Here’s a wonderful birthday book! A Birthday for Bear by Bonnie Becker and illustrated by Katie MacDonald Denton (Candlewick, September 2009) tells the story of Bear, who is not a fan of birthdays and is determined to be grouchy and clean his house all day. It’s a very busy day. His friend Mouse keeps trying to wish him a happy day, with balloons, a party, cake, and a present. In the end, of course, Bear realizes he can enjoy the day when he celebrates it with a friend.
My son loved the silly persistence of Mouse, and we both enjoyed the change that came over Bear by the end. It is a four-chapter early reader, which my son really liked (he had to find a bookmark so we’d finish it “later,” just like Mommy does with her books). We read this daily and over and over again for a week or two before his birthday. He was so excited to celebrate his own birthday; celebrating Bear’s helped him stay excited. I liked the dynamics between the two friends, and I’m eager to read more from the Bear and Mouse series!
This week, since my son just had his fourth birthday, I thought it might be fun to look at a birthday book!
What birthday picture books have you enjoyed? My son still wants it to be his birthday, so I’m sure he’d welcome more books on the subject!