerage. I knew little else about them and yearned to know more. In the end I read history books, visited Ellis Island and wrote my own tale. When I illustrated The Castle on Hester Street I modeled the grandfather after my father and the grandmother after my father's mother. Boris Kulikov illustrated the 25th Anniversary Edition and his talent as a set designer coupled with the fact that he, like my grandparents, emigrated from Russia gave the new edition a dazzling sense of place.
I loved to read as a child and my favorite books were about large happy families. I never saw myself in any book though and later when I had the opportunity to write and illustrate children's books I put myself in Lily at the Table and Horace Morris. These days I'm working on texts that will tell children about the happy world I eventually found.
I've just completed a heartening non-fiction book for adults filled with interviews with people who transformed their pain into joy. This work was fueled by my desire to learn to trust and welcome whatever came my way.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Today is the Birthday of the World,
By Jewish Book World Magazine (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Today is the Birthday of the World (Hardcover)
"Today is the birthday of the world. Today all of God's creatures pass before God..." Thus begins this picture book in which God asks a series of creatures if they have been the best that they could be. In each case God points out a helpful skill each creature possesses which makes the world a better place ("my dear little elephant, did you move the downed tree, happy that I'd chosen you to keep the road clear? This year...were you the best little elephant that you could be?"). Finally, God asks a child the same question, and upon hearing that all of his creatures have been the best they could be, God is happy and declares that their goodness is what makes the world a better place. Although clearly non-denominational, the reference to self-reflection on the occasion of the birthday of the world ties in with the themes of the Jewish High Holy Days. Still, the simple repetitive text teeters toward the didactic, and is redeemed only by interest generated in discovering what special contribution each creature makes to the world. What makes this book noteworthy are the charming illustrations painted in oil with the artist's characteristic crackle finish. Simple shapes define a landscape of gently rolling hills, bulbous trees and deep blue seas. Featured animals have a whimsical quality enhanced by their tiny eyes and exaggerated proportions. A rich warm palette of gold, orange, green and blue brings a calm spiritual feel to the whole while celebrating the good things that shared effort brings to all. Finally, a personified planet Earth plays host to God's creatures while blowing out the candles on a tall pink cake. Given the book's visual charm, it is a bit unfortunate that the message feels so weighty. This is a perfect world in which creatures large and small, animal and human, are asked not to atone, but to be good all the time, and in this regard the book itself might have just missed the mark. Ages 3-6. Teri Markson
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Thoughtful,
By
This review is from: Today is the Birthday of the World (Hardcover)
This is a very thoughtful book that teaches kids the importance of doing their best and the wonderful things that animals and children can do. The book starts with the announcement that today is the birthday of the world and each creature is asked whether (s)he was the best that the creature could be. The beaver is asked if (s)he built a strong dam, the fish is asked if (s)he glowed while swimming, and the child is asked about sharing, among other things. The pictures in this book are gorgeous and fit perfectly with the story.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Today is the Birthday of the World (Hardcover)
Love this book. It's delightful to read and communicates a wonderful message for kids and adults alike: every living thing has a purpose and reason for being - when every animal/person is the best he/she can be then the world is the best place it can be. More importantly, my 2.5 year old love its.
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Inside This Book
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Little Elephant, Little Beaver Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Little Elephant, Little Beaver Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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