How to have EVEN MORE fun in 2017

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My younger daughter came home from school recently with a library book. It was called “The Book with No Pictures.” She requested that I read it immediately, and I’m not proud to say that tried to blow her off. (After all, I had to fold laundry and make dinner. And …just maybe … check Instagram…) But mom guilt got the better of me, and we plunked down on the couch to read. And we giggled. Then laughed. And laughed some more.  And laughed until we cried.

We were so loud that my older daughter came in to see what all the hysterics were about. We kicked her out of the living room until we’d finished the book, then brought her in to read it aloud to us. I had even more tears the second time. When my husband got home, we set up a video camera to record his reaction. Pretty much can guarantee we’ve never had so much fun with one library book. I recommend you check it out immediately.

In keeping with my resolution to have more fun in 2017 and in honor of February’s “National Library Lovers Month,” I recommend to you some other seriously silly books:

  • “Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by James Dean and Eric Litwin. Kids and adults will be cracking up at the crazy cat and his messy misadventures in this book, plus several others in the series.
  • “Purple, Green and Yellow” by Robert Munsch. Any mother whose kid has played with markers can relate to this book. But no one can read it with a straight face. My daughter also introduced me to “I Have to Go” which potty-training moms will especially appreciate!
  • “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein is great because it’s a collection of poems. Some are very short and can fulfill that “one quick story before bed” requirement on even the craziest of school nights. My girls also love “A Light in the Attic” by the same author.
  • Anything by Mo Willems, especially “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” I love it when my girls bring home “Pigeon” books from school. He’s spunky but not sassy.
  • Anything else by Mo Willems, especially Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Book!” This is another one my younger daughter and I read through several consecutive times. Another favorite? “Pigs Make Me Sneeze.”
  • “The Monster at the End of This Book” by Jon Stone
  • “How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long and David Shannon
  • “You Have to Be Nice to Someone on Their Birthday” by Barbara Bottner

Now don’t just take my word for it – here are some recommendations from Sharon Verbeten, children’s librarian at the Brown County Central Library:

  • For older readers: “Zorgoochi’s Intergalactic Pizza” by Dan Yaccarino; “Half Upon a Time” by James Riley; the “Weenies” series by David Lubar
  • For elementary: “Big Bad Bubble” and “Dragons Love Tacos,” both by Adam Rubin; “A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea” by Michael Ian Black; “This Moose Belongs to Me” by Oliver Jeffers
  • Read to me: “No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling” by James Stevenson; “Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite” by Nick Bromley; “Mustache Baby” by Bridget Heos; “Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzbert

Does your family have a favorite super-silly children’s book? Please let me know in the comments! Thanks!

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