Bedtime Reading: 7 Parodies of Classic Kid Books Written Just For Parents

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Be careful what you put on your tot's bookshelf these days — the classic book you thought you picked up at the book store might not be what it seems! Parents need a laugh every now and then, and while your little one's board books may put a smile on your face, these funny moms' and dads' parodies of bookshelf classics will have you full-on laughing out loud.

We credit Adam Mansbach's NSFW Go the F*ck to Sleep with starting the updated nursery book trend, which shows no signs of slowing down. From zombie takes on Pat the Bunny and The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a hilarious rendition of Goodnight Moon for the technologically plugged-in generation, these seven adult takes on kiddie favorites should find their way onto mom's nightstand rather than the kiddo bedtime reading pile!

01
If You Give a Kid a Cookie, Will He Shut the F**k Up?: A Parody For Adults

If You Give a Kid a Cookie, Will He Shut the F**k Up?: A Parody For Adults

My kids and I love the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books, so when I spotted If You Give a Kid a Cookie, Will He Shut the F**k Up? ($8), I picked it up, thinking I had missed one in the series. Good thing I didn't hand it to my kids! The book follows the same format as the popular series, but follows the series of events that occur when a tot just won't stop talking.

02
Pat the Zombie: A Cruel (Adult) Spoof

Pat the Zombie: A Cruel (Adult) Spoof

The beloved Pat the Bunny gets a bloody, zombie makeover in Pat the Zombie: A Cruel (Adult) Spoof ($12). Still featuring tactile features like the original, this is one spoof that probably shouldn't make its way onto baby's bookshelf.

03
The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody

The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody

Who needs to eat their way through apples, lollipops, and pears when you can have clowns, astronauts, rock stars, fingers, and brains? The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody ($15) is a fun, zombie take on the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, following a night creature who just can't seem to fill his belly.

04
The Taking Tree

The Taking Tree

Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree may be about unconditional love, forgiveness, and understanding, but many moms see it as an emotional look at a self-denying mother who wears herself out for the sake of her child. Enter The Taking Tree ($13), a funny look at a tree that doesn't give back.

05
Bi-Curious George: An Unauthorized Parody

Bi-Curious George: An Unauthorized Parody

Curious George has always had an inquiring mind, but he's never ventured into the world of sexuality — until now. Bi-Curious George: An Unauthorized Parody ($15) is a silly, fun look at what would happen if the famous monkey decided to go where he never has before.

06
Goodnight iPad: A Parody For the Next Generation

Goodnight iPad: A Parody For the Next Generation

Margaret Wise Brown's Good Night Moon is on most tots' bookshelves and has the perfect rhythm for lulling lil tones to sleep. But once children grow up a bit, there are more distractions parents have to battle to get their kids to sleep. Goodnight iPad: A Parody For the Next Generation ($16) uses a similar story line and images to encourage today's families to power down for the night.

07
Don't Let the Republican Drive the Bus!: A Parody For Voters

Don't Let the Republican Drive the Bus!: A Parody For Voters

We love Mo Willems's pigeon books for their zany story lines and laugh-out-loud jokes. Don't Let the Republican Drive the Bus!: A Parody For Voters ($10) follows the same fun story line as those books, but the pigeon is replaced with a right-leaning vulture that wants to squash the left-leaning animals along his bus route.