Listmania!
Quirky, Fun Kids Books
By an Amazon.com customer
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two GoldfishThe Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman
Buy new: $11.55 / Used from: $4.79
Brilliantly written, with off-beat illustrations by Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman's The Day I Swapped My Dad for 2 Goldfish is a terrifically fun read.
The Ink Drinker (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))The Ink Drinker (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Eric Sanvoisin
Buy new: $4.99 / Used from: $1.20
Originally from France, the Ink Drinker is the unique and funny story of a vampire who lives in a book store and drinks the ink from books, and the little boy who finds and befriends him.
Sideways Stories from Wayside SchoolSideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Buy new: $5.99 / Used from: $0.01
The collection is a favorite now, and finally getting the attention it deserves. Written in parallel, in which each story in the book is literally a story in the school (it was mistakenly built vertically), Sachar has some of the most creative children's writing to grace American book shelves.
Little PeaLittle Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Buy new: $10.18 / Used from: $4.50
The story of Little Pea, who hates candy. But he has to eat it before he can have his favorite desert... spinach. With happy illustrations, this is a great book for your child, or to give as a gift.
Penny Lee and Her TVPenny Lee and Her TV by Glenn McCoy
Buy used from: $1.05
Penny's dog got tired of her tv addiction, so one day he unplugged it and convinced her it was broken. In their adventure to the repair shop, Penny Lee learns to have fun outside instead. Funny and with a great lesson about turning off the tube.
Dumb Bunnies Collection (Dumb Bunnies)Dumb Bunnies Collection (Dumb Bunnies)
Buy new: $10.39 / Used from: $7.81
Before Captain Underpants fame, Dave Pilkey penned these quirky stories about some truly dumb bunnies. I know I will get some nasty email for putting them on a list of otherwise literary classics, but the list is fun, quirky books and that certainly fits the bill. All toddlers love the dumb bunnies, whether their parents do or not.
Winnie-the-Pooh (Pooh Original Edition)Winnie-the-Pooh (Pooh Original Edition) by A. A. Milne
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.01
Don't roll your eyes. If what you know (or remember) of the Hundred Acre Woods is by Disney, you will be delighted with the original. Eeyore is both figuratively and literally an a ss, Pooh has a gruff bear voice and attitude, and Milne's literary meter makes for enchanting reading.
Sheep in a JeepSheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw
Buy new: $5.95 / Used from: $0.61
A great board book, Sheep in a Jeep uses simple meter with active artwork to make a delightful board book for any earliest reader.
Owl at Home (I Can Read Book 2)Owl at Home (I Can Read Book 2)
Buy new: $3.99 / Used from: $0.01
The lesser-known (and, I think, more interesting) companion to Lobel's Frog & Toad (also on this list) is Owl. Owl is particular, proper, and funny to read with your best faked English accent. His stories carry every bit of the enchantment you expect from Lobel, and you'll enjoy them for years.
The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set (I Can Read Book 2)The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set (I Can Read Book 2)
Buy new: $9.59 / Used from: $6.64
Frog and Toad are a mismatched pair of friends, akin to Pooh and Piglet, with divergent outlooks on life. These books are not only great fun to read, but with the reformatting into the "I Can Read" series, they are great teaching tools as well.
Hippos Go BerserkHippos Go Berserk
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.97
A board book favorite from funster Sandra Boynton, Hippos Go Berserk mixes measured pros with counting skills and fun artwork to make this one of her best (and most under-rated)works.
Pete's a PizzaPete's a Pizza
Buy new: $11.55 / Used from: $5.17
When Pete gets stuck inside from the rain, his dad cheers him up by making him into a pizza. This book is fun to read in its own right, and even more fun to play along with. You will also find it included in several Harper-Collins collections.