The Birthday Room: Part 6

By KEVIN HENKES

Ben nodded. He could tell how pleased his parents were with the gift. Because he was a lark and his parents were owls, he knew that they had make a great effort to rise early to present their gift before he had had the chance to wake and discover the decorated door on his own.

"Wow," Ben said again. He didn't want to disappoint them. He loved his parents more than he could say. "Great. This is so great."

The room smelled new, of fresh paint. Glossy white beadboard covered the walls. The look and feel was like that of the inside of a cottage. His mother kissed his cheek and his father kissed the top of his head, and they both hugged him at the same time, encircling him with their arms, making what they used to call a "Ben sandwich," but because he was thinking of Yellow Sky and the empty room and what it meant, he barely felt the embrace.

Publisher: HarperCollins

Price: $12.95

Age group: 8-12 years