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Learning what is and isn’t OK to put in your mouth is an important part of growing up. Burgers? Yummy! Boogers? Yucky! Parents love Yummy Yucky for its humorous take on the subject, and simple but colorful illustrations. 

Perfect for: Kids who like learning about growing up.

Find at your local library.

Mo Willems is such a huge name among picture-book authors that it’s hard to believe his first children’s book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was published only five years ago. Willems perfectly captures a small child’s method of trying to get his own way, as the pigeon implores, promises, whines, begs and, in the end, throws a tantrum that both you and your child will recognize. Help your emerging reader make progress over the summer break with highly amusing and fun books like this one.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

Comic-style pictures and uproarious text keep kids interested. Is it possible for a few words and squiggles to convey both humor and emotion? Presto, chango! Jules Feiffer does the impossible!

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

Audrey Wood has created a hilarious read aloud. Children of all ages can relate to the fact that King Bidgood is having so much fun in his bathtub that he does not want to get out! Yet, who will run the kingdom? The rhythmic, repetitious writing simply begs for children to chant along, “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub, and he won’t get out!”

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

Bespeckled and a little stressed out, pessimistic Gerald the elephant has the look of a worried old man while his upbeat friend Piggie is much more kid-like and exuberant. Together they make a great pair, in much the same way as Frog and Toad. The language is simple and repetitive enough for beginning readers to enjoy. And the humor will hold their interest while they struggle with the harder parts. This book is so much fun that even struggling readers will want to read it over and over again, especially if they are able to share parts with another reader. And, happily, this is only one of several in the Elephant and Piggie series.

Perfect for: Helping kids see the fun and value in being a little different.

Find at your local library.

Pete has nothing to do on a dreary, rainy day until his father turns him into a pizza. In this hilarious story, Pete’s father kneads and stretches him, covers him with toppings and tosses him into the oven.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

Both the Zooks and the Yooks like butter on their bread — but the Zooks eat their bread butter-side down, while the Yooks prefer theirs butter-side up. This insignificant difference causes a heated battle with a series of increasingly powerful and silly-sounding weapons. When snick-berry switches aren’t enough, triple-sling jiggers come out in full force, until the conflict escalates to a weapon powerful enough to destroy both the Zooks and the Yooks for good. This Seussian take on the futility of one-upmanship conveys an important lesson about tolerance while delighting kids with ridiculous language. (Who can resist laughing at poo-a-doo powder?) Parents appreciate the thinly veiled Cold War references.

Want to see the movie? Check out the Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who collection, which also features animated TV specials of The Butter Battle Book, Horton Hatches an Egg, and Daisy-Head Mayzie.

Perfect for: Kids who love toast and Seussian tongue twisters.

Find at your local library.

Everybody’s busy: Lulu’s older brother won’t let her tag along because she is too “little,” and Mom and Dad don’t have time. What’s a girl to do? Enter Lulu’s alter ego: Ladybug Girl. Complete with wings and a ladybug polka-dot skirt, Lulu and her faithful sidekick, the family basset hound who is never too busy, go off on their own adventures saving the yard from danger. With wonderful illustrations accompanying the hilarious text, Ladybug Girl is one of my favorite picture books. It is a riotous read.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.