The Best Birthday Books For Kids
Birthdays are always a joyous occasion, and for kids there are tons of fantastic books about birthdays to enjoy. Here is our pick of some of our favorites that your children are sure to adore!
A young girl eagerly anticipates her big birthday party. Her creativity takes over and she plans an incredible event.
1. How to Have a Birthday
Birthdays are the ideal time to commemorate life, with all its challenges and complexities. No matter if it falls on a weekday or weekend, there are plenty of ways to make the occasion extra memorable.
Start by reflecting on what your birthday means to you and your family. Perhaps it’s an opportunity to catch up with family members you don’t get to see often, or maybe it serves as a day to recall happy memories from years gone by. Whatever it may be, take some time out of this day to reflect and celebrate!
For something more adventurous, you could also head off to the beach or mountains for some fresh air and sunshine. Or if you want something even more thrilling, visit an amusement park for some roller coasters!
For older kids, planning a trip out of town for their birthday can be an excellent idea to allow them to spend quality time with their friends. You could even take them somewhere fun like the zoo or museum that they’ve never been before!
Another idea is to ask them what they would like to do on their birthday and let them decide. You could also create a list of activities that everyone might enjoy together as a family and discuss it together as a unit.
Every year, you can assemble a “Time Capsule” for your child to reminisce about their birthday. This could include pictures, handprints, a card or receipt as well as other mementos from that special day.
A birthday scavenger hunt is an enjoyable activity for your kid to do on their special day. You can leave clues around the house leading them to their present or use a printable scavenger hunt sheet. This game promises hours of excitement as they search for each clue!
2. The Birthday Box
The Birthday Box is both a big box and an entertaining one. Leslie Patricelli’s story about youngster’s affection for cardboard and shiny things is charming – just as good as playing in the sandbox! Most importantly, having fun while learning is all the rage at this time of year; any happy toddler who knows its purpose will tell you some stories in no time! Whether it’s your birthday or not, The Birthday Box makes for great addition to any collection – the key message being: keep it lighthearted when enjoying yourself!
3. Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish
Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish is an adorable picture book that commemorates everyone’s favorite day of the year. Beautiful artwork by Jonathan Roffner – creator of Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site and I Wish You More! – graces this joyful occasion.
The first rule is “It must be your birthday!” Once that’s established, picture book pros Tom Lichtenheld and Beth Ferry take readers on an exuberant journey that covers all the essential elements of this beloved holiday: singing; closing your eyes to make a wish; blowing out candles on cake before retiring to bed in anticipation of seeing your wish come true.
Each of the ten rules is followed by energetic text delivered with a lighthearted attitude. Every exception to the rules is humorous and charming, such as when it states that balloons are recommended decor for parties but unless you’re a rhinoceros, swordfish, or sea urchin they might prefer not to have them at all (accompanied by anthropomorphic animal illustrations).
Kids will adore learning these charming birthday wishes in this delightful story! It makes an excellent read-aloud for story time or before bed, making it ideal for young children who enjoy commemorating their own milestones.
4. Birthday Monsters!
A host of cheerful creatures descends upon the home of the birthday boy in this cleverly written children’s book. With unique texturing and thick paper stock, it’s a joy to read aloud – making it perfect for rereading over and over again! Plus, there are mini bonus stickers and even a free postcard to complete the picture! For the ideal birthday present ever, Workman Publishing has you covered; both large-scale images as well as smaller ones will surely delight both kids in your life. Get these books from your local bookstore, library or online – no waiting too long until you get your swag!
5. The Birthday Elephant
Elmer the birthday elephant loves to play practical jokes on his friends. One day, one of them suggests that he pretend that all the other animals have forgotten his birthday and will surprise him with celebrations and cake in the morning.
Elmer has a great idea, but when they try it out, things don’t quite go according to plan. The animals either snigger or bolt, leaving Elmer puzzled as to what they are up to.
This book in Elmer the Patchwork Elephant series is an enjoyable tale for young readers. The illustrations are vibrant, and the plotline is short enough to make it ideal as either a picture book for preschools or bedtime reading for older kids.
I found the plot to be somewhat of a mixed bag, with the elephant being particularly cunning in his attempts to manipulate others into doing what he desired. It had elements of fun and cruelty, but ultimately left other animals feeling uncomfortable.
Though I had my reservations about the plot, this book is still an enjoyable read for younger kids and would make a great first picture book to share together as a family or in class. It’s an ideal addition to any collection of birthday books for toddlers and young children – I can’t wait to read it again with my daughter!
Cage the Elephant’s second album, Thank You, Happy Birthday, is an eclectic mash-up of 90’s alternative bands such as Pixies and Arctic Monkeys. Their anti-establishment message makes them ideal for both indie rock “Indy Kidz” and angsty teenagers alike.