Who Says story time has to be serious? If you just want to hear your kids dissolve into uncontrollable giggles, you're in the right place. Get ready to do some "funny voices" - these five picture books will make reading together the highlight of the day.
By Bob Shea
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book.
This story begins when our costumed hero encouters another turtle who refuses to be fooled. Instead of simply calling the bluff, the second turtle raises the stakes by claiming to be a "for-real bear expert". What follows is a hilarious "proof-off" where Bearsuit Turtle tries to demonstrate his bear-ness through climbing trees, hibernating and bear type activities. When the summer heat makes it to hot to wear the costume any longer Bearsuit Turtle makes his confession.
This funny picture book perfectly captures the energy of illogical childhood banter and is a great read a-loud for bear and turtle lovers a like.
Written by Tammi Sauer
Illustrated by Kyle Beckett
New York, NY: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2026. Picture Book.
Dinosaurs are known from their strength or spikes but not for their love of pizza. However, this unique little dinosaur breaks the mold and unlike his peers he loves pizza - singing, dreaming, and even painting it. The other dinosaurs resent Pizzasaurus because he gets all of the attention but he doesn't seem to mind he just keeps eating his delicious pizza until one day they can't seem to find him anywhere. Everyone wonders where Pizzasaurus disappeared to. When he returns with pizza for everyone the dinosaurs all decide that maybe he is okay after all.
A supremely hilarious tale about a dinosaur unlike any other. A wonderful read a-loud when humor is needed.
Written by Joy Cowley
Illustrated by David Barrow
Minneapolis: Gecko Press, 2026. Picture Book.
My tiger loves cake. He eats it every day until he gets a bad tooth ache. So I took him to the dentist. My tiger was not happy when he had to wait in the waiting room and he didn't like the dentist looking in his mouth at his sharp teeth, but he especially didn't like being told by the dentist what to eat. And when she said no more cake, my Tiger was not happy.
This is a comically hilarious tale that reimagines the "pet tiger" with a different twist. A great book to do a picture walk through and read together.
Written by Patrick Horne
Ilustrated by Dan Yaccarino
New York: Holiday House, 2025. Picture book.
Bear is a mischievous cub who goes into the Goldilocks families camp site and finds the Goldilocks family gone. Little bear is extremely curious so he can't help but try the family's s'mores, then he accidentally smashes their musical instruments, and eventually lays down and takes a nap in one of the tents. When the family returns they find their campsite in ruins. What could have happened? They are puzzled as to what to do when Bear's parents show up. The humans don't speak bear and the loud growling from the upset bear parents causes the Goldilocks family to panic and leave all of their snacks behind for the bear family to enjoy.
This classic fairy tale is a hilarious fractured version of a camping trip gone wrong. A genuinely funny take on a story we all know very well. The art is delightful resulting in the perfect fractured fairy tale.
By Matthew Forsythe
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book.
Aggie tries to manage her uninvited guest with a strict list of house rules: "No haunting after dark, No stealing socks, and No more eating all the cheese." The ghost is beginning to drive her nuts because he just can't seem to follow all of her rules. When the ghost continues to break the house rules Aggie decides that one of them must go. This decision results in a game of tic-tac-toe to decide who gets the house.
A subtle and sweet story about personal space and the power of compromise. The sparse text along with the beautiful illustrations makes for a perfect book about learning how to be a good friend. A delightful story to read to children all year round.
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