The Lettuce Leaf Birthday Letter by Linda L. Taylor, Julie Durrell (Illustrator)

Publishers Weekly

Brilliantly colored and spilling over with comical particulars, Durrell's (Mouse Tails; It's My Birthday!) buoyant pictures deserve top billing here. At the start of debut author Taylor's genial story, Duck decides to make a painting as a birthday gift for his best friend, Goose. Strapping a lettuce leaf to his easel, the beret-wearing artist (liberally splashing himself with paint) creates a masterpiece and bids "mailrabbit" to deliver it to the birthday girl. The absent-minded but resourceful bunny immediately forgets for whom the missive is intended, and attempts to give it to various animal residents-each imbued with his or her own distinct personality, wryly fleshed out in Durrell's art-along his delivery route. Youngest readers will be tickled to have been one step ahead of the muddle-headed mailrabbit throughout this merry romp. Ages 3-7. (Mar.)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2In honor of Goose's birthday, Duck paints her a picture on a lettuce leaf and asks the mail rabbit to take it to her as fast as he can. Unfortunately, Duck can't write, so when Rabbit forgets who should get the edible card, there is no address to prompt him and he tries to deliver it to creatures all over town. Meanwhile, Goose is distraught that her best friend has forgotten her birthday. When she finally gets the limp leaf, she erupts with joy, oblivious to Rabbit's regrets about how much crisper it had been that morning, how Owl had squeezed it, and how Pig had nibbled it to almost nothing. Although the theme is nothing new, the crazy mail mix-up adds an interesting twist to this pleasant story. The full-color art is vibrant and whimsical, and observant readers will enjoy picking up the distinctive characteristics of each animal's house. An adequate addition if you find yourself constantly short of birthday books.Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA

BookList

Duck sends a birthday card--a painting on a large, crisp lettuce leaf--to Goose and asks the mail rabbit to deliver it quickly. But forgetful Rabbit gets confused and can't remember who the present is for. It's not for Beaver, or Pig, or Owl, though each needs a little cheering up. Rabbit does his best in helping all his friends, but by the time he finally remembers that the lettuce leaf should be given to Goose, it's wilted and the worse for wear. Goose, though, is delighted to hear from her best friend, Duck, and Rabbit is forgiven. Durrell's bright illustrations in gouache, watercolors, and dyes add to this upbeat story of friendship.

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