Spring has sprung, and this warmer weather is cause for celebration! These recommendations feature books all about parties and having fun! All titles are available at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Don’t see it on the shelf? Ask a librarian for help!
Picture Books
“You Must Bring a Hat”
by Simon Philip and Kate Hindley
An invitation to a party is a marvelous thing, but when there are specific rules that must be followed, it can be difficult to follow them all! In this fun picture book, a young child is invited to a party, but he must bring a hat and follow all the rules. Can he, and the animals he befriends along the way, get into the party in the end? Find out in this fun-filled picture book!
“Carla and the Tin Can Cake Party”
by Carla Hall and Cherise Harris
Carla and her sister Kim love playing dress-up and having a fancy tea party when they visit their grandparents’ home. This visit, however, starts with disaster! Carla accidentally ruins not only grandmother’s quilt but her famous pound cake as well! Can this tea party be saved? This multigenerational picture book is full of heart and beautiful illustrations!
“Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party”
by Kimberly and James Dean
Pete the Cat loves pizza, and he loves parties, so why not combine the two? Pete invites his friends over to make a pizza and asks each one to share their favorite topping. Can the not-so-complimentary toppings create the perfect pizza for this party? This fun-filled, rhythmic picture book featuring our favorite blue cat will garner laughs and re-reads!
Easy Reader and Easy Chapter Books
“Piggle the Pig: Party Problems”
by Dudolf
Piggle is so excited to invite his friends over for a party! The cake is perfect, the pizza is great, the muffins look amazing, and this is the problem! Can Piggle hold out on feasting until his friends arrive to the party? This easy chapter book has plenty of white space, making the text easier to read, and colorful illustrations that help the story along. It’s a fun, and funny, tale of trying to host the perfect party for friends!
The Party Diaries series
by Mitali Banerjee Ruths and Aaliya Jaleel
This early chapter book series stars Priya the party planner! Not only is Priya determined to plan the best parties, but she also wants to help the planet! Each book in the series has full-color illustrations, easy-to-read text and a lot of fun! Dive into this series and watch Priya plan a birthday party, a henna party and more!
“Really Bird, Really Good Beach Party!”
by Harriet Ziefert
Really Bird decides to throw a party at the beach for his friends! Each friend arrives at the beach with something to contribute to the party, making it a great time for everyone! This easy reader has speech bubbles, making the text easier to read for beginning readers. The illustrations are colorful and contain context clues to the text, helping your new reader along!
“Gnome and Rat: Time to Party”
by Lauren Stohler
Gnome is gearing up to celebrate his 133rd birthday! Rat is excited but feeling a bit left out, having nothing to celebrate himself. As these two friends try to come up with a new holiday for Rat to celebrate, they put on their party hats and get ready for Gnome’s celebration! This early graphic novel is filled with laughs and friendship, with easy-to-read text and colorful illustrations. Feel inspired to throw a party of your own!
Middle Grade Books
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Party Pooper”
by Jeff Kinney
This book, and series, need no introduction. It’s Greg’s birthday, and everything seems to be going wrong, which is typical in this highly-illustrated middle grade series. Follow along as Greg tries to save this party from disaster!
“DnDoggos: Get the Party Started”
by Scout Underhill and Liana Sposto
Four dog friends are ready to play their favorite role-playing game! This middle grade graphic novel is perfect for fans of D&D, or really any role-playing game. Follow along as Pickles, Tonka and Zoey go on an adventure their game master, Magnus, has created for them!
“Let’s Party: A DIY Illustrated Guide to 10 Fantastic Birthday Parties”
by Melissa Iwai
Want to throw an epic birthday party, or really any party? This easy-to-follow DIY book has great ideas for decorations, food, drinks and more to throw the ultimate party! Filled with themes from dinosaurs to monsters to fairies, this kid-friendly party-planning book is a great place to gather ideas.
