The Birthday Girl

Carol L. MacKay is a children’s librarian living in Bawlf, Alberta.

Eight-year-old Nell is feeling left out. Yesterday she was the centre of
attention because it was her birthday, but now she’s being shooed out
of the kitchen, where her Mom is canning pickles. Her brother Sinclair
plays tricks on her, and her older sister Margaret is going for a ride
to Swift Current in a brand new buggy without her. Worst of all, her
beloved cat, Lady Jane, has disappeared.

Set in the early 1900s, Jean Little’s chapter book has wide
contemporary appeal. Nell is a lively and imaginative character with a
credible inner voice that young readers will relate to. Short chapters,
manageable sentences, and a plot line filled with dramatic high points
move the story along. The reason for Lady Jane’s disappearance is
almost immediately predictable, but there is enough uncertainty and
drama surrounding the fate of her litter to keep interest up. June
Lawrason’s full-page black-and-white pencil illustrations fit
perfectly with the text and ground the reader in time and place.

This is an excellent choice for young fans of historical fiction, and
for teachers or librarians looking for a good fit with an early Canadian
prairie theme. A teacher’s guide is available from the publisher.
Highly recommended.