As a special treat on Walter's birthday, all his friends will get to ride his horse, Rain. But on the big day Rain gives the kids a surprise: a foal. This tenth easy-to-read chapter book about best friends Iris and Walter once again relates a tender story in plain, lyrical words and brightly colored pen-and-ink artwork, both joyful and touching. In a sweet climax, Iris and Walter name the foal Surprise. Everyone sings Happy Birthday, and Walter felt shy / and a little embarrassed, / but very loved. Children will want to read this again and again.

In Iris and Walter's tenth story, Walter fears that something will go wrong at his birthday party, at which the guests have been invited to ride his horse. Something unexpected does happen, but it makes possible an even more special treat. Guest is characteristically masterful at capturing children's anxieties, and Davenier's freehanded color-dappled art conveys all that her young subjects don't articulate.

Gr 1-3-Walter is having a birthday party complete with cake, ice cream, and horseback riding, and his best friend, Iris, can hardly wait for the day to arrive. They bathe Rain and comb her mane, Iris makes her a special birthday medallion, and Walter's parents assure him that the festivities will run smoothly. Walter is so busy making things just right that he doesn't realize that Rain is ever so close to giving birth. This easy reader is chock-full of universal kid banter, and the child-friendly illustrations in pen and ink provide the perfect backdrop as these two pals go about their everyday lives among family and friends.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.