Whether you like dancing, laughing with friends or are just there for the cake, parties are usually a great time. From birthdays to bat mitzvahs, debutante balls and graduation bashes, the parties in these books recommended by Arlington Public Library come with their own problems, laughs and feelings.
Picture Books
“Ant Party”
by Ross Montgomery
illustrated by Sarah Warburton
It’s Andy the Ant’s birthday, so he’s inviting a few friends and neighbors over for a small party. But his friends invite some friends, and they invite some friends, and soon the party is full of farmer ants, worker ants, soldier ants, even the Queen! When an anteater crashes the party, all the guests work together to ensure the fun won’t stop in this delightful story.
“Family of Friends”
by Varsha Bajaj, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo
Isha’s Nani is going to come visit for Isha’s birthday, and she can’t wait! But when Nani gets sick, she has to postpone her trip. Nani is heartbroken, but her neighbors and friends rally around to help, including Mrs. Garcia, who lives far away from her own granddaughter. This is a heartwarming story about finding family where you are and staying connected to family far away.
“I Really, Really Don’t Like Parties”
by Angie Morgan
Dora loves having fun with her friends, but parties are too loud and too busy. She tries to decline an invitation to her friend’s Rashid’s party with a variety of excuses, from a sore toe to a gorilla eating her party outfit. She attends anyway, at her mother’s urging, and finds it overwhelming. Seeking solace under the table, Dora meets Tom, who also finds parties too loud and too busy. With a new friend to find quiet with, Dora decides parties might be OK after all.
Early Readers
“The Birthday Party Mystery”
by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie Lyon
Katie Woo can’t wait for her birthday tomorrow, especially the presents. Determined to discover what her parents are getting her, she and Pedro are on the case, following clues and her parents’ shopping trips, but maybe some mysteries are best left unsolved.
“What If Marty Doesn’t Like My Party”
by Katie Arthur
Henry’s birthday party is tomorrow, and his new best friend — and the coolest kid in his class — is coming. But what if Marty doesn’t like the party? Henry lies awake, worrying that Marty won’t like Henry’s dog or the cake? What if the elevator breaks and she has to walk up the stairs and judges them for their small apartment? Henry’s older sister patiently listens to his fears but also points out that while the worst can happen, so can the best — what if Marty loves the dog and loves the cake so much she wants extra servings? What if she thinks that Henry’s apartment is the coolest? This reassuring comic book reframes worries instead of dismissing them.
“Fitz and Cleo Put a Party on It”
by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
Ghost siblings Fitz and Cleo are bored. They were playing games, but Cleo’s unbeatable winning streak stops being fun, so she decides what they really need is more pizzazz. Enter the Party Squad, a club with exactly one rule: HAVE FUN! With their cat Mr. Boo rounding out the crew, the trio discovers that any day, any situation, any moment can be improved by putting a party on it. This breezy and joyful full-color comic is full of ghostly silliness.
Middle Grade
“This Shindig Is Coming”
by Charise Mericle Harper
When Mouse tears through the forest shouting that the Shindig is coming, every woodland creature stops to take notice, but nobody actually knows what a Shindig is. The animals call a meeting and speculate wildly: is it a swampy green thing? A giant kitty with very soft paws? Bear arrives with his dictionary and solves the mystery — a shindig is a party! Everyone goes into joyful preparation mode, until the blue jay shows up to clarify that his announcement was not an invitation but a warning. This is a riotously funny book about miscommunication, jumping to conclusions, honey cake and fainting opossums.
“So That Happened … But Maybe You Already Knew That”
by Tami Sussman
Natalie has a lot riding on turning 12: the perfect bat mitzvah, graduating elementary school and maybe even a boyfriend. But life in suburban Sydney has other plans. Her family’s financial troubles mean selling the house, her favorite aunt is struggling with depression, her grandmother is being moved to assisted living and her former best friend is navigating a gender identity journey that puts Natalie squarely in the middle of some uncomfortable social dynamics at school. Suddenly, planning the perfect bat mitzvah seems less and less possible in this heartfelt coming-of-age story.
“Millie of the Manor”
by Karina Evans, illustrated by Andrea Bell
Amy would rather be lost in a detective novel than socializing, so when classmate Reagan invites her to a murder mystery birthday party, her anxiety kicks into overdrive. The saving grace: every guest plays a character, which means Amy can show up as scientist Millie Morgan instead of herself. As the investigation unfolds, Millie’s confidence becomes a backdoor into Amy’s own, until the clues start pointing at Millie and the anxiety comes rushing back. Bell’s illustrations shift from full color to grey whenever Amy’s thoughts spiral, making the emotional experience as vivid as the mystery. This story is a fun whodunit and a warm, honest portrayal of navigating social anxiety.
Teen
“The Debutantes”
by Olivia Worley
When this year’s Les Masques Ball queen Lily is doused with red paint by a mysterious jester and goes missing that same night, three of her court maids find themselves pulled into the investigation: Piper, whose twin brother is Lily’s boyfriend; Vivian, Lily’s best friend who’s realizing how little she actually knew her; and April, quietly navigating social anxiety and a secret connection to last year’s queen, Margot, whose overdose death is starting to look less accidental. Told in alternating perspectives, this twisty thriller moves at a propulsive pace as the trio digs into the dark underbelly of New Orleans debutante culture — blackmail, buried secrets and a jester who knows too much about all of them.
“Killer House Party”
by Lily Anderson
Valedictorian Arden had her future mapped out until her feuding divorced parents sank her college fund into the Deinhart Manor, the notoriously haunted abandoned mansion on the edge of town. Her best friends Remi and Maddy May have a solution: throw a graduation party there, charge admission and recoup the money. It’s a great plan until the doors seal shut, the walls start bleeding and the house makes it clear that no one is leaving. Blending snarky banter with genuinely creepy haunted house horror, this one keeps the scares coming while never losing sight of the friendships and futures that make survival feel worth fighting for.
“The Quince Project”
by Jessica Parra
Castillo Torres channels her grief over her mother’s death into meticulous event planning, with her sights set on a coveted internship with a famous lifestyle guru. When she lands the job of organizing a quinceañera for a teen Disney vlogger, it seems like the perfect portfolio boost, especially with cute lifeguard Javier around to sweeten the deal. But when a lie spirals out of control and the party turns out to be a publicity stunt, all her careful plans unravel. Warm, funny and full of party-planning details, this book is also a genuinely moving look at grief, family and learning to show up for your own life. T
