“When’s my birthday? When’s my birthday? How many days until my birthday?” The singsong text of this celebratory picture book bursts with the excitement and anticipation of an upcoming birthday. Upon seeing another girl with birthday hat and balloons, a child begins to ask rapid-fire questions about her own big day. “Will my birthday have some singing? Will we sing so happy happy?” The whimsical, childlike questions give way to wishes (“I’d like some berries on my birthday and tiny sandwiches with soup”), and then invitations. Finally, it’s the night before her birthday, and the little girl can hardly sleep with the anticipation. When the big day arrives, it’s filled with everything a birthday should be: friends, decorations, and cake. The soft, subdued palette of the illustrations balances the story’s exuberant text, and the diverse cast of characters includes a child of unspecified gender wearing a dress. Highly Commended, 2018 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 3-7)