Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Playfulness
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
by Judi Barrett
A whimsical story of a town where food literally falls from the sky.
A grandfather reads a bedtime story, chronicling the lives of the citizens of an imaginary town called Chewandswallow, which is characterized by food raining from the sky. The sky provided the ... (Wikipedia)
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
A collection of whimsical and imaginative poems.
Come in... for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. Shel Silverstein, the New York Times bestselling author of, The Giving Tree,, A Light in the Attic,, Falling Up, , and, Every ... (Goodreads)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
A young girl's fantastical journey, filled with curious creatures and imaginative experiences.
Chris Riddell's brilliant new full-colour illustrated, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, in a sumptuous hardback and jacketed edition. A perfect gift for families, children and all fans of this ... (Goodreads)
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
by Paul Fleischman
A collection of poems meant to be read aloud by two people, celebrating the music and rhythm of language.
From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Seedfolks , Paul Fleischman, Joyful Noise is a collection of irresistible poems that celebrates the insect world. Funny, sad, loud, and quiet, each of these ... (Goodreads)
The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
by Bill Watterson
An anthology of comic strips about the adventures of a mischievous boy and his stuffed tiger.
The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes , is a large-format treasury of the cartoons from Yukon Ho! and Weirdos from Another Planet! (including full-color Sunday cartoons) plus a full-color original ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Viscount Who Loved Me
by Julia Quinn
A battle of wits and wills between a widow and a viscount, culminating in a passionate love.
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.,And in truth, ... (Goodreads)
The Trouble With Valentine's Day
by Rachel Gibson
A romantic comedy about a woman's attempt to find true love in the midst of chaotic Valentine's Day.
Dumped by her boyfriend, stressed out by her job, Kate Hamilton needs to regroup and get back some self-esteem. She moves from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the wilderness of Gospel, Idaho for ... (Goodreads)
The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde
A lighthearted comedy of manners, full of witty dialogue and satirizing Victorian society.
Oscar Wilde's madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret engagements, and lovers entanglements still delights readers more than a century after its 1895 publication and premiere performance. The ... (Goodreads)
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler
by Italo Calvino
An exploration of the nature of storytelling, as two readers attempt to uncover the lost story of the novel's title.
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler is a marvel of ingenuity, an experimental text that looks longingly back to the great age of narration—"when time no longer seemed stopped and did not yet seem to ... (Goodreads)
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
by Chuck Klosterman
An exploration of pop culture and its influence on contemporary life.
Countless writers and artists have spoken for a generation, but no one has done it quite like Chuck Klosterman. With an exhaustive knowledge of popular culture and an almost effortless ability to ... (Goodreads)
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
A comedic romance of misunderstandings and eventual triumph of love over deception.
In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare includes two quite different stories of romantic love. Hero and Claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, Don John, strikes out at their ... (Goodreads)
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
by Douglas R. Hofstadter
A complex exploration of logic, mathematics and art, exploring their relationships and interconnections.
Douglas Hofstadter's book is concerned directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity ... (Goodreads)
Cosmicomics
by Italo Calvino
A collection of stories that explore the mysteries of the universe, blending science and myth.
Italo Calvino's extraordinary imagination and intelligence combine here in an enchanting series of stories about the evolution of the universe. He makes his characters out of mathematical formulae ... (Goodreads)
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
by Bill Watterson
A collection of beloved Calvin and Hobbes comic strips, exploring life’s adventures with childlike wonder.
Beginning with the day Hobbes sprang into Calvin's tuna fish trap, the first two, Calvin and Hobbes, collections,, Calvin and Hobbes, and, Something Under The Bed Is Drooling, are brought together in ... (Barnes & Noble)
Calvin and Hobbes
by Bill Watterson
The adventures of a young boy and his imaginary tiger friend, exploring the world with humor and imagination.
This is the first collection of the popular comic strip that features Calvin, a rambunctious 6-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes charmingly to life. ... (Goodreads)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
by Dr. Seuss
A whimsical journey of rhyming words and simplistic stories, teaching life lessons.
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a 1960 children's book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). A simple rhyming book for learner readers, it is a book with a freewheeling plot about a boy and a ... (Goodreads)
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A.A. Milne
A whimsical tale of a bear and his friends, exploring the Hundred Acre Wood.
The adventures of Christopher Robin and his friends in which Pooh Bear uses a balloon to get honey, Piglet meets a Heffalump, and Eeyore has a birthday. ... (Goodreads)
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
by Eric Litwin
A fun-filled journey of discovery with Pete the Cat as he learns about colors.
Don't miss the first and bestselling book in the beloved Pete the Cat series! Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white ... (Barnes & Noble)
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
A whimsical journey of a picky eater trying something new.
Sam-I-Am offers an unnamed character a plate of green eggs and ham. He refuses, repeating, “I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.” while Sam persistently follows him, asking ... (Wikipedia)
Corduroy
by Don Freeman
A teddy bear's adventures in a department store, searching for a missing button.
A picture book classic! One of, School Library Journal,’s "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time (2012) One of the National Education Association’s "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." Don Freeman's ... (Barnes & Noble)
Breakfast of Champions
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
A humorous exploration of life's absurdities, through a madcap journey of a protagonist.
Kilgore Trout is a widely published, but ignored and virtually invisible writer who is invited to deliver a keynote address at a local arts festival in distant Midland City. Dwayne Hoover is a ... (Wikipedia)
Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein
A young chicken's imaginative bedtime stories, with a few interruptions along the way.
Awarded a 2011 Caldecott Honor!, A favorite joke inspires this charming tale, in which a little chicken's habit of interrupting bedtime stories is gleefully turned on its head. It's time for the ... (Goodreads)
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
by Mo Willems
A pigeon's mischievous attempts to drive a bus and the humorous exchange between reader and pigeon.
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place—a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way ... (Goodreads)
The Poky Little Puppy
by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Adventures of five mischievous puppies learning lessons of life and responsibility.
In this cherished childhood classic, a puppy who is always late coming home one night finds there is no dessert for him. One of the original 12 Little Golden Books, The Poky Little Puppy has sold ... (Goodreads)
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny
by Marilyn Sadler
PJ Funnybunny doesn't want to be a bunny anymore and tries living with other animals, but realizes being a bunny isn't so bad after all.
This Beginner Book starring P.J. Funnybunny is a bunny-rific tale of discovery perfect for Easter!, Meet P. J. Funnybunny in this humorous and touching Beginner Book by Marilyn Sadler and Roger ... (Barnes & Noble)
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
by Dr. Seuss
A whimsical exploration of the power of imagination and the wonders of the world.
The book begins with a reader thinking about colors or animals that she knows, like birds, or horses, but as quickly as page three he asks the reader to think of something completely made up; a GUFF! ... (Wikipedia)
From Head to Toe
by Eric Carle
A journey of exploration through animals and their unique movements.
From Eric Carle, the, New York Times, bestselling creator of beloved books including, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and, The Grouchy Ladybug,, comes, From Head to Toe, a colorful and energetic book ... (Goodreads)
Falling Up
by Shel Silverstein
A whimsical collection of poems about the funny, strange, and wondrous experiences of life.
Millie McDeevit screamed a scream,So loud it made her eyebrows steam.,She screamed so loud,Her jawbone broke,Her tongue caught fire,Her nostrils smoked..., Poor Screamin' Millie is just one of the ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Cinderella Deal
by Jennifer Crusie
A romantic comedy about a woman determined to break the rules and find her own happily-ever-after.
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie brings humor and storytelling magic to this modern-day romance of a match made anywhere but in heaven—but destined for a fairy-tale ending. Daisy ... (Goodreads)
Nicholas
by René Goscinny
A collection of humorous stories of a young French boy's misadventures.
La maîtresse est inquiète, le photographe s'éponge le front, le Bouillon devient tout rouge, les mamans ont mauvaise mine, les papas font les guignols, le directeur part à la retraite, quant à ... (Goodreads)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr.
A playful story of letters competing to climb a coconut tree.
The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'"–which probably seemed like a ... (Goodreads)
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
by T.S. Eliot
Collection of whimsical poems about cats, each one unique in its own way.
These loveable cat poems were written by T.S. Eliot for his godchildren and friends in the thirties. They have delighted generations of children since, and inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber's brilliant ... (Goodreads)
Mooncop
by Tom Gauld
A solitary police officer patrols a dwindling lunar colony, reflecting on the past and uncertain future of his life and work.
"Living on the moon... Whatever were we thinking...? It seems so silly now." The lunar colony is slowly winding down, like a small town circumvented by a new super highway. As our hero, the Mooncop, ... (Goodreads)
The New Kid on the Block
by Jack Prelutsky
A light-hearted poem about a new kid in the neighborhood, making friends and having fun.
From beloved and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky come over 100 hilarious poems about strange creatures and people—from jellyfish stew to a bouncing mouse, to the very unexpected new kid! For fans of ... (Goodreads)
Pippi in the South Seas
by Astrid Lindgren
Pippi, Tommy, and Annika sail to the South Seas and have adventures with cannibals, sharks, and pirates.
"Any reappearance of the irrepressible Pippi Longstocking is cause for celebration. This installment is no exception." - The New York Times ... (Goodreads)
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren
A young girl’s wild adventures, full of imagination and mischief.
Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for ... (Goodreads)
Three Men in a Boat
by Jerome K. Jerome
Three friends and a dog embark on a whimsical boat journey down the Thames, encountering unexpected adventures and mishaps.
A comic masterpiece that has never been out of print since it was first published in 1889, Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat includes an introduction and notes by Jeremy Lewis in Penguin ... (Goodreads)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?
by Dr. Seuss
An imaginative picture book filled with hilarious sounds and lively illustrations.
The story follows a man named Mr. Brown, who can make a wide variety of sounds, imitating the sounds of animals and inanimate objects. The narrator recites a list of items and animals that Mr. Brown ... (Wikipedia)
The Book of Bunny Suicides
by Andy Riley
A collection of darkly comic tales featuring a group of suicidal bunnies.
Rabbits. We'll never quite know why, but sometimes they decide they've just had enough of this world- and that's when they start getting inventive. The Book of Bunny Suicides follows over one hundred ... (Goodreads)
Diary of a Worm
by Doreen Cronin
A humorous look at life as a worm, with adventures and lessons to be learned.
#1 New York Times Bestseller! This hilarious picture book from the bestselling, acclaimed author-illustrator team of Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss tells the adventures of a worm through his daily ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Day the Crayons Came Home
by Drew Daywalt
A hilarious story about a young boy's unique way of dealing with the runaway crayons that have come back to him.
The companion to the #1 blockbuster bestseller,, The Day the Crayons Quit,! I'm not sure what it is about this kid Duncan, but his crayons sure are a colorful bunch of characters! Having soothed the ... (Goodreads)
Blue Hat, Green Hat
by Sandra Boynton
An entertaining story about the misadventures of a confused turkey.
Three earnest animals and one misguided turkey learn colors and clothes in this Sandra Boynton classic. Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with ... (Barnes & Noble)
Hopscotch
by Julio Cortázar
A surrealist journey of self-exploration and imaginative play.
Horacio Oliveira is an Argentinian writer who lives in Paris with his mistress, La Maga, surrounded by a loose-knit circle of bohemian friends who call themselves "the Club." A child's death and La ... (Goodreads)
Joy in the Morning
by P.G. Wodehouse
A lighthearted romantic comedy following the misadventures of an English couple.
The novel opens with a brief flashforward of Bertie and Jeeves driving home, with Bertie remarking that there is an expression, something about Joy, that describes what he has just been through. ... (Wikipedia)
The Grand Sophy
by Georgette Heyer
An unconventional young woman's spirited adventure to restore order and joy to her new family.
For the past several years Sophia Stanton-Lacy (known as Sophy to everyone) has lived away from England, following her diplomat father Sir Horace around Europe while the Napoleonic Wars raged on. Now ... (Wikipedia)
Still Life with Woodpecker
by Tom Robbins
Quirky exploration of love and revolution, delving into the nature of reality.
Princess Leigh-Cheri, a redheaded vegetarian liberal princess and former cheerleader, lives with her exiled royal parents Max and Tilli and their last loyal servant Gulietta in a converted farmhouse ... (Wikipedia)
Barnyard Dance
by Sandra Boynton
Colorful illustrations depicting animals enjoying a lively dance party.
Stomp your feet! Clap your hands! Everybody ready for a, Barnyard Dance!, Everybody sing along—because it's time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew! From Boynton on Board, ... (Goodreads)
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
by Eileen Christelow
A fun and mischievous nursery rhyme about five little monkeys causing mayhem.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. The mama called the doctor. The doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Their teeth are brushed, their pajamas are ... (Barnes & Noble)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-Up Adaptation
by Robert Sabuda
A visual journey through the magical world of Wonderland, presented in a unique and interactive style.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is Robert Sabuda's most amazing creation ever, featuring stunning pop-ups illustrated in John Tenniel's classic style. The text is faithful to Lewis Carroll's ... (Barnes & Noble)
Homer Price
by Robert McCloskey
An imaginative young boy embarks on a series of comedic adventures.
Welcome to Centerburg! Where you can win a hundred dollars by eating all the doughnuts you want; where houses are built in a day; and where a boy named Homer Price can foil four slick bandits using ... (Goodreads)
Busman's Honeymoon
by Dorothy L. Sayers
A newly married couple must put their honeymoon on pause to solve a murder mystery.
After an engagement of some months following the events at the end of, Gaudy Night, , Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane marry. They plan to spend their honeymoon at Talboys, an old farmhouse in ... (Wikipedia)
Curious George Visits the Library
by Margret Rey
A mischievous monkey's exploration of the library, learning the joys of reading.
George is lucky to arrive at the library just in time for story hour. But it’s not easy for a little monkey to sit still too long. From selecting books to getting his very own library card, George’s ... (Goodreads)
I Could Pee On This: And Other Poems By Cats
by Francesco Marciuliano
A book of humorous poems from the perspective of cats, exploring the unique personalities of felines.
Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats. In this hilarious book of tongue-in-cheek ... (Barnes & Noble)
Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhugh
A young detective's adventure to uncover the truth and discover her own identity.
In 1964, eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch is an aspiring writer who lives in New York City's Upper East Side . Harriet is precocious, ambitious and enthusiastic about her future career. Encouraged ... (Wikipedia)
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
by Lynley Dodd
A group of mischievous dogs go on an adventure around their small town.
Hairy Maclary goes off for a walk in town, followed by a few friends. All is uneventful until they meet Scarface Claw, the toughest tom in town, and run for home. The story is told by a brilliant, ... (Goodreads)
Bear Snores On
by Karma Wilson
A bear and his woodland friends gather for a cozy hibernation party.
One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just ... (Goodreads)
The Complete Adventures of Curious George
by Margret Rey
A beloved monkey's hijinks, inspiring children to explore the world with curiosity and joy.
“This is George. He lived in Africa. He was a good little monkey, and always very curious.” With these words, H. A. and Margret Rey introduced the world to Curious George in 1941, and the world has ... (Goodreads)
But Not the Hippopotamus
by Sandra Boynton
Funny animal antics and hijinks in a silly rhyming story.
A shy hippo makes a big impact in this Sandra Boynton classic. Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million ... (Barnes & Noble)
Suddenly, a Knock on the Door
by Etgar Keret
"תראה, אני מנסה להתפלמס. שום תראה, רוטן המזוקן ודורך את האקדח, או סיפור או כדור בראש. אני מבין שאין ברירה. שני אנשים יושבים בחדר, אני מתחיל, פתאום נשמעת דפיקה בדלת. המזוקן מזדקף. לרגע נדמה לי שהסיפור ... (Goodreads)
The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites
by Dr. Seuss
Exploration of opposites in a whimsical and humorous way.
A Dr. Seuss classic turns 50! Since 1968, this super-simple, simply brilliant Bright and Early Book about feet has been helping beginning beginner readers step into the world of reading by ... (Barnes & Noble)
Bedtime for Frances
by Russell Hoban
A young badger's bedtime routine, learning the importance of boundaries and friendship.
This beloved classic bedtime book continues to spark giggles and is a perfect read-aloud at bedtime. It may be bedtime for Frances, but before Frances can sleep, she needs a glass of milk, a kiss ... (Barnes & Noble)
Something Under the Bed is Drooling
by Bill Watterson
A collection of cartoons featuring the adventures of Calvin and Hobbes, exploring the world of childhood imagination.
"Be good to yourself: Buy a copy of this, Calvin and Hobbes, cartoon book. If you don't laugh out loud at every third strip, check your pulse. You may be dead." —Phil Musick,, Pittsburgh Press, ... (Barnes & Noble)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
by Jane Yolen
A fun look at how different dinosaurs say goodnight, using silly rhymes and illustrations.
In a few simple lines of verse on each spread, fathers and mothers are ready to put their youngsters to bed. But in this book, the youngsters are a wide variety of dinosaurs. And how do dinosaurs say ... (Goodreads)
Don Quixote - Vol. 1
by J.R. Cuenot
A knight's quest for chivalrous glory, accompanied by his loyal sidekick.
Una coleccion que adapta grandes obras y autores de la literatura escrita en espanol.Cada titulo incluye:Una breve presentacion de la vida y obra del autor. El texto adaptado. Una seleccion de partes ... (Goodreads)
My Friend Rabbit
by Eric Rohmann
An unlikely friendship between a rabbit and a mouse, creating magical and unexpected adventures.
Rabbit saves the day in a most ingenious way. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind. From Caldecott Honor award winner Eric Rohmann comes ... (Goodreads)
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
by Rod Campbell
A young child's search for the perfect pet, exploring animals from around the world.
Rod Campbell’s classic lift-the-flap book Dear Zoo has been a firm favorite with toddlers and parents alike ever since it was first published in 1982. Young readers love lifting the flaps to discover ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
by Dr. Seuss
A mischievous cat returns to create more chaos and fun for a brother and sister.
Once again, Sally and her brother, Conrad, are being left home alone for the day, but this time, their mother has left them with instructions to clear away a large amount of snow while she is out. ... (Wikipedia)
Sheep in a Jeep
by Nancy E. Shaw
An amusing and adventurous journey of a group of sheep in a jeep, on their way to a picnic.
A flock of hapless sheep drive through the country in this rhyming picture book. ... (Barnes & Noble)
Trout Fishing in America / The Pill vs. the Springhill Mine Disaster / In Watermelon Sugar
by Richard Brautigan
A collection of three surreal and experimental novels exploring the counterculture of the 1960s.
An omnibus edition of three counterculture classics by Richard Brautigan that embody the spirit of the 1960s. Trout Fishing in America is by turns a hilarious, playful, and melancholy novel that ... (Goodreads)
Revolting Rhymes
by Roald Dahl
Retelling of classic fairy tales with unexpected twists, set in an anarchic landscape.
I guess you think you know this story.,You don't. The real one's much more gory.,The phoney one, the one you know,Was cooked up years and years ago... Do you think Cinderella married the prince and ... (Goodreads)
Every Thing on It
by Shel Silverstein
Collection of whimsical poems, exploring different aspects of life with a unique sense of humour.
Have you ever read a book with everything on it? Well, here it is, an amazing collection of never-before-published poems from the creator of, Where the Sidewalk Ends,, A Light in the Attic, and, ... (Goodreads)
Wacky Wednesday
by Theo LeSieg
A young boy's wacky day of imaginative adventures, pushing the boundaries of reality.
The main character, a child, wakes up to find a shoe on the wall; then he looks up to find one on the ceiling as well. With each new page the number of "wacky" things grows, as the child goes through ... (Wikipedia)
Jamberry
by Bruce Degen
A whimsical journey of imagination and exploration through a magical berry patch.
This bestselling classic features a berry-loving boy and an endearing rhyme-spouting bear. The fun wordplay and bright paintings with lots of details for young readers to explore make Jamberry a ... (Barnes & Noble)
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