When's My Birthday?

When it comes to young children, there is one day that supersedes all others: the birthday. Fogliano understands the singular focus children have for this day and captures that intensity by repeating the word birthday with a playful obsessiveness: "when's my birthday? / where's my birthday? / how many days until / my birthday?" Her rhythmic, stream-of-consciousness text (which displays a Ruth Krauss-like insight into the child psyche) makes this a strong read-aloud that invites the reader to practically sing the words. Robinson mixes his signature cut-paper and paint style with some more photo-collage elements--pictures of actual sandwiches, real string, etc.--giving the illustrations an added layer of texture. In them an eclectic cast of characters, both human and animal, joins in the unbearable anticipation--imagining the presents, the party guests, the food (including the all-important birthday cake)--before arriving at the big day itself: "happy happy! / hee! hee! hee! / time for cakey / wakey wakey / happy happy day to me!" The unique trim size conjures the look of a birthday card: with its tall, thin dimensions, you almost expect a crisp dollar bill to be tucked between the pages. minh lê