Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent. In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers! Maud is having a birthday party in her backyard, and she's invited her friends--all fifty-six of them--to celebrate with her. She's not worried, though. After all, you can never have too much birthday! But when the guests arrive and the party gets packed, she isn't so sure. What will happen if Maud can't bear her own birthday? J. E. Morris's charming illustrations and comic-like panels make this a unique format with a narrative style perfect for storytime.