Chapter 1: The Birthday Plan
“Ben, Ben! Guess what day it is today?” calls Max, bouncing on his bed.
Ben peeks in through the window. “Is it… pancake day?” he asks, with a big smile.
“No, silly! It's my birthday!” says Max, giggling. “And I want to have a birthday party!”
Ben claps his hands. “A birthday party! Hooray! What do we need for a birthday party, Max?”
Max thinks. He taps his finger on his cheek. “We need balloons, and hats, and cake! Lots and lots of cake!”
Ben nods. “Let's do it! Let's make a party all by ourselves.”
Max and Ben run to the kitchen. Max whispers, “Shh, we have to be sneaky. It's a surprise. Even for my teddy bear!”
Ben tiptoes. “I can be sneaky too! I am very, very sneaky.”
They open the cupboard.
“Look, Max! Hats!” Ben puts a hat on his head. It's a cooking pot.
Max giggles. “Now you are Chef Ben! I like it.”
Ben grins. “Now you try!”
Max puts a big, red bowl on his head.
“We are very silly,” says Ben.
“We are very ready,” says Max.
Chapter 2: The Surprising Surprises
“Now, we need balloons!” says Max.
Ben looks around. “But… I don't see any balloons.”
Max frowns. “Oh no… What do we do?”
Just then, Mrs. Rose from next door peeks in the window. She is carrying a bunch of big, round apples.
“Hello, boys!” Mrs. Rose smiles. “Are you having a party?”
Max nods. “It's my birthday!”
Mrs. Rose laughs. “Happy Birthday, Max! Look, these apples are as red as birthday balloons. Maybe these can help?”
Max and Ben clap. “Yes! Apple balloons!” they cheer.
They hang apples on strings and tie them to the chairs.
“Now it looks like a party!” says Ben.
“Now, we need cake!” says Max.
They open the fridge. No cake. They check the counter. No cake.
“Oh no… No cake,” says Max, looking sad.
Ben pats Max's hand. “Don't be sad, Max. Let's make a pretend cake!”
Max's eyes get big. “How do we do that?”
Ben grabs a box. “Here is the cake box!” He piles apples and oranges and even a banana on top.
Max giggles. “That's a funny cake!”
Just then, Max's grandma comes in with a tiny plate. “Hello, boys! I found one little cupcake for the birthday boy.”
Max's eyes shine. “A real cupcake! Thank you, Grandma!”
Ben jumps up and down. “Now we have a real cake and a pretend cake! This is the best party.”
Chapter 3: The Best Birthday
Max puts the cupcake on the pretend cake. He claps. “Let's sing!”
Ben sings. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Max, happy birthday to you!”
Max blows a pretend candle. “I made a wish!” he says.
Grandma, Ben, and Mrs. Rose all clap and laugh.
“Do you know my wish?” says Max.
“What did you wish for?” Ben asks.
Max smiles. “I wished for all my friends to be happy.”
Ben gives Max a big hug. “I am happy, Max.”
Mrs. Rose smiles. “I am happy too, Max.”
Grandma nods. “Me too, Max. Very happy.”
Max looks around. “Even teddy bear is happy!”
Everyone laughs.
They eat the cupcake. They eat apples. They wear their funny hats.
Ben looks at Max. “This is a very good birthday, Max.”
Max nods. “Yes, Ben. The very best.”
And everyone feels warm and loved, together at the birthday party.
