Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Candlewick Press, 2009
Early reader and picture book format

Bear is his usual fastidious, grumpy self on his birthday—even denying that it is his birthday! Mouse disguises himself as the deliveryman, the postman, even as Santa Claus, trying to get Bear to admit it’s his birthday and enjoy the day.

Candlewick created an electronic Birthday card based on A Birthday for Bear! Click here to download the e-card PDF and share with your friends!

Kirkus Reviews 
Fans of the 2008 picture book “A Visitor for Bear” will delight in this second offering from Becker and Denton… it reads as a well-pitched combination of humorous dialogue and omniscient commentary. Meanwhile, the energetic ink-and-watercolor illustrations brim with humor while firmly establishing Mouse and Bear as friends new readers will enjoy visiting time and again. (Early reader. 6-8)

School Library Journal
The winning stars of A Visitor for Bear (Candlewick, 2008) make a return engagement…Whimsical full-color ink and watercolor illustrations hilariously depict the yin and yang of enormous, cantankerous Bear and tiny, merry Mouse. A sprinkling of colorful, out-of-the-ordinary vocabulary words and phrases adds welcome spice to the narrative. Fluent early readers will be pulled into this title by the appeal of its universal subject, entertaining characters, and the satisfying story with just the right amount of tension.

Children’s Literature
The full color ink and watercolor illustrations are humorous and charming. Fans of the earlier book, Bear’s Visitor, by the same author/illustrator combination, will be happily engaged in this newest and recommended story.