It's Jenny's birthday! Her brothers and friends treat her to a picnic party in the park, complete with presents, cake, and dancing.

This is a sweet picture book with zero conflict. I can imagine it being great to share with a child on her or his birthday, or in the days leading up to said birthday to talk about the types of things one could do to celebrate.

Apparently this title is part of a series of books about the shy little cat named Jenny. Some of the other cats are mentioned as though they might have backstories in the other books, but this one stands alone pretty well overall.

The illustrations are fairly simple, alternating between black-and-white and color pages. They fit the text well, providing a graphic counterpart with a few extra details in the mix.

My one and only complaint with this book is the cat who sports "an Indian feather in honor of the birthday" (cultural appropriation) and a quick reference to "firemen" rather than "firefighters" (gender stereotyping). But, given that this book was published in 1954, I can mostly overlook these. ( )

The story is about a little, shy black cat named Jenny Linsky. She is taken out on a picnic, which involves an exciting trip through New York City. Along the way, she and her brothers meet various friends who join in on and attend the picnic party. Jenny is very happy to have all her cat friends be part of the party and she ends with a prayer asking that all cats be as lucky as she is.
I did enjoy reading this book. The colorful illustrations added great imagery for me, or any reader, which allowed me to experience the book and hectic-ness of the day. I think that such pictures in a book are a strength for it because it provides context and a clear depiction of the scenery. Since the book is not in an imaginary place (it is in New York City), giving the reader a sort of vacation away from their current setting is a gateway to not only understanding, but engaging with the content as well. With various landmarks and so-called "New York" things in the background of the images, it allows one to feel like if they are part of the book, and shows them how life actually is for the cats.

Jenny Linsky, her brothers Checkers and Edward, and her many friends celebrate her birthday in the park. With bluefish to eat and Jenny's favorite dance - the Sailor's Hornpipe - to enjoy, it's a party to remember...

This gentle storybook, devoted to the shy black cat from Greenwich Village, is a real treat for Esther Averill fans, who can enjoy the larger format illustrations to be found in a picture book. The inclusion of Pickles the Fire-Cat (a childhood favorite of mine) gave Jenny's Birthday Book added appeal for this particular reader... ( )

i liked this book a lot, especially pickles the famous fire cat. ( )

Cute story and illustrations, but completely devoid of any conflict or a problem for the main character to solve. ( )