A birthday-themed storytime is one even toddlers will relate to, and there is a wealth of great picture books on birthdays. For a craft or activity, you could have a piñata, sing “Happy Birthday,” and even make the storytime a party with refreshments and games. This storytime would be perfect when you want something more elaborate, such as the final session at the end of the summer, or other special occasion. Other craft ideas include making party hats or crowns, designing birthday cards for a parent or sibling, and decorating a cupcake.
Elya, Susan M. F IS FOR FIESTA. Rhyming verse describes various items used at a birthday party, using both English and Spanish words.
Flack, Marjorie. ASK MR. BEAR. Danny asks several animals what they could give him as a present for his mother-the audience can participate by making the sounds of each animal.
Gorbachev, Valeri. NICKY AND THE FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY GIFTS. Nicky creates an imaginative picture for his mother’s birthday.
Harper, Charise M. THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! BY ME (LANA KITTIE). A little kitten demonstrates how to be a gracious host at one’s birthday party in this very funny book with bright cartoon illustrations.
Hill, Eric. SPOT’S BIRTHDAY PARTY. Toddlers will enjoy guessing who is under the various flaps, looking for the birthday party guests.
Hurd, Thacher. LITTLE MOUSES’S BIRTHDAY CAKE. Thinking his friends have forgotten him, Little Mouse goes skiing by himself on his birthday.
Hutchins, Pat. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAM! Sam solves several problems on his birthday.
Jocelyn, Marthe. HANNAH AND THE SEVEN DRESSES. Hannah can’t decide what to wear on her birthday.
Keats, Ezra Jack. A LETTER TO AMY. Peter invites Amy to his birthday party.
Khan, Rukhsana. BIG RED LOLLIPOP. Rubina can’t convince her mother that her little sister should not come to a friend’s birthday party.
Kulka, Joe. WOLF’S COMING! All the animals in the forest hide from the wolf but not because they are afraid.
Mora, Pat. UNO, DOS, TRES = ONE, TWO, THREE. A very brief rhyming text using a few Spanish words tells the story of two sisters looking for a gift for their mother.
Rockwell, Anne. HUGO AT THE WINDOW. A dog looks out his window at his friends at various shops on the street-what are they buying?
Watanabe, Shigeo. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY. A little bear celebrates his fourth birthday with his family in this very brief story.
Watt, Melanie. SCAREDY SQUIRREL HAS A BIRTHDAY PARTY. Scaredy Squirrel plans his own birthday party.