Stories Come to Life: 6 Birthday Party Themes Inspired by Classic Kid’s Books

Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
For aspiring wizards and witches, there’s nothing better than going to Hogwarts. With a little ingenuity, any space can be transformed into Harry Potter’s magical world. Instead of sending traditional party invitations, download Potter fonts and type up Hogwarts acceptance letters (text can be found online), print out tickets for the Hogwarts Express, create banners using the four house logos, and make mini spell books. Activities can include a ceremony with the sorting hat, wand making, and courses such as transfiguration (wizard-themed charades!) and potions (kids make concoctions from pretzels, fruit strips, and other treats labeled as mystical ingredients such as “dried mandrake” and “gillyweed”). Don’t forget to toast the birthday girl or boy with frosty mugs of kid-friendly butterbeer!

Winnie-the-Pooh series, by A. A. Milne
Generations of children have dreamed of romping through the forest with Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and the gang.  Thrill your little one with a sweet-as-honey Pooh party that brings the Hundred Acre Wood to life. Partygoers can get their faces painted as characters from the story, decorate their own mini terracotta honey pots, play Tigger’s bouncing bingo, and go on a search for the elusive heffalumps, ending with nibbles at the dessert table. Displays can be created using Pooh’s signature pots of “hunny,” bouquets of honey sticks, decorative trees, bees, and stuffed animal characters from the books.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland series, by Lewis Carroll
As anyone who has fallen into the rabbit hole knows, everything is topsy-turvy in this entirely unpredictable place. Recreate Alice’s journey with a whimsical tea party, complete with a Mad Hatter-inspired hodge-podge of colorful china and fanciful goodies (think stopwatch cookies and cupcakes adorned with top hats). To set the scene, arrange a display of glass bottles containing colorful elixirs, with “drink me” tags attached; a collection of decorative keys hanging on ribbons or silky cording; and oversized flowers made from fabric or crepe paper. Of course, the Queen (or King) of Hearts will insist on a game of croquet, so be sure to have plenty of flamingos at the ready!

Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan
Fans of Rick Riordan’s wildly popular series will relish a trip to Mount Olympus or Camp Half-Blood to hang out with the Greek gods, goddesses, and demigods. To kick off the festivities, pass out a list of Greek deities and their attributes, and play a game of “Who Am I?” Once guests have figured out their characters, they can customize their own shields and swords, or play traditional party games adapted to Greek mythology, such as Musical Thrones, Zeus May I, and Pin the Horn on the Minotaur. Naturally, gods and goddesses in training will crave nectar, ambrosia, and other Olympian-approved delicacies.

Peter Pan series, by J.M. Barrie
Take kids on a flight of fancy to Neverland for a Peter Pan party filled with all the necessary accouterments: pixie dust, pirate ships, and eye patches. Lost Boys and Girls can use treasure maps to search for Hook’s buried booty, create and hang their shadows (traced cutouts made from black construction paper) on a line with clothespins, and win prizes for guessing the number of gold doubloons in a treasure chest. A pirate-worthy repast and a photo station with Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, and Mr. Smee round out the fun.

The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne
Young sleuths will delight in a celebration created around Jack and Annie’s magic tree house. A display of books from Morgan Le Fay’s library and a series of clues will lead guests on a scavenger hunt through different time periods, where they collect items to bring back for Morgan and Merlin. Once their quests are complete, they earn Master Librarian cards just like Jack and Annie. To honor their accomplishments, the kids attend a special feast in Camelot.
 Which story would you choose for a book-themed party?