Little Donkey decides he’d like to keep the kite bought for his friend Jackie Yak’s birthday present, but Mama insists he must stick with the original plan. Happily, his friend shares and Little Donkey learns that he will soon have a birthday. Observant children will see the wrapped kite tucked behind a chest and know that Little Donkey, too, will soon have a kite. The simple but expressive illustrations, done in black ink, watercolor, and paper collage (the kite presents are covered in brown wrapping paper), are on a creamy white background . ca

Originally published as Kleine Ezel en Jarige Jakkie in Dutch by Leopold The Netherlands, in 2001. Translated by Marianne Martens.