Entertainment
Thanks to the brilliant, creative, and somewhat dark minds of the world, adults can enjoy the whimsical illustrations and rhyming allure of children's books — minus the cheesy lessons. in a new crop of books:. From parodies of fairy tales to original stories, children's books for adults are popping up everywhere, and they are nothing short of hilarious. If you need a good laugh and a break from the tongue-twisting rhymes of Dr. Seuss, then you’ll want to grab yourself a not-so-kid-friendly children’s book.
You don't have to be a parent to enjoy the humorous spin these modern stories put on the childhood classics. Filled with sexual undertones, dark topics, and potty-mouthed characters, these adult storybooks will become fast favorites of any grown-up with a sense of humor. Buy them for yourself, or give them as a gift, just make sure you don't read these to the little ones. (Unless you're ready to do a lot of explaining.)
The next time you find yourself asking the question, What should I read next? think outside the book club list and grab one of these unexpected treasures. Get in touch with your inner child and enjoy these 11 children's books that are anything but kid friendly. Before you know it, you'll be lining your shelves with these new standards and becoming the trendsetter for your reading circle.
1
'All My Friends Are Dead' by Avery Monsen & Jory John
In this dark and funny tale, dinosaurs, houseplants, pirates, and cassette tapes have to come to grips with the reality that all their friends are dead. With a dose of humor, All My Friends Are Dead explores what if feels like for these lonely soles left behind. (And if you love this, pick up the sequel All My Friends Are Still Dead.)
2
'If You Give A Kid A Cookie, Will He Shut The F*ck Up?' by Marcy Roznick
Maybe the answer to a little peace and quiet is as simple as a cookie. This is the hilarious hypothesis behind If You Give A Kid A Cookie, Will He Shut The F*ck Up? Parents should read this one after an especially long day of crying and tantrums.
3
'Goodnight iPad' by Ann Droyd
A friendly (and funny) reminder to power down each night, Goodnight iPad is a riff on the classic, Goodnight Moon; where saying goodnight to everything in the room makes the baby very sleepy.
4
'Are You My Boyfriend?' by C.B. Bryza
A hilarious look at the downsides of dating, Are You My Boyfriend, draws inspiration from the children's classic, Are You My Mother. But in place of a lost baby bird, readers follow a strong and independent young single woman as she searches for a worthy boyfriend.
5
'K Is For Knifeball' by Avery Monsen & Jory John
An alphabet book like none other, K Is For Knifeball, takes readers on an ABC journey of bad decision making. With advice like "O is for opening things with your teeth," adults are sure to see some things that they often do, yet tell their kids to avoid.
6
'Bi-Curious George: An Unauthorized Parody' by Andrew Simonian
Follow the adventures of Bi-Curious George, whose awakening begins with this quote:
"George was a straight little monkey but always very... curious. One day George saw a man. He had on a sassy purple beret. And George got excited, despite himself."
7
'Do You Want To Play With My Balls?' by The Cifaldi Brothers
Full of references and innuendo, Do You Want To Play With My Balls is a festival of double entendre. I dare you to read this one without laughing out loud.
8
'You Have To F*cking Eat' by Adam Mansbach
From the author who brought you Go The F*ck To Sleep, You Have To F*cking Eat takes a humorous look at another struggle for parents: getting the kids to eat.
9
'The Very Hungry Zombie' by Michael Teitelbaum
Quite opposite from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, who eats his way through fruits and veggies, The Very Hungry Zombie snacks on clowns, astronauts, and — of course — brains. Will he ever be full?
10
'The Taking Tree' by Shrill Travesty
The Taking Tree is the story of a selfish boy and a tree who's had enough of the boy's shenanigans. After becoming fed up with the boy's ways, the tree makes a plan for revenge.
11
'Q Is For Quinoa' by Joel Rickett
With ABC references from Active Birth to Zumba, Q Is For Quinoa is full of examples for modern day parents.
Image: Lars Plougmann/Flickr
