"The Happy Birthday Present" by Joan Heilbroner, illustrated by Mary Chalmers, An I Can Read Book published by Harper & Row, New York, 1962. Early 1960s printing without isbn and without barcode.

Hard boards, illustrated front cover [a few white spots on spine: see photo], 6" x 8.3/4"; 64 pages, very good condition.

Two little boys with limited funds shop for a birthday present for their mother. The kindhearted store keepers give them a flower pot, some paper clips, and a conch shell. Davy, the youngest boy, adds his green sucker and his pinwheel, and together they create a birthday tree for her.

Joan Heilbroner is best known for her first book, Robert the Rose Horse, which was published in 1962. Acquired by Dr. Seuss when he was editor of Beginner Books, it has been in print for more than 50 years. A graduate of Columbia University, Ms. Heilbroner worked as a school librarian until her retirement.

Mary Eileen Chalmers [born 1927] is an American children's author and illustrator. She studied at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art and the Barnes Foundation. She creates her work drawing on real animals and nature.

When her sister decided to be an artist, she decided she would also. For six years she studied art at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art and the Barnes Foundation. After graduating from art school, she worked primarily as a commercial artist. However, it was her love of children's books that led her to write and illustrate her first book, Come for a Walk With Me in 1955. Her second book, Here Comes the Trolley Car, also published in 1955, was inspired by the trolleys that rolled by her home in Philadelphia. A Christmas Story (1956) started as a Christmas card to Ursula Nordstrom, an editor at Harper & Row. Her most notable character, Harry the cat, was inspired by a drawing she sent to Ursula on a thank-you note.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) --------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-4 weeks) -- $28.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-5 weeks) --- $42.50