MY BIRDIE

A golden bird hides a sweet surprise beneath her wing.

Spare sentences in a child's voice proudly describe the physical appearance of the little bird. “My birdie's tail has three green feathers.” The descriptions gracefully incorporate a small range of colors: “My birdie has one bright yellow beak…has two little black feet.” The chicks in her nest are pink. Cartoon bubbles capture the bird's noises and actions (“Cheep, cheep!”; “Flitter, flutter!”). Square pieces (numbered one through four) fit into the center of each right-hand page and pop out to form a puzzle; the puzzle's image is duplicated on the page beneath each piece to ensure consistent design throughout and preserve the integrity of the book once pieces are inevitably lost. There's nothing beyond friction to keep the puzzle pieces in place, and the gimmick fails to extend the narrative. Companion title My Bunny highlights a rabbit with the same impractical design.

While the puzzle gimmick fails to soar, the book succeeds without it.