Books About Wordplays

The Best Wordplays Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about wordplays? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 8 Favorite Books About Wordplays

The New Kid on the Block
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 1984

The New Kid on the Block

By Jack Prelutsky, James Stevenson (Illustrator)

Dive into whimsical poems of odd creatures and curious adventures.

160 pages· 10,058 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 10,986 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Discover a world of whimsical poetry where jellyfish stew simmers, mice bounce, and dragons host birthday parties. Meet peculiar characters like the world's worst singer and a boneless chicken. Each page offers a new, delightful surprise, challenging you to rethink the ordinary and embrace the absurd. Will you dare to argue with a shark or consider an alligator as a pet? This playful collection invites readers of all ages to explore the unexpected and revel in the joy of wordplay. Open any page and let the adventure begin!
Cdb Color Ver
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 1968

Cdb Color Ver

By William Steig

Decode playful letter puzzles and discover hidden messages.

48 pages· 219 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
4.2 Goodreads · 890 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Dive into a world of playful puzzles where young readers decode sentences using letter sounds. Each page invites children to unravel mysteries like 'C D B' and more. Can you crack the code and reveal the hidden messages? This vibrant journey promises fun and learning as kids explore the magic of language through clever gramograms. Get ready to see the world in a whole new way!
A Chocolate Moose for Dinner
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 7–10 · 1976

A Chocolate Moose for Dinner

By Fred Gwynne

A girl imagines her parents' words literally, leading to hilarious misunderstandings.

48 pages· 210 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
4.4/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 667 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: A young girl navigates a world of confusion as she takes her parents' words literally, envisioning a chocolate moose and a gorilla war. Her vivid imagination turns everyday phrases into whimsical adventures, leaving her both puzzled and amused. What other quirky images will her mind conjure up next?
Batter Up Wombat
Sale price
$1520
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2006

Batter Up Wombat

By Helen Lester, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

A last-place team recruits a puzzled newcomer who takes baseball talk far too literally.

32 pages· 958 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
$16.00Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: The Champs finished last in the North American Mammal League, but this season will be different. On opening day a wombat wanders onto the field, and the team signs him up. There is just one problem: Wombat knows nothing about baseball and takes every bit of baseball lingo literally, with hilarious results. Can he still help the Champs win?
Little Miss Helpful
Picture Book · 1981

Little Miss Helpful

By Roger Hargreaves · Mr. Men and Little Miss series

An eager helper keeps trying to lend a hand, but things go wrong.

441 words
Paperback
Summary: Little Miss Helpful loves to help, but her help always seems to make things worse. When she sets out to help her friends, one well-meant favor after another ends in a mess. A short, funny story from Roger Hargreaves's Mr. Men and Little Miss books.
Backwards Day
Sale price
$379
Picture Book

Backwards Day

By Joan Holub, Jane Kurisu (Illustrator)

A school day runs in reverse, turning familiar routines into surprises.

32 pages· 261 words
3.8 Goodreads · 12 ratings
$3.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On backwards day, everything at school works the opposite way. Books are read from the back, ordinary instructions change their meaning, and children discover how strange familiar routines can become.
Mixed Beasts
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 1904

Mixed Beasts

By Kenyon Cox

Silly verses introduce odd creatures, each one two animals mashed together.

152 pages· 1,204 words· Est. 14 min read
4.2 Goodreads · 75 ratings
$17.95Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: A collection of short nonsense rhymes, each paired with the author's own drawing, about imaginary beasts made by mixing two creatures or things together, from the Octopussycat to the Bumblebeaver. Each verse describes the strange habits of its mixed-up animal. First published in 1904, this reprint keeps the original rhymes and pictures.
Dictionary of 1000 Rooms
Sale price
$950
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2011

Dictionary of 1000 Rooms

By Michael Dahl, Bradford Kendall (Illustrator) · Return to the Library of Doom series

A Librarian battles a Wordsmith to recover missing pages.

72 pages· 1,629 words· Est. 11 min read
4.0 Goodreads · 43 ratings
$10.00Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: In a world where words hold power, the Librarian faces a daunting quest. With three vital pages trapped in the Wordsmith's fortress, the Diction Aerie, he must navigate a perilous maze. Can he outwit the Wordsmith and return in time to safeguard the Library's secrets? The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking. Will the Librarian's courage and cunning be enough to triumph?
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