The Birthday Presents - Softcover

Paul Stewart studied at Lancaster University, followed by an MA in Creative Writing, and at the end of the year he had his first story published. He met Chris Riddell as their children go to the same school. Chris Riddell was born in South Africa but has lived in England from the age of one. He has established himself as one of Britain's most talented artists, producing cartoons for the Observer and the Economist. He has been shortlisted for numerous awards.

PreSchool-Grade 2-This British team's sequel to A Little Bit of Winter (HarperCollins, 1999) features Rabbit (with bulging forehead and Keane-size eyes) and bristle-backed Hedgehog in a tale of birthday irony. The two friends discover that although neither knows the date of his own birthday, they share a desire for a celebration. They set the following day as one of joint commemoration, and each one busies himself with a quest for the perfect gift. That evening, Hedgehog imagines Rabbit sleeping in the dark silence and dampness of his burrow and decides on a bottle of moonlight as the ideal present for his buddy. Early the next day, Rabbit, snug in his underground bed, pictures his friend as sleep deprived in the open air and creates a box of coziness for him. Good manners prevail as the animals exchange packages and express delight at gifts that don't quite hit the mark. After each creature finds a more practical use for the item, he honestly tells the other that his present is the best ever. Muted golds, greens, and blues dapple the pen-and-watercolor illustrations. A modest story with an appealing message.
Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
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