Birthdays are a special time to celebrate yourself or your loved one in a unique and thoughtful way. Plus, who doesn’t love a big slice of birthday cake, right? Whether your big day is coming up or months away, these reads from the New Orleans Public Library are a fun way to get excited and prepared for your next birthday, birthday party, or celebration of any kind:

Children:

In Proper Badger Would Never! by Lauren Glattly & Rob Sayegh Jr., young readers meet Proper Badger when he unexpectedly gets invited to a birthday party. He is very excited and confident that he will NOT ruin the party with his badger antics. But will he really be on his best behavior…? You’ll have to read this hilarious tale to find out!

Unlike Proper Bader, when Poppy the puffer fish is invited to a birthday party in Jonathan Fenske’s Do I Have to Go to the Party? She is nervous about all the things that could go wrong. It’s a good thing that she faces her fears, though, because at the party, it’s Poppy who ends up saving the day.  

Middle Grade:

In This Day in History for Kids, Dan Bova and Russell Shaw present 1,001 remarkable moments and fascinating facts that kids can explore year-round to take an instant trip through history. This treasure trove of historical facts is a great way to get kids excited for their birthdays, their friends’ birthdays, and family members’ birthdays too by giving them context into what else happened on the day they were born.

For budding bakers, Baking Book for Kids by David Atherton & Harry Woodgate is a perfect opportunity to inspire creativity and DIY birthday projects. In this fun and easy-to-follow cookbook, the charming Great British Baking Show winner presents delicious, kid-friendly recipes, along with tips, tricks, practical advice, and step-by-step instructions. 

Teen:

Astrology is all the rage again, and Xanna Eve Chown, Marion Williamson, and Luna Valentine are here to demystify the stars in their Teen Witches’ Guide to Astrology. Readers will learn what star lore says about their personalities, what the universe has in store for them and their friends, and how to take control of their own destinies.

For the eco-friendly teen, Furoshiki: The Japanese Art of Wrapping with Fabric by Aurelie Le Marec is a great way to inspire sustainable gift-giving. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth and is used to wrap gifts and create bags for carrying things more easily. Plus, after learning the basic methods of tying and folding, wrappers can tie furoshiki in different ways to suit the size and shape of the contents within.

Visit nolalibrary.org or download to find and reserve a copy of these books. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for the Library’s annual Summer Fun & Reading Challenge, which runs through July 31. If you’re already signed up, log your reading and finish those activities so you don’t miss out on your prize!