"Birthday stories are abundant, but this one is a worthy addition." — School Library Journal
"With bright, cheerful pictures and a wonderful surprise ending, this warm autobiographical story is. . . filled with celebration. There are full-page scenes of the market, the kitchen, and the family party and also playful details of the food, clothes, decorations, gifts, and piñatas that are part of the festive occasion." — Booklist
"This delightful story. . . expresses both surprise and the love that two sisters share." — Parent Council, Ltd.
"The surprise ending will bring a smile to the reader's face, no matter how old. A story of the deep love between sisters and the importance of celebrations. The illustrations are wonderfully alive with the colors of Mexican American life and art." — The Children's Book Review
"In this sweet autobiographical story, six-year-old Lori, who lives with her family in a town on the US side of the border with Mexico, wants to find the perfect birthday gift for her teenage sister, Cookie. Lopez's illustrations, rendered in gouache and colored pencils on watercolor paper, are warm and bright and inviting. The text is attractively bordered with pictures of objects commonly sold in mercados, so different from supermarkets here. Birthday Swap is a good addition to a collection about Latino families, and is recommended." — De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children
Américas Award Commended Title - Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
K-Gr 3As five-year-old Lori accompanies her mother across the border to Mexico to make preparations for the annual family reunion that marks teenage-sister Cookie's birthday, she tries to think of a present for her and can only come up with what she herself would like. A special surprise is in store for Lori, however, as Cookie, who always has a big summertime celebration, trades birthdays with her younger sister, who was born in December when its too cold for an outdoor party. A careful look at the family members affectionately portrayed in the pictures gives a hint that another treat is to come, when Lori receives the puppy she has longed for. The brightly colored pictures, rendered in gouache and colored pencil, include scenes of a Mexican market, church, and family life on both sides of the border; they have a childlike, folk-art quality. Blocks of text have borders of related objectssupplies for making piatas sold in the market, etc. The members of Lori's extended family vary in complexion and age, but all are plainly having a wonderful time. Mexican-American families and birthdays are also featured in Pat Mora's A Birthday Basket for Ta (1992) and Pablo's Tree (1994, both Macmillan), both of which are illustrated with cheerful collages by Cecily Lang. Birthday stories are abundant, but this one is a worthy addition, and not just for its multicultural aspects.Pam Gosner, formerly at Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ
