11 June Birthday Picture Books by Beloved Children’s Authors

The Party Pig, by Richard Scarry, Kathryn Jackson, and Byron Jackson
Busytown enthusiasts will celebrate Richard Scarry’s 100th birthday on June 5. To commemorate a century of the genius of Scarry (who died in 1994), Little Golden Books will rerelease one of the first books he illustrated for the publisher, The Party Pig. In this classic tale of generosity rewarded, Little Pig is celebrating his birthday. His pantry is filled with delicious food for his party that evening, but his mother must go out to buy ingredients for a cake. While she’s gone, Little Pig hears creatures in distress outside—a mouse, cat, and other animals are crying with hunger. Little Pig brings food to them and invites them to his party. By the time his mother returns, the pantry is empty, but his new friends won’t let his birthday party be a bust.

The Best Birthday Party Ever, by Jennifer LaRue Huget and LeUyen Pham
If your June birthday kid has been planning her party since…last June, this is the perfect book to celebrate that enthusiasm! As the book opens, the birthday girl’s big day is only five months away and so she begins to make plans. She invites everyone she sees to the party, and plans to inflate 9000 balloons, bake a 17-layer cake, hire two magicians, and give everyone who attends a hamster as a party favor. When her birthday finally arrives, her parents throw her a party that is somewhat scaled down from the fête of her dreams, but nevertheless manages to live up to the spirit of what she envisioned.

The Cat Who Lived With Anne Frank, by David Lee Miller, Steven Jay Rubin and Elizabeth Baddeley
Anne Frank was born June 12, 1929, and this picture book provides a gentle, melancholy introduction to her story for young readers. The black cat who narrates this book belongs to Peter, who goes to live with Anne Frank and her family in hiding in the secret annex. Anne names the cat Mouschi, and Mouschi provides comfort to everyone, while also sneaking out to check out how the war is progressing in Amsterdam. In the end, Mouschi dreams of “Anne’s kind and gentle spirit lighting up the world forever.”

Jamberry, by Bruce Degen
Bruce Degen, the illustrator best known for his work on The Magic School Bus series, celebrates his 74th birthday on June 14. In this charming tale he wrote and illustrated, a little boy and a bear go berry picking together. They don’t care if they’re searching for blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries—the result is always an adventure and a joyful jam jamboree.

A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet, by Kathryn Lasky and Paul Lee
Newbery Award-winner Kathryn Lasky, known for writing historical stories for children, celebrates her 75th birthday on June 24. In this book she captures the astonishing life of Phillis Wheatley. Born in west Africa, Phillis was kidnapped from her parents when she was about seven years old and sent to America on a slave ship. She arrived in Boston Harbor in the summer of 1761, where she was sold to Susannah Wheatley and her husband. Susannah perceived how smart Phillis was when she learned English quickly and began to read and write. Phillis published her first poem in a newspaper when she was fourteen years old and went on to write poems about the Revolution, famous antislavery minister George Whitefield, her memories of her mother in Africa, and the horrors of the slave trade, publishing a book in 1774. Before she died, Susannah freed Phillis.

Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book, by Richard Scarry
Busytown mastermind Richard Scarry was born June 5, 1919, in Boston, Massachusetts. This book of tales about the importance of manners contains two stories that will be of interest to birthday kids. In “A Visit with Tillie,” Tillie the hippopotamus invites her friends oh-so-properly for a tea party, greeting them when they arrive and thanking them when they depart. Of course, it’s Richard Scarry, so in between those genteel occurrences there’s a smashed chair and an uproarious time. In “Dolly’s Birthday Party,” Dolly the pig’s brother must learn not to fuss when she opens her presents, and Lowly becomes the target for a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All, by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson
Beloved author and librarian Cynthia Rylant will celebrate her 64th birthday on June 6. Although she’s won a Newbery Medal and several Caldecott honors, she’s probably best known for her series for easy readers, including Mr. Putter and Tabby and Henry and Mudge. In this story for newly independent readers, Henry celebrates his birthday with pancakes, balloons, a piñata, and plenty of friends.

Bumble-Ardy, by Maurice Sendak
Where The Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak was born June 10, 1928, and Bumble-Ardy was the final picture book he published before his death in 2012. This wacky book is perfect for June birthday kids because it involves a young pig (also born in June) who “missed eight birthdays in a row.” Sendak explains, “Bumble-Ardy had no party when he turned one. (His immediate family frowned on fun.)” Before his ninth birthday, he’s adopted by his fun-loving Aunt Adeline, and he decides to throw himself a raucous masquerade party. The wild illustrations of pigs dressed up in strange outfits recall Sendak’s most famous book.

Moira’s Birthday, by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko
Robert Munsch, author of the international bestseller (and Oprah favorite) Love You Forever, will celebrate his 73rd birthday on June 11. Moira’s Birthday is a great, zany book for kids whose parents have told them they can’t invite too many guests to their party. Although her parents forbid her to do so, Moira invites “grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, aaaaand kindergarten” to her party. Her parents fret, but resourceful Moira assures them it’ll all work out, and it does, when everybody chips in to bring food and gets to take home one of Moira’s abundant presents if they help clean up. When 190 pizzas arrive a day late, Moira even has a solution for that problem.

The Secret Birthday Message, by Eric Carle
Iconic author and illustrator Eric Carle will celebrate his 89th birthday on June 25. Carle’s most famous book involving cut-outs is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has sold over an astonishing 46 million copies worldwide. This book, also featuring cut-outs and different-shaped pages, offers as much fun but with a birthday theme. Tim finds a secret message on the night before his birthday, that includes shapes as clues to where he will find his present. The hunt for the present, and the gift itself, won’t disappoint. 

Neville, by Norton Juster and G. Brian Karas
Norton Juster, famous for The Phantom Tollbooth, will celebrate his 89th birthday on June 2. His most recent book, Neville, is the perfect one for any kid who finds himself without friends on his birthday due to a move to a new house or a new school. Neville is so glum and lonely after his move to a new house that he walks around the neighborhood and begins to shout out his own name. Somehow this small act works like magic, calling forth all the kids in the neighborhood to search for the “missing” Neville.