Boa’s Bad Birthday

Boa the snake is expecting the best birthday ever, with all his friends bringing him wonderful presents, but things don't turn out quite as he hoped. Each animal brings something that would suit the giver rather than the birthday boy: grand pianos, sunglasses, and mittens aren't much use to someone without fingers, a nose or fingers. So it continues until the most unexpected present turns out to be just perfect.

Young readers will easily recognise Boa's disappointment at his presents, but Willis and Ross also remind us that we need to think carefully about our friends, and how they might be different from us, and therefore what present would suit them. As always, Ross's illustrations add an inimitable extra dimension.