One of my absolute favorite birthday memories that I will take to my deathbed was of my 19th birthday. I was home from college, sitting in the family room, when my parents got up and started singing and dancing around me to the Birthday Song. They reminded me of Wild Things rumpusing around and I was King of the Wild Things. I laughed hysterically but with tears in my eyes—it was a moment of such pure, unadulterated love.
There wasn’t any cake. There was no party. Not even any presents. But it was, and continues to be, a moment in time I felt deeply, unconditionally loved.
I’d love to hear your favorite birthday memories in the comments below.
Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton
Recommended Ages: 0+ years old
In true Sandra Boynton fashion, the doodle-y, cartoony illustrations of Little Pookie eagerly awaiting his birthday will charm you and your littlest. In her signature boisterous rhyme we follow Little Pookie as he pokes and prods at his parents to participate in his birthday festivities—even if that means waking them before the sun has risen. I, and all adults with little kids at home, will especially appreciate Pookie’s parents’ beleaguered faces as they muster up the energy to keep the merriment going.
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Written by Leslie Muir and Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Recommended Ages: 2+ years old
The life of a pastry chef is one that has long, long hours on your feet. In this sweet story, the pastry chef is wiped out—not a crumb of energy left to celebrate her birthday. As disappointed as she is that she can’t mark the occasion in a festive way, she leaves a bit of pastry for the mice to enjoy before yawning her way up the stairs to bed. After she’s asleep, there are patters in the kitchen and the mice, appreciative of the pastry chef’s delightful desserts, want to celebrate in some small way. It’s just the loveliest little book with a delicious-on-your-tongue rhyme that carries the story through. And what really seals the deal is Caldecott Honoree Lewin’s, scrumptious watercolor illustrations. There’s a nostalgic, vintage look and feel to them which just makes the story feel so much more homey.
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Written by Margriet Ruurs and Illustrated by Ashley Barron
Recommended Ages: 4+ years old
If you know me, you know how much I love a good book showcasing different cultures. This one was the crux of the idea. I saw it, loved it, and knew I wanted to build a list around birthdays because of it. In this book we get to know fourteen kids and, therefore, fourteen countries. From Canada to Lesotho to Australia, we learn how these children celebrate their special days—if they do at all! The digital and collage illustrations are rich with jubilance and merriment. They pop off the page with a bright, enticing energy and invites you to join in the fun.
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Written by Karma Wilson and Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Recommended Ages: 5+ years old
Oh, my, how I laughed at this one. Granddad is determined to bake a cake for his beloved wife. But not just any cake—a whopper cake. And thus we race along at Granddad’s wild antics as he puts together the ingredients to make the biggest cake ever seen. I have to give a lot of credit to Karma Wilson (whose work I always enjoy) because she cleverly devises ways to make this whopper cake and she does it all in rhyme. It’s just a FUN book that will tickle you in all the right places and make you think of ways you can turn something normal into something whopper-sized.
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Written by Betty Ren Wright and Illustrated by Ronald Himler
Recommended Ages: 7+ years old
As you grow up, you experience life’s disappointments but there’s something especially heartbreaking about being disappointed on your birthday. We’ve all experienced it and it doesn’t matter how old we are—it hurts just the same. So your heart will probably twinge for Billy when he realizes the inclement winter weather will prevent his cousins from making the trip to their house to celebrate his birthday. Even at school, Billy broods over it. As the school day passes by the kids and teacher don’t realize that there’s a blizzard in full swing outside. Realizing there’s no way they can stay at school, the teacher hastens all the kids to Billy’s house, which happens to be closest. With this entire class staying in his home overnight, until the storm passes, Billy gets a birthday he wasn’t expecting. The wholesome sweetness of this story will stir your heart. Despite the winter storm raging, the glow of the beautifully painted scenes will warm readers in a soul-satisfying way.
Find it at your library
Tell us about your most memorable birthday!
What’s a birthday tradition from your childhood that you’ve carried forward for the kids in your life?
Are you the type to go all-out for birthdays or do you prefer to keep it simple?
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