Best of Silly Books

Best of Silly Books

A list of some of our favorite books that are just, well, silly.  Sometimes we just need fun. Your most dramatic voices and motions not optional.

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• Sandra Boynton’s Moo, Baa, La La La!
  • Boynton is so good at this for really little kids. This is the first book I remember Maeve really engaging with early on.
• Rachel Bright’s Love Monster
  • This was a gift from a friend. It tells the story of a “slight hairy, I-suppose-a-bit-googly-eyed monster” looking for love in a world of cute, fluffy things.  It makes us smile and Maeve is amused, too.
• Chris Haughton’s Shh! We Have A Plan!
  • Our go-to gift for any and all kids because they all seem to LOVE it. What’s it’s universal appeal? Can’t say I fully know.
• Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Monster in Your Book
  • Interactive monster amusement at its best.  It’s super cute to watch kids participate in this one.
• Linda Bailey’s and Colin Jack’s If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
  • In a world of dinosaurs, what can you use them for? I really appreciate the creative fun of this one.
• Pat Zietlow Miller’s and Daniel Wiseman’s My Brother The Duck
  • Stella Wells, fledgling scientist, has a theory that her baby brother might be a duck. Puns for you and duck hypothesizing silliness for your kid. Thank you to Chronicle for our copy!
• Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
  • Another one that seems to universally hit kids’ funny bones.
• Oliver Jeffers’ The Incredible Book Eating Boy
  • Really weird, but also somehow #relatable? Ha.
• Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat
  • Is it the shock factor with this one?
• Shinsuke Yoshitake’s I Can Be Anything
  • Maeve loves this one where the little girl is making her exasperated mom play a guessing game of what she’s pretending to be.  She is constantly flipping through it and giggling over the little girl’s antics, so this definitely has her seal of approval. It’s quite Japanese in feel, too, if that appeals to you. Thank you, Chronicle!
• B.J. Novak’s The Book With No Pictures
  • I actually haven’t read this one yet, but I had to include it because I’ve heard such glowing praise of its hilarity.
• Sesyle Joslin’s and Maurice Sendak’s What Do You Say, Dear?
  • This is one I distinctly remember finding funny as a kid. It’s basically ridiculous situations and how to respond with manners.  (There is a cowboy with a gun if you don’t want your kids to see guns.)
• Adam Rex’s and Laura Park’s Unstoppable
  • Adam Rex is another author who seems to really get kid humor.  This one is so weird and funny. It’s out there in the best kind of way and I find myself wanting to read it very often. Definitely a favorite of the many picture books we have the pleasure of reading.  Thank you to Chronicle!

I have to hear your favorites! Silly books are much appreciated around here!

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