Birthday Picture Books!

Whether it’s my own, Terry’s, or a friend’s, I love a birthday!  And now I have little Cameran to celebrate as she turns ONE this week!  Can’t even believe it.  And tbh it’s as much of a celebration for her as it is for me and Terry.  We did it!  One whole year!  I mean it is true what they say about the days being long but the years being short.  This year has been both the fastest and the slowest.  Fast or slow, we are going to celebrate, and one way we’re celebrating is with BIRTHDAY BOOKS!  

I’ve been looking forward to putting together Cameran’s birthday bookshelf for a while now, and I am so glad the time is finally here.  I’m hoping to read from this shelf as much as possible in April if Cam will sit still long enough!  She is constantly in motion and has been hard to keep close by for stories.  Lately I’ve been reading aloud as she crawls all over everything.  I like to think she’s listening while she barrels around her room taking every toy out of the bin and book off of the shelf.  If we could just have a nice, quiet, cuddly story time with limited thrashing that would be greeeaaaattt. :)  Now is very clearly not that season for us.  We’ll try our best to get through each of these, but we’re also keeping expectations low knowing that there are many birthdays to come and the books aren’t going anywhere.

My list is by no means exhaustive, but rather a compilation of books I already had from my classroom-teaching days and some new-ish ones that I’ve seen around school or on social media.  Clicking an image below will take you to my Bookshop affiliate link for the book you selected.  I get compensated if you use my link, but most importantly most of your money is going to LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS.  Woo!  You can also browse all of my Bookshop shelves HERE.  I’ve also linked everything in the book descriptions/list that follows all the images, so if that’s more your speed, there ya go! 

A Birthday for Cow - Part of the Giggle Gang early reader series, A Birthday for Cow is a hilarious tale of surprise party prep and planning.

The Secret Birthday Message - Eric Carle is all that is good in the world.  In this one of his, readers can follow along with Tim and help him decipher a special birthday message.  

Happy Birthday, Cupcake - Cupcake needs help planning a birthday party that will work for everyone!  Join her and her foodie friends in this creative, so-much-to-notice book.

Cake - Cake is so excited for his very first party!  Unfortunately, he has no idea what happens to a cake at a party...

The Birthday Box and The Birthday Box/Mi caja de cumpleaňos - This is a book for the child who would rather play with anything other than a toy.  We love wipes, remotes, and the dishwasher over here!  

Happy Birthday Moon - A classic!  I remember reading this one so many times when I was little.  When is Moon’s birthday, and what should Bear give to it?  Read to find out!

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish - Your step-by-step guide to making sure your birthday wish comes true lies within the pages of this colorful picture book.  It’s so fun!  Also, Nordstrom has this in a Book/Jammies set!  So cute!  What a great idea to have special birthday jammies!  Adding it to the list of a million things in my mind that I don’t want to forget but most definitely will forget.

Birthday Monsters - It’s always a crazy time when the Birthday Monsters come to town!  Who doesn’t love Sandra Boynton board books?  They’re just so catchy.  Sometimes I find myself reciting them throughout the day like a totally normal, put-together person.  If you don’t go around the house singing “jamma jamma jamma jamma PJ!” or “We hippos love our Belly Bs!” are you even living?!  

Happy Birthday, Little Pookie - Let’s run it right back on my gal Sandy.  While there are several Pookie books, this one takes the cake lololol.

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake and si le das un pastelito a un gato - Everyone knows the classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and there are SO many more in this series!  Did you know that these are called circle stories? From beginning to end they all come full circle, ending the same way they began and starting all over again. 

If You Give a Pig a Party - This one isn’t available on Bookshop, but is another one in the If You Give a...circle story family.

Happy Birthday Mouse - Another Laura Numeroff book that celebrates character #1, Mouse!

Happy Birthday from the Very Hungry Caterpillar - I mentioned how much I love these mini books in my Valentine’s Day post.  This VHC birthday book is right up there with the rest.  It would make a cute gift for a mama-to-be (thanks, Aunt Sue!) or a newborn or anyone having a birthday!  I packed mine in my hospital bag to read the day Cameran was born, and I swear to you it was the only thing I used in that whole damn bag.  

Where is Baby’s Birthday Cake? - Cameran is all about lift-the-flap books, so I can’t wait for her get her hands on this one!  This is a fun series; there are lots of Where Is Baby’s...to choose from

Birthday on Mars - Curiosity, the Mars rover, is having a birthday!  This is a sciency-themed birthday book, and it is so cute!  Also it really happened!  In 2013, the Curiosity rover sang the happy birthday song to itself after one year of exploration on Mars!

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party - If you know Scaredy Squirrel, then you know to expect a frantic frenzy as he plans his birthday party.  If you don’t know Scaredy Squirrel, this book will let you know just who he is!  Another great series that kids love!

Click Clack Surprise - All the farmyard animals help Little Duck celebrate his very first birthday!  The Click, Clack series by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin is so so funny!

Big Red Lollipop - Rubina is invited to her first birthday party, but there’s just one problem.  Her mom is making her bring her little sister with her.  Find out what happens with Rubina, Sana, and the big, red lollipop.

The Birthday Book - Who doesn’t love a Todd Parr book?  The bright colors and simple text make them a favorite for little ones.  This one is all about BIRTHDAYS!

The Secret Birthday Recipe - Beaver insists on making his own birthday cake, following the recipe that he knows is perfect.  Find out what happens with Beaver and his forest friends as they celebrate his summer birthday.  

When’s My Birthday? - This book answers the question that every kid wants to know!  I love its unique shape.  Christian Robinson can do no wrong, in my book.

Okay!  There you have it!  I am hoping to add at least one or two new ones every year, so I’d love to hear your faves.  What am I missing?  Do you have any birthday reading traditions?  Leave a comment or send me a message on IG @thetrendyreader!  I’m here for all the balloons, cake, ice cream, and books!  

Happy Reading!  And Happy Birthday, sweet Cameran!  

-Amy-