HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Surprise Books) - Hardcover

ea. vol: illus. by Jean Claverie. un paged. (Surprise Board Bks.). Knopf. Apr. 1986. BD $3.95. PreSThese board books have the at traction of flaps that lift to reveal sur prises for young viewers. The revela tions are integral parts of the simple plots. Happy Birthday!, for instance, shows a small child opening the door for a succession of party guests. My Mommy first juxtaposes the child with an animal mother. The flap covers the real baby animal who is revealed to the viewers. Unfortunately, the story con cepts are better than the illustrations. Some of the animals appear scrawny. Humans and animals are almost uni formly pale, and many gaze from the pages with bug-eyed stares. There are too many lively board books available to purchase these, which are pallid and lifeless.Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, Minn.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.