5 Books To Rock Story Time (That Don’t Include An Evil Queen)

Presented by Penguin Random House

Let me be the first to admit I have literally skipped entire pages of books when reading to my kids. Some days I just couldn’t bear to turn another page of that hack, dollar-store book with the mermaid princess and her evil step mother.

The books on this list are the opposite.

These are the keepers you can read over and over again. Fans of kid books that are actually funny, will want to check out the full Summer Reading Guide from Penguin here. So down with plot-less seahorse stories and up with kooky, beautifully illustrated tales for kids who can appreciate smart humor as much as their parents.

1. Because Disgruntled Crayons Write the Best Letters Ever

Little Duncan’s crayons are overworked, underappreciated and ready to quit if their conditions don’t improve. A special shout-out to “Peach Crayon” who’s lost all his wrapping (translation: he’s naked) and so worth the giggles guaranteed to come from your kids every time.

The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, illustrated By Oliver Jeffers

2. They’re Baaa-ack!

Maroon crayon pretty much sums up this book with one line on his postcard: “You only colored with me once, to draw a scab, but whatever.” One by one, Duncan’s long-lost crayons reach out to say they are coming back — some even glow in the dark.

The Day the Crayons Came Home, by Drew Daywalt, illustrated By Oliver Jeffers

3. To Act Like a Total Fool

Enough with serious grown-ups reading stories with sentences and pictures. Instead, this book has a whole lotta opportunity to make whomever is reading go the distance by pronouncing words like “Blork” and “Blurrf.” LOL.

The Book With No Pictures, B.J. Novak

4. On Food and Dragons

What could be better than preparing a boatload of tacos for a party where all the invited guests are dragons? It’s all good for this little boy living large with reptiles until one disastrous glitch in the taco salsa recipe.

Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

5. Meet the Alligator Trying to Keep a Low Profile

Reading this book makes you a little like the paparazzi for Snappsy the Alligator who is just minding his own business before some “narrator” came along to give play-by-play of his every move. The nerve.

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book), Julie Falatko, illustrated by Tim Miller

Happy Summer reading brought to you by Penguin Random House. Blame them if these books excite your kids so much they are even harder to get to sleep. But, hey, that’s what summer is for.