Tomorrow is Cowboy Ned's birthday and he is far from home with only his trusty horse Andy to keep him company on the cattle drive. Andy decides that he must get a birthday cake for Ned, so he wanders out into the desert on a quest. He meets a cricket, an owl and a scorpion, but they are of no help. Finally a lonely old cowboy reminds Andy that Ned would enjoy his friend's company more than any other gift. So Andy runs back to Ned, the cattle sing "Happy Birthday," and all is well. Stein employs simple, direct sentences, crisp conversation and a smattering of vivid description to convey his gentle message to young readers. Bright, clear ink-and-watercolor illustrations in shades of blue and brown present Andy as a loving, warmhearted friend. He tosses and turns, unable to sleep; his expression is earnest as he speaks to the desert creatures; he is jubilant as he hugs his friend. Warm, fuzzy and friendly. (Picture book. 3-6)

Man's best friend doesn't necessarily have to be of the pooch persuasion—at least, according to this tale of a man and his dapple-gray steed. Stein's straightforward story traces a journey that ends right where it began. At the start, the text sounds almost like Hemingway in its realistic, simplistic language ("They rose before dawn and woke the cows. The day grew hot.... At noon they drank from a cool river"). Ink-and-watercolor illustrations mirror the desert landscape, spare in detail. The story takes on more energy (and a fictional direction) when Andy the horse sets out to find a birthday cake for Cowboy Ned's special day. The animal encounters a cast of critters, each of whom reveals his or her own strength yet is not able to assist him. From the cricket alone with his song, to the owl quietly observing all, the creatures reinforce the desert's stillness. Only when Andy meets a banjo-playing cowboy, "as old as the hills," is he reminded of something he knew all along: "The best thing to have on your birthday is a friend to share it with." This quietly uplifting tale will remind readers, too, that oftentimes one need not travel far to find what one is looking for. Ages 3-6. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(July)

PreS-Gr 2-Cowboy Ned and his horse, Andy, spend a hot, tiring day driving cattle. That night, Andy listens as Ned reveals that tomorrow is his birthday and bemoans the fact that his family is not there to celebrate. Unable to sleep, the horse decides that the man must have a cake and heads into the desert to find one. After asking assistance from a singing cricket, a wide-eyed owl, and a grouchy scorpion, Andy comes upon the lonely house of an old cowboy. He cannot provide a cake, but he helps Andy to realize that "the best thing to have on your birthday is a friend to share it with." As the sun rises, the horse gallops back to camp to give Ned a birthday hug. Stein's language is simple yet expressive. The old cowboy's voice is described as "soft, like hooves on sand, and owl wings, and the movements of dust." These images stir the imagination and also evoke the story's action and setting. Done in ink and watercolor, the cartoon illustrations make the most of the Western landscape, depicting a pale gold daytime sky, a soothingly blue moonlit night, and a multihued sunrise. Thick lines highlight the characters and background objects, providing contrast to the fluid colors. Andy is the star here, and his equine features comically convey concern, dejection, and, ultimately, happiness. A satisfying tale of friendship.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.