Only recently I’ve become privy to an entirely new world of children’s literature.

The world of picture book parodies.

Perhaps like you, I had been familiar some with the more mainstream parodies, like…

Frankenstein

Goodnight Goon

…but there’s more. Way more. And some of them get pretty out there.

So let’s have a look.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Question the Rules

Most parody books are out to pull legs. Case in point, Don’t Let the Pigeon Question the Rules – a book that takes an aggressive position against the book it parodies, but with tongue clearly in cheek. I don’t know a better way to describe this book than with the summary available online:

Don’t Let The Pigeon Question The Rules is a humane alternative to the bleak proceduralist vision of Mo Willems’s bestselling totalitarian classics.

The Day the Crayons Organized an Autonomous Worker’s Collective

While some point to Click, Clack, Moo as a veiled pro-union indoctrination attempt (or further proof that The 1% always wins), this book tosses the veil in the nearest gutter in favor of clarity. It also highlights the fact that most of these parodies are for adults, not children.

I also enjoy the prestige-pricing audacity evident in the Buy Used cost for this book on Amazon:

The Very Hungry Zombie

Eric Carle’s classic is regular fodder for parody attempts, including The Very Hungover Caterpillar, this book, and its companion, The Very Thirsty Vampire.

Mr. Selfie

A modern take on the Mr. Man/Little Miss series.

Where’s Karl?

Where’s Waldo, but featuring the next person you would expect to find in this type of book, designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Good Morning Brew

There’s an entire Goodnight Moon parodying industry out there, including Goodnight iPad, Goodnight Nanny-Cam, Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife, Goodnight Bush, Goodnight Keith Moon, Goodnight Mr. Darcy and others with titles I can’t share here.

The Kid in the Crib

The Cat in the Hat re-imagined as a tale for “beleaguered parents struggling with the anxieties and challenges of parenting in the 21st century.”