When kids are young sometimes it is fun to get them laughing. They love being silly and as adults we often aren't silly, so it is fun for us to read them silly books and they love them! Today we are sharing three silly picture books that will have everyone laughing! We will start with Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 but I could see younger kids enjoying it as well.
Publisher's Summary:
A USA Today Bestseller!There’s only one rule in Larry’s book: don’t push the button.
(Seriously, don’t even think about it!)
Even if it does look kind of nice, you must never push the button. Who knows what would happen?
Okay, quick. No one is looking... push the button.
Uh, oh.
From Me:
This one is not a new book. It has three versions: board, paperback and hardcover available and the first one came out in 2013. However, kids are going to love it. It is simple and interactive. On page one the reader meets Larry and he tells the reader the one rule which is not to push the button. However, as Larry is emphasizing his rule, he begins to wonder what will happen and encourages the reader to push it. Silly and fun things happen to Larry every time the button is pushed, and he encourages the button pushing in hopes of fixing the last time. Finally, the reader is asked to shake the book to restore order.
Young kids who cannot read love books that include them and this one certainly does. They will love pushing the button and shaking the book. Larry changes colors and multiplies and it is just a bit silly. The book is simple and fun and young kids will love the interactive part. I can see it being a great story time book with lots of laughter from everyone!
Our next silly book is by author Rachel Michelle Wilson. We shared another book by her a couple of years ago and it was also fun and silly! Today we are sharing How to Escape a Playdate: The Fun Way by Rachel Michelle Wilson. It is recommended for ages 3 to 5.
Publisher's Summary:
Bertie desperately attempts some creative escapes to a playdate in this companion to How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way by Rachel Michelle Wilson.Oh no! It's happened. You've been set up on a blind playdate.
Will they be your new best friend or evil nemesis?
You'll probably have to wait and see.
If you just don't click, it's okay. We've all been there. This book will guide you through a few creative escape options. All you'll need is your wits, a dashing disguise, and a roof-crushing robot. Along the way, you might even discover that you and your playdate have more in common
than you think.
Rachel Michelle Wilson has created another humorous story that any kid (and adult) can relate to. With her textured, retro style art, Rachel approaches another childhood milestone with humor, heart, and honesty.
From Me:
Most parents have done it. They plan a playdate for a child with someone they don't know. It could be that the parents are seeing old friends or even family. The child is anxious and doesn't really want to play with a stranger. As Bertie points out playing sick will just get the playdate rescheduled and not cancelled so it is better to face it and get it over with. Throughout the book the two kids come up with ideas for play, but it doesn't seem to work out until it does.
We all remember playdates like this. The struggle to find what will be fun together. The awkwardness of not knowing the person invited into your space. This book is humorous and shows the many failures and that it can take a while for a playdate to actually work out and find something fun for both people. It is a humorous introduction to making friends and is perfect for the kids who avoid social settings! It is a great book to read before a blind playdate or even before a playdate because sometimes even besties struggle in a new setting!
Our final book is not released yet. It will be released on December 1, 2026. It is from a popular songwriter and singer duo, Doctor Waffle and it puts one of their hit songs to a picture book. It is If You Ask an Axolotl by Ryan Walter and Abby Lyons and illustrated by Abi Langridge. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Publisher's Summary:
From Doctor Waffle, the popular singer-songwriting duo, comes a sweet and whimsical picture book adapted from their viral “If You Ask an Axolotl” TikTok video—featuring a brand-new verse and sheet music!There’s an axolotl on the pink stairs. Is an axolotl supposed to be there? Penguin and Axolotl play a game of cat and mouse, among other hijinks, in this playful, rhythmic read-aloud that celebrates the joy of curiosity, the magic of unexpected friendships, and the connective power of music.
From Me:
The words are a bit silly and very fun. The book portrays it as a story between an axolotl and a penguin. Since the chorus is "If you ask an axolotl if they'll be back tomorrow... A penguin waddles in, and then the axolotl's gone," it fits the words. The two seem up to some silly things and eventually they get together to sing a song.
Now, I will be honest, I don't really watch much on TikTok and hadn't heard of Doctor Waffle. Hazel is a bit old for this type of music nowadays, but the book is fun and the song sounds cute. At the end of the book is the "sheet music" of the song. This book is perfect for fans of Doctor Waffle as well as kids who like music and animals!
