I don’t know what it is about summer …
but the combination of sunshine, warm nights spent eating dinner together on the porch and popsicles dripping down faces makes it a bit easier to remember the joy and silliness of being a kid.
In that spirit, here are some silly books sure to put a smile on your face, no matter the weather.
Just Because by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Just Because pairs one of my absolute favorite children’s book authors with one of my absolute favorite illustrators. The result is a beautiful, silly portrait of bedtime. As a father puts his daughter to bed she begins to ask many, many, many questions — and the answers to each get sillier and sillier. Mac Barnett’s wonderful imagination comes to life in such a beautiful and whimsical way when paired with Isabelle Arsenault’s stunning illustrations. To top it all off, my daughter laughs and laughs when we read this book. I’ll read it to her always in hopes that I can hear her laugh that way.
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts
If you’re looking for the perfect read-aloud book, Bathe the Cat is it! Alice B. McGinty’s fantastically silly book follows a family doing everything they can to get the house cleaned before Grandma Marge arrives. Unfortunately, the cat has other plans. She mixes up the letters on their to-do list over and over, driving both dads wild as they watch Sarah scrub the lawn and Bobby sweep the baby. The silly mix-ups are perfectly paired with David Roberts’s bright and exuberant illustrations.
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert
The past few years have been really special for me because my daughter and I have started reading chapter books together. I’ve been reading to her and she’s starting her own reading journey as well, more and more capable of reading these books on her own. Jo Jo Makoons is a wonderful early reader about a spirited and kind Ojibwe girl navigating the ups and downs of school and friendship. Jo Jo is sweet and fun and she loves her kitty. I highly recommend introducing her to the early readers in your life.
Punky Aloha written and illustrated by Shar Tuiasoa
Punky Aloha is my new favorite book. It puts a permanent smile on my face. Punky and her grandmother are making banana bread but they are out of butter. For the first time, Grandma sends Punky to get the butter all by herself. She gives her a pair of brave glasses to wear in case she feels shy when she meets new friends. Thus begins her journey for butter from Kimo’s Market. Along the way she meets a pig, a bee and, finally, another kid. Each time Punky feels afraid, she remembers that sharing her aloha is the most important thing — and the brave glasses don’t hurt.
Norman and the Nom Nom Factory written and illustrated by Bridgette Zou
Norman is a furry alien living all by himself on Planet Gerp. He makes Nom Noms using a super secret recipe taught to him by Grandma Nancy. He likes living alone, eating Nom Noms and never trying anything new. Then Chip, a small and adventurous alien, crashes onto Gerp and forces Norman to see that trying new things can be exciting, not just scary. These two unlikely buddies will make you smile and have you coming back for more Nom Noms, Starm, Bing and any other delicious discoveries they might stumble upon. After all, everything’s more fun with a friend.
– Margaret Leonard
Margaret Leonard is the owner of Dotters Books, an independent bookstore in Eau Claire. The shop, which specializes in books by a diverse range of authors, began as a book club and opened its doors in the fall of 2018. Follow Dotters Books on Instagram and Facebook.