Isabel’s Birthday Surprise

K-Gr 3–Isabel wakes up excited on her birthday, dreaming of a big party with a giant piñata, candy, cake, and all her friends in attendance. The adults in her life try to temper her expectations, reminding her that a small family fiesta is more feasible, and store-bought piñatas cost a lot of money. Still, they assure her, there will be cake. As the day goes on, Isabel experiences a series of disappointments that leave her uncertain about having any birthday celebration at all. In the end, Isabel’s family comes through with a birthday surprise, and the day ends in joy and gratitude. But it is the focus on Isabel’s anxieties leading up to the big event that makes the book a helpful tool for talking about the emotions that surround special events. Isabel’s inner world is vividly illustrated, with brightly colored art swirling around her in a style reminiscent of papel picado, visually expressing her hopes and worries. A robust bilingual Reader’s Note provides guidance for adults, offering activities to support children’s emotional development, and includes a recipe for Mexican buñuelos.