Does your child love birthday parties, or is he overwhelmed with the big festivities? Here are 12 children’s books about birthday parties to read.
Whether your child can’t wait to go to a party or must be coerced to go (“There will be cake!”), these children’s books about birthday parties just might let him know that parties are fun.
Because here’s a shocker: Not every kid likes birthday parties.
Some might be downright opposed to this whole birthday party business. Maybe your daughter likes attending birthday parties but dreads having one thrown for herself. The idea of being the center of attention overwhelms her enough to declare she doesn’t want a party.
Or maybe your child refuses to go to birthday parties or doesn’t want to participate in party activities—face painting! cake blowing! Instead, he hides in the back or worse, bawls loudly during the party.
Who doesn’t like a birthday party? You might ask. Easy enough for us to assume that all kids do, considering that most kids do enjoy a good party.
But if you think about emotions—shyness, confusion, challenging social situations—then you might better understand why your child really would rather not invite her whole class to a party. Why she might prefer a smaller outing with her family, or why she feels overwhelmed with everyone singing happy birthday.
Children’s books about birthday parties
Books have a way of talking about a subject so she can voice whatever emotion she may have, from excitement to fear. They’re also a great way to introduce her to typical birthday party lingo and activities, such as singing happy birthday and playing games.
Some favorite characters include Scaredy Squirrel, who has never had a party and therefore plots the perfect plan before realizing things don’t always go that way. And Lyle, who instead of enjoying a party, grows jealous of the birthday celebrant.
The point isn’t to convince or force your kid one way or another. You’d want to pick your battles, after all. Instead, reading children’s books about birthday parties can help prepare her for what to expect, temper expectations, and most importantly, show her that they can have a good time:
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If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen
Curious George and the Birthday Surprise by Margret and H.A. Rey
Happy Birthday, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau by Andrea Beaty
Clifford’s Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell
Spot’s Birthday Party by Eric Hill
The Best Birthday Party Ever by Jennifer Larue Huget
Lyle and the Birthday Party by Bernard Waber
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt
Eloise Throws a Party! by Kay Thompson
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff
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My kids enjoy birthday parties that are pretty open-ended – eat cake and ice cream, run and play with friends, and go home. I think they sometimes find the organized games at parties stressful, so we have never had those at our own parties.
I’ve never had organized games at my kids’ parties either MaryAnne. I think a big part of that though is that we don’t have a typical kids party where we invite classmates and friends. If anything, I’ll invite *my* friends who happen to have kids, all our siblings and grandmas and such. So when you end up gathering the kids, there aren’t too many to warrant an actual program.
We have however gone to those parties and my kid joins in most of the time. There was one time however when it stressed both of us out. He felt awkward, I felt isolated because he wasn’t involved, and I just realized it was much harder than it needed to be.
When my son was younger he didn’t like going because he wasn’t the one getting the presents. Thankfully he grew out of that stage and now he generally enjoys parties. He can get a little shy but that wears off after a few minutes.
Wow Jenny I didn’t even think about the presents aspect of it. So far my kid hasn’t wanted the presents but I can imagine that would be pretty typical. Imagine seeing someone else opening up all these awesome gifts and you don’t get to keep it lol!
My son’s second birthday is quickly approaching, and I will be reading some of these books to him beforehand to help him cope. That sounds silly, but he often struggles when there’s a crowd of eyes on him; he loves to be the center of attention for close friends and family, but when the audience gets bigger he clams up. I try not to force him into the spotlight when I know he’s not comfortable. I think discussing it and reading these books beforehand will help prepare him!
Katie I know just what you mean. It’s so easy for us to assume that kids love birthday parties, but if you think about what that means—being the center of attention, having to make small talk, meeting new people—even adults can find that challenging! I think it’s great you’re sensitive to it.
It’s like you wrote this for my son! He does not like attention at all. Even when we praise him for something, he says away and says “not good”. I’m glad to hear it’s normal though. Next month is his birthday and he doesn’t want to turn 4 or have a party. It’s so different than his one friend who’s been requesting birthday related elements (like colors or cake) since she was 2. Great idea to get books (we did that for getting him used having a sister!)! I’m just afraid that he might loooove parties then and I’ll actually have to put more effort into them ;).
Yeah totally normal, Lisa. Some kids just don’t like the attention or don’t see the big fuss about birthdays. It’s hard not to push parties on them when it seems so obligatory. Haha yeah at least a good way to look at it is that he won’t look so forward to it that it becomes all about gifts and parties 🙂
Another fantastic birthday book is Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau by Andrea Beaty. It has a great message and it’s GORGEOUS!!!
Awesome, Maria! Adding that title to the list now 🙂