Today is the Birthday of the World
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