A pleasant, lilting text describes the shopping expedition of a brown-skinned toddler and her dad who are planning a special surprise for mom's birthday. The shifting perspectives of the brightly colored goauche paintings add to the sense of anticipation felt by all involved in the preparations for a celebration. (Ages 2-4)

In this warm and sunny picture book, follow the progress of a little girl and her father as they put together a wonderful birthday surprise for mom: a window box flower garden.

After the pansies, tulips, daffodils, geraniums, and daisies are purchased and dad and daughter take them home on the bus, they're lovingly planted in the window box. Candles on the cake are lighted—just as Mom walks in the door to find her daughter, her husband, and her birthday surprise.

“Wonderful, warm, full-color illustrations present scenes from novel angles, and depict a loving family with a sense of intimacy, sincerity, and joy.”—School Library Journal