Make your child's birthday special by reading one of these birthday-themed stories together. On this list you will find a birthday story for every age from toddler to upper elementary school, and for every interest: humor, science, monsters, cute animals, and more. There is something for everyone to enjoy. There are also some books that will help you plan a party, create some crafts to decorate for a birthday, find ideas for party games, and ways to make a child's birthday into a unique ocassion. 

Picture Books 

Albert's Very Unordinary Birthday by Daniel Gray-Barnett 

On an ordinary day, in an even more ordinary town, it was Albert's birthday. Just like every other year, Albert asked for something special—a robot piñata? balloon poodles? chocolate-cherry-ripple cake? And just like every other year, his parents suggested less exciting options, like birthday socks or birthday toast. But this year, after Albert closed his eyes and made a wish on the imaginary candle atop an imaginary piece of cake, Grandma Z knocked on his door. “Happy birthday, Albert,” she said. “Chocolate-cherry-ripple is a marvelous choice. Shall we go?” And Albert's birthday—and his life—was about to become anything but ordinary!

The Backwards Birthday Party by Tom Chapin and Tom Forster; illustrated by Chuck Groenink

Based on the hit song, features a young boys out of whack birthday party at which party-goers do everything backwards, including eating the cake first, warming up the ice cream, and receiving wrapped presents from the birthday boy.

 

Bigfoot Does Not Like Birthday Parties by Eric Ode; illustrated by Jaime Temairik

In the town of Mossy Pockets, the residents throw a birthday party for reluctant Bigfoot. The party excitement builds until it all comes to a pie-smashing disaster. But in the end, Bigfoot loves it—because even though Bigfoot does not like birthday parties, Bigfoot loves a birthday mess!

 

 

The Birthday Book = Las Mananitass by Susie Jaramillo

A cast of characters from the Canticos collection, wake up Sammy the bunny on his special day and then partake in a joyful, cake-filled celebration, complete with mariachi and a piñata.A bilingual book.

 

 

The Birthday Book by Todd Parr

The best-selling creator of Be Who You Are blends playfulness and sensitivity in an exploration of some of the many ways birthdays can be celebrated at any age, from dressing up and having a party to making wishes and accepting hugs.

 

 

A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas

While trying to bake the world's best birthday cake for Cow, Pig and Mouse ignore Duck's nonsensical ramblings about turnips until they realize that Duck is actually on to something!

 

 

A Birthday for Bear by Jan Becker

Bear does not like birthdays. He doesn’t like parties or balloons, cards or candles. In fact, Bear does not like anything to do with birthdays at all. He would much rather spend his birthday alone cleaning his house, but Mouse, small and gray and bright-eyed, has other ideas.

 

 

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett; illustrated by Matthew Myers 

Alex has been given a sappy, silly-sweet picture book about Birthday Bunny that his grandma found at a garage sale. Alex isn't interested until he decides to make the book something he'd actually like to read. So he takes out his pencil, sharpens his creativity, and totally transforms the story! Birthday Bunny becomes Battle Bunny, and the rabbits innocent journey through the forest morphs into a supersecret mission to unleash an evil plan, a plan that only Alex can stop.

 

 

Birthday on Mars! by Sara Schonfeld; illustrated by Andrew J. Ross

Draws on findings from the Curiosity rover's first year on Mars in a science-themed celebration of space exploration that depicts an adorable little robot investigating Earth's closest planetary neighbor and singing "Happy Birthday" to itself.

 

The Birthday Queen by Audrey and Don Wood

Happy Birthday to you! Today is the most exciting day of the year, and the Birthday Queen knows exactly how to fill it with fun surprises! From decorating your home to baking your favorite cake, the Birthday Queen doesn't forget a thing as she creates a party beyond your wildest dreams! Children will crow with delight as she tests a wild assortment of games and clowns, wraps your gifts, and splashes the kitchen with huge bowls of colorful frosting. Here come your guests! Now it's time to celebrate!

 

Click, Clack, Surprise! by Doreen Cronin

Little Duck celebrates his first birthday with the other animals on the farm by copying their examples, from shearing off all his feathers to taking a mudbath, before enjoying Farmer Brown's yummy frosted maple  cake.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Cupcake by Terry Border

On her birthday, Cupcake and her friend Muffin try to come up with an idea for a party that all of their friends, from Soup to Ice Cream Sundae, could enjoy.

 

 

 

 Happy Birthday from the Very Hungey Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This beautiful book features Eric Carle's bright, colorful artwork of birthday surprises—from presents to balloons, and of course, cake—with The Very Hungry Caterpillar making an appearance alongside each one. 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton

Wake up and celebrate Little Pookie's big day in this way-too-early board book from the beloved and bestselling Sandra Boynton.

 

 

 

Perfect Birthday Recipe by Katy Hudson

Beaver's friends insist on baking him a birthday cake, but Beaver, the ultimate perfectionist, would rather do it himself, and in doing so realizes perfection does not necessarily mean perfect.

 

 

Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt

Lovable worrywart Scaredy Squirrel would rather celebrate his birthday alone quietly in the safety of his nut tree and avoid any pesky party animals. When all his excessive plans are thrown up in the air like confetti, will Scaredy play dead and cancel, or will he face the music?

 

 

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry; illustrated by Tom Litchenheld

A child presents ten essential rules of birthday wishes, from planning the right party through having the right dessert—with a light to blow out—to keeping the wish secret.

 

 

 

Nonfiction

Birthday Crafts by Mary Berendes and Jean Eick; illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek

Through easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, this book shows readers how to make birthday crafts and decorations using everyday objects and craft materials. Activities and games are also included.

 

 

Birthdays Around the World by Margriet Ruurs; illustrated by Ashley Barron

Birthdays are not celebrated in the same way everywhere. Meet Mercedes in Peru, who eats a cake and a purple pudding called mazamorra morada. Ieva in Latvia is raised in the birthday chair, one lift for each year. And rather than celebrating his own birthday, Phúc Khang in Vietnam joins in the festivities during Tet, when everyone in the country turns one year older. The unique stories of how seventeen children from all around the globe celebrate a birthday, including how they each say happy birthday in their native language. 

 

Birthdays: Beyond Cake and Ice Cream by Nikki Tate

Inspired by memories of fantastic family birthday parties, Nikki Tate and Dani Tate-Stratton researched the history of birthdays in order to answer such questions as, How much does where you grow up influence the way you celebrate getting a year older? Have people always celebrated birthdays? It turns out there's a lot more to birthdays than cake, presents, a few games and perhaps a goody bag. They discovered there are as many ways to observe birthdays as there are places in which to do it. Filled with great ideas you can use with your family.

 

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Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.