Whether you’re getting excited for your own birthday party or just love celebrating with others, these books will help you count the days to the big bash and learn new traditions.
Whether you’re getting excited for your own birthday party or just love celebrating with others, these books will help you count the days to the big bash and learn new traditions.
Featured Teen Book
“While We’re Young” by K.L. Walther
Grace, Isa and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.
Board Books
“On Powwow Day,” by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
The bright colors, sounds, rituals and excitement of a powwow celebration come alive in this counting book. Traci Sorell’s authentic images create both a cultural and conceptual learning experience with lots of details to notice and talk about together.
“Plinka Plinka Shake Shake,” by Emma Garcia
Every party needs music, and this book lays down the beat. Colorful, googly-eyed instruments share their names and distinctive sounds, with an irresistible, rhythmic invitation to dance—jingle, jangle, ding, dong, zoom!
Picture Books
“Secret Pizza Party,” by Adam Rubin, illustrated, by Daniel Salmieri
In this hilarious caper, a pizza-loving raccoon undertakes a dangerous mission to acquire his favorite food but finds it isn’t much of a party if you’re eating alone. But can he join another secret pizza party without being unmasked? From the author of “Dragons Love Tacos,” this book is a cheesy, silly crowd pleaser!
“The Pinata That the Farm Maiden Hung,” by Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Sebastia Serra
This delightful bilingual adventure builds dramatically as children make, hang and ultimately enjoy a piñata and its surprises.
Vibrant illustrations highlight unique Mexican traditions and culture, and readers practice Spanish vocabulary with a glossary in the back.
With instructions for making your own piñata and the words to “The Piñata Song,” readers will have all the ingredients for their own fiesta!
Elementary Books
“Birthdays Around the World,” by Margriet Ruurs
Meet children from 14 countries around the globe to celebrate their birthdays! With a world map, pronunciation guides to say “Happy birthday” in many languages and joyful illustrations, this book introduces us to the distinctive foods, customs and traditions that make birthday celebrations special.
It’s a great read to help fill the weeks of birthday anticipation and discover new celebratory traditions.
“Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever!” by Stephen Shaskan
Pizza and Taco throw off their boredom by throwing a party—the best party ever! They choose a location, make a guest list and gather supplies.
But things don’t turn out quite as planned, and our hopeful heroes have to improvise to save the day.
Early readers will love this funny and energetic graphic novel, part of a popular series.
Middle Grade Books
“Very Bad at Math,” by author and Illustrator Hope Larson
Verity “Very” Nelson can do it all. She’s student body president, debate club whiz and first chair clarinetist.
She’s the best at everything except for math. When her remedial math class teacher helps Verity discover the truth—that she has a learning disability—she is armed with a new diagnosis and improved grades.
But when a gossipy podcaster dismantles her perfect image, Verity must choose to remain part of a broken system or fight to fix it.
“Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All”, by author and illustrator Chanel Miller
Down at the bottom of the tall buildings of New York City, Magnolia Wu, a 10-year-old sock detective, intends on returning all the lonely, odd socks left behind in her parents’ NYC laundromat.
She and her sidekick, Iris, a new friend from California, set off across the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock, asking questions in subways, and delis, and plant stores and pizzerias, meeting people and uncovering the unimaginable.
Teen Books
“Loveboat Forever,” by Abigail Hing Wen
Seventeen-year-old music prodigy Pearl Wong had the summer of her dreams planned. She’d been accepted into the ultra-exclusive New York Summer Symphony.
Then, a fall from grace put her in need of new plans—and a new image. Where better to rebuild her shattered reputation than at Chien Tan, the Taipei summer program best known as “The Loveboat,” which helped her older sister, Ever, on a path to romance and self-fulfillment years ago?
