Best Birthday Books for Storytime (Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade)

Looking for birthday-themed books that keep preschool and early elementary groups engaged during storytime? Check these out! Perfect for special birthdays, or all about me units.

Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party (2024)

By Anne Wynter · Illustrated by Shirley Hottier · Published by Little Bee Books
Patrick is particular, and likes everything to be just right. He is meticulously planning his themed birthday party, but when his big brother makes a spelling error on the invitations, hilarious miscommunications occur. A read-aloud full of heart with lessons about spelling, rhyming, communication, and persistence!

Boa’s Bad Birthday (2014)

By Jeanne Willis · Illustrated by Tony Ross · Published by Andersen Press USA
Boa hopes his friends will bring the best birthday presents ever, but everyone gives him things he can’t use! He has no hands to play a piano, and no feet to kick a soccer ball. Will anyone bring him something he can enjoy? A fantastic book to read aloud or tell with a felt board or props, there are so many opportunities for guessing what’s inside the presents and connecting the dots on why boa can’t (or can) use them!

A Birthday for Cow! (2008)

By Jan Thomas · Published by Harcourt, Inc.
Jan Thomas has so many books that are storytime gold, and A Birthday for Cow is one of her best. Pig and mouse try to make a cake for cow, but duck is fixated on...a turnip? Why? Bold illustrations, opportunities for characterization, funny dialogue, and a running joke with a hilarious punchline makes this a real read-aloud winner!

Cupcake (2010)

By Charise Mericle Harper · Published by Disney Hyperion
Vanilla cupcake gets caught up in a comparison game and feels too plain compared to his fancy friends. Candle tries to help, encouraging him to try out all sorts of unusual toppings like pickles and spaghetti. A cute and silly read-aloud that is also a great candidate for a felt board kit or craft where kids get creative choosing what crazy toppings they’d try out!

Bernice Gets Carried Away (2015)

By Hannah E. Harrison · Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
I can go on and on about this book. One of my personal all-time favorites for many reasons. Bernice is in a foul mood. Nothing is going right at this birthday party and she feels like she is constantly getting the short end of the stick. When she breaks down and snatches an entire bundle of balloons, they are too much for her to handle and she goes up into the stormy sky. Absolutely genius illustrations and perfectly dry text make this a game-changer for dialogic reading and social emotional discussion for 4 and up.

Let’s Have a Dog Party! (2019)

By Mikela Prevost · Published by Viking
Frank the dog is overstimulated by the birthday party Kate throws for him. Too many people and noises! Can Kate dial back the enthusiasm to meet Frank where he’s at? This is a really fun read-aloud with perfect pacing, big David Shannon vibes, and a sweet message.