HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAISY
by Lucy Cousins & illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Toddlers can gleefully participate in the festivities in this Maisy (Maisy Goes to Bed, 1990, etc.) adventure. Simple verse details the rituals surrounding a birthday; onlookers see Maisy receive cards in the mail, dress in her special outfit, play hide-and-seek, and, of course, enjoy a boisterous rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Incorporating the lyrics of the song into the text encourages children to sing the familiar tune while “reading” the story. Cousins’s signature style is in full effect; bold colors leap off the white backgrounds, while sturdy pages with easily manipulated pull-tabs and flaps make this party toddler-proof. A merry little tale that celebrates children’s universal love of birthdays. (Picture book. 2-4)