Published: 2021
Author: Deanna Kizis
Illustrator: Sam Boughton
Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Books About Books, Juvenile
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades PreK-3
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Please Don’t Read This Book!
Triggers: None
Review By: Allison Keough
Publisher’s Summary
In this laugh-out-loud book that begs readers to break the rules, silliness and hilarity reign supreme! Perfect for fans of The Book with No Pictures.
Wait–are you reading this book? Even though the cover asked you not to?
Well, if you’re going to read it, then you’ll have to follow the rules, or you’re going to have WAY too much fun. And you don’t want to have FUN, do you? DO YOU?!
That’s what I thought. So definitely, positively, DO NOT read this book!
Join along for zany antics, silly sounds, and endless fun in this breaks-the-fourth-wall book that will have readers coming back time and time again–regardless of what the title says.
Review
This is hands down, a fantastic read a loud for any age group. Similar to The Book with No Pictures, this story has the narrator say and do hilarious things that will keep students laughing and engaged. The illustration features a variety of colors, font types and sizes, and delightful blue/green character that continues to ask the kids to please stop reading or they will have too much fun! The HORROR!
By far, this is requested nearly as often as Creepy Carrots or The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors and students always enjoy hearing the teacher say and do funny things. Students laugh along and will do the same antics as you read them, adding to the hilarity and amusing behavior. When coming to the end of the book, many of my students ask to read the book again, a great sign of a beloved read aloud. Great for reading quickly, or taking your time to enjoy with a class.
Rating: 5 out of 5 just for the sheer joy of seeing kids try to pat their head and rub their belly at the same time.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA / Interactive Storytelling: This text is a masterclass in breaking the fourth wall and utilizing interactive dialogue to build reading engagement. It serves as a perfect tool for practicing expression, voice inflection, and performance-based reading aloud.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) / Joyful Play: The book naturally prompts children to follow along with silly physical activities, making it an excellent emotional outlet and movement break. It models safe rule-breaking and learning through play and laughter.
- Book Pair: Pair this book with a “Silly Rules” creative writing and illustration workshop. Have students design their own warning signs or book covers telling readers “Do Not Open This!” or “Do Not Look Inside!” and ask them to list three hilarious physical challenges the reader must do if they dare to disobey the cover’s warning.
Readalikes
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt
- Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds
