Book Lists

Best Selling Books by Adam Rex

Adam Rex is the author of School's First Day of School (2016), Echo (2025), The True Meaning of Smekday (2015), A Little Like Waking (2023), Oh No, the Aunts Are Here (2023).

1 - 40 of 1,000,000 results
>>

School's First Day of School

release date: Jun 28, 2016
School's First Day of School
A New York Times bestselling author (The True Meaning of Smekday) and illustrator (Last Stop on Market Street) team bring you a fresh look at the first day of school, this time from the school''s perspective.

Echo

release date: Mar 18, 2025
Echo
New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Adam Rex has created a funny and timely conversation starter about how dull life might be if everyone always agreed Everyone always agrees with Junior, including the mysterious voice from across the valley. “Junior Junior is the greatest in the world!” he shouts. “Junior Junior is the greatest in the world!” the echo shouts back. Until one day, a new girl moves in next door. A disagreeable, rude girl who doesn’t think Junior is right all the time. Unable to stand living next door to someone like that, Junior runs to the valley to meet his echo. But when being around someone who agrees with him all the time is less fun than he imagines, Junior must decide if a new friend is worth admitting he was wrong.

The True Meaning of Smekday

release date: Feb 04, 2015
The True Meaning of Smekday
The hilarious, genre-bending novel from bestselling author Adam rex that inspired the blockbuster feature film Home -- fully illustrated with "photos," drawings, newspaper clippings, and comics sequences. When twelve-year-old Gratuity ("Tip") Tucci is assigned to write five pages on "The True Meaning of Smekday" for the National Time Capsule contest, she''s not sure where to begin; when her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck? Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge bizarre spaceships descended on Earth and the aliens -- called Boov -- abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it "Smekland" (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod? In any case, Gratuity''s story is much, much bigger than the assignment. It involves her unlikely friendship with a renegade Boov mechanic named J.Lo; a futile journey south to find Gratuity''s mother at the Happy Mouse Kingdom; a cross-country road trip in a hovercar called Slushious; and an outrageous plan to save the Earth from yet another alien invasion.

A Little Like Waking

release date: Aug 01, 2023
A Little Like Waking
You’ve Reached Sam meets The Good Place in this deeply-felt, surreal and fully illustrated love story about a girl, a boy, a dreamer, and a dream from best-selling and award-winning author Adam Rex. Zelda is stuck in a dream. A very strange dream, where people can fly, bears sneeze money, and her childhood cat, Patches, is somehow alive - despite being run over years ago. Things only get stranger when Zelda meets Langston, a sweet if overly timid guy who feels more real to her than anyone she’s ever met. As Zelda and Langston explore the far reaches of the dreamscape together, they find themselves growing closer and closer. But what they uncover along the way pushes them towards a truth neither of them wants to face. Will it turn out that he''s the guy of her dreams, or is she the girl of his? Full of mind-bending artwork, Adam Rex''s A Little Like Waking is a tender, insightful read that defies time, space, and expectation that''s perfect for fans of Every Day and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Oh No, the Aunts Are Here

release date: May 23, 2023
Oh No, the Aunts Are Here
Every family has its special aunt: the cool aunt, the wacky aunt, the scary aunt. But this family has ALL THE AUNTS. Shhh, listen. Do you hear that? Oh no. Oh dear. Oh . . . my . . . godmother. They''ve traveled on planes, in taxis, and across state lines. And now they''re here at the doorstep, a cheesy gift in one hand, the other poised for a pinch on the cheek. IT''S THE AUNTS! THE AUNTS ARE HERE. One girl''s all-too-recognizable experience—a visit from a troupe of overwhelming and overly enthusiastic relations—escalates to new heights of chaos, absurdity, and delight in a laugh-out-loud take on family reunions. Written with signature humor by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho, this picture book is a celebration of the universal and endearing strangeness of family. MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY SHENANIGANS: The antics of our silliest family members are never not funny. This uniquely hilarious and authentic observation of aunts and uncles sets this book apart from other sweet family-based stories, which tend to take a more sentimental approach. LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FAMILY FUN: This book provides a truly different kind of lightheartedness and is perfect for those who love Your Baby''s First Word Will Be DADA and Goodnight Already. Any family can enjoy and bond over the common experience this book speaks to so humorously. GREAT READ-ALOUD: This book''s irrepressible rhythm and its witty observations make it perfect for family read-alouds or library reading circles. BELOVED AUTHOR: Adam Rex books are beloved by librarians, booksellers, and readers of all ages. He is the creator of many modern classics, including School''s First Day of School, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors. FUN FOR KIDS: Even for families with normal aunts or no aunts at all, the quirky situations this character faces, and the ways her aunts save the day, will delight any child reader. Perfect for: Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles Librarians and teachers seeking funny picture books to share Anyone looking for humorous illustrated children''s books or read-aloud family books Birthday, holiday, or Mother''s Day gift for aunts, nieces, nephews, or for the family Fans of Adam Rex, Mo Willems, Drew Daywalt, Mac Barnett, Jory John, and Kevin Henkes

Unstoppable

release date: May 05, 2020
Unstoppable
A read-aloud gem about teamwork and togetherness from New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex! If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Well, what if the answer was: ALL OF THEM! When a bird narrowly escapes the clutches of a hungry cat, a nearby crab admires the bird''s ability to fly, while the bird admits a longtime yearning for claws. And, just like that, they team up. Pretty soon, the team includes every animal in the forest who''s ever wanted someone else''s special trait. But how will these animals stop humans from destroying the forest for a megamall? It''s going to take claws, wings, and Congress together to be truly Unstoppable! Laura Park''s bright, comic illustrations pair with bestselling author Adam Rex''s laugh-out-loud text in this hilarious and insightful picture book about celebrating the ways you''re unique, and using all your resourcefulness—and just a smidge of politics—to save the day. • Unstoppable! provides a timely lesson on the glories of diversity and the power of working together. • Perfect read-aloud book for children interested in animals, the environment, and political action For fans of Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, The Wolf the Duck and The Mouse, and Penguin Problems. • Books for kids ages 3–5 • Read-aloud picture books • Picture books about Congress and government Adam Rex is an author, illustrator, and author-illustrator known for his books including The Dirty Cowboy, School''s First Day of School, and The True Meaning of Smekday, which was adapted into the DreamWorks film Home in 2014. He lives in Tucson, Arizona. Laura Park is a cartoonist, illustrator, and enthusiastic baker from Chicago currently living in France.

XO, OX

release date: Jan 03, 2017
XO, OX
"The hilarious tale of an ox who is in love with a gazelle, told in correspondence"--

The Story of Gumluck and the Heroes

release date: Apr 29, 2025
The Story of Gumluck and the Heroes
The story of Gumluck continues! From New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex, this acclaimed, laugh-out-loud series is perfect for young fans of magic, wizardry, and the special alchemy of friendship. A hero fights for what is right! A hero''s aim is true! Is the hero of this story like that? I don’t know. He is the kind of person who might turn you into a donut if he''s thinking too hard about donuts. His name is Gumluck the Wizard, and he is on a Quest. Along the way he’ll discover singing goblins, unicorn magic, a possible ostrich that breathes definite fire, and three companions who are pretty sure they’re heroes already. With delightful illustrations and a lighthearted mix of fantasy and fairytale elements, this third installment in the chapter book series starring Gumluck the Wizard is a hilarious tale for the reluctant hero in all of us. FIVE STARRED REVIEWS FOR BOOK ONE! "Adorable."—Shelf Awareness, starred review "Readers will fall in love with [Gumluck]."—School Library Journal, starred review "Silly and heartfelt."—Publishers Weekly, starred review "[A] spellbinding read."—Booklist, starred review "Here''s a tale to treasure."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review JUST RIGHT FOR NEW READERS: With simple sentences, engaging illustrations, and big themes explored with humor and heart, this series is the perfect choice for newly independent readers who love magical tales. DYNAMIC DUO: This hapless wizard and his lovingly critical friend Helvetica the Raven are memorable characters young readers will love rooting for. FAVORITE AUTHOR: Acclaimed children''s book creator Adam Rex is known for his funny and smart stories. The winner of countless state list awards, Rex is the author of beloved books including, On Account of the Gum, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, School''s First Day of School, and many more. Perfect for: Fans of Adam Rex Parents and grandparents seeking funny early chapter book series Teachers and librarians looking for engaging fantasy and magic books for emerging readers Anyone looking for funny, fantasy chapter books Readers who enjoy Chris Colfer''s A Tale of Magic, the Unicorn Academy series, and Magic Tree House books

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

release date: Jan 01, 2006
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
Stories in verse about the monster-sized problems Dracula, Wolfman, Bigfoot and other monsters have.

On Account of the Gum

release date: Oct 06, 2020
On Account of the Gum
On Account of the Gum is a book about how the best intentions lead to some of the worst (and funniest) ideas! Serious humor abounds in this story about one kid''s hilarious misadventures with gum, and the cumulative buildup of stuff stuck in hair. From the madcap mind of Adam Rex comes a book about the improbable, downright bizarre remedies for a problem kids have faced since the creation of gum. • Features hilarious text with unexpected turns and fun rhymes • Wacky suggestions make this prime for constant giggles and repeat reading • Author Adam Rex has a funny, smart, and relatable style How do you get gum out of your hair—a pair of scissors? Butter? The cat? Call your aunt, she''ll know what to do. She doesn''t? Try the fire department! With each page turn, this situation—relatable to any family—grows stickier and more desperate. • A wonderful blend of light wordplay, zany humor, and a timeless topic • Perfect for fans of The Day the Crayons Quit and If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don''t! • Great for parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and educators who are looking for a funny, relatable tale to read out loud • You''ll love this book if you love books like We Don''t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt, and The Bad Seed by Jory John.

Moonday

release date: Aug 04, 2016
Moonday
What do you do when the moon lowers itself into your backyard? When mornings are replaced by perpetual night, and people sigh-sleep in their eyes. What do you do when the tide comes in, and all the neighborhood dogs won''t stop howling? You take the moon for a ride. Adam Rex creates a fantastic tale that is both imaginative and beautiful; one that blurs the line between dreams and reality.

Why?

release date: Oct 01, 2019
Why?
This sweet book will appeal to anyone familiar with the universal tendency of young children to always ask WHY? When supervillain Doctor X-Ray swoops in threatening to vanquish an innocent crowd, the only one brave enough not to run away is a little girl, who asks him simply, "Why?" He is taken aback—but he answers. She keeps asking. And he keeps answering—until a surprising truth is uncovered, and the villain is thwarted. In this laugh-out-loud take on the small-and-determined-beats-big-loud-bully story, simple questions lead to profound answers in a quest that proves the ultimate power of curiosity.

Fat Vampire

release date: Jul 26, 2011
Fat Vampire
Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it’s just not the same. Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—it’s not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings. . . . Searing, hilarious, and always unexpected, Fat Vampire is a satirical tour de force from one of the most original writers of fiction today.

The Story of Gumluck and the Dragon’s Eggs

release date: Sep 10, 2024
The Story of Gumluck and the Dragon’s Eggs
The story of Gumluck continues! Introducing the second installation in a laugh-out-loud and critically acclaimed chapter book tale from New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex. Readers, be warned! This book contains three precious eggs, one confused dragon, a very silly wizard, and the tiny ghost who haunts his hair. The follow-up to The Story of Gumluck the Wizard finds everyone’s favorite noodlehead wizard at it again in another hilarious adventure of mistaken identity, courage in the face of fire (literally), and the most unlikely friendship in all of Prince Whoop-de-doo’s unlikely little kingdom. With entirely delightful illustrations and a lighthearted mix of fantasy and fairytale elements, this imaginative book is perfect for young fans of wizardry, magic, and the special alchemy of friendship. THE DYNAMIC DUO OF GUMLUCK AND HELVETICA: This hapless wizard and his lovingly critical friend Helvetica the Raven are memorable characters young readers will love rooting for. EVERYONE LOVES GUMLUCK THE WIZARD: Named a best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews, the Chicago Public Library, and many more, Book One in the series received five starred reviews, calling it ”adorable,” "silly and heartfelt," and "a tale to treasure." FAVORITE AUTHOR: Acclaimed children''s book creator Adam Rex is known for his funny and smart stories. The winner of countless state list awards, Rex is the author of beloved books, including On Account of The Gum, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, School''s First Day of School, and many more. Perfect for: Fans of Adam Rex Parents and grandparents seeking funny early chapter book series Teachers and librarians looking for engaging fantasy and magic books for emerging readers Anyone looking for funny, fantasy chapter books Readers who enjoy Chris Colfer''s A Tale of Magic, the Unicorn Academy series, and Magic Tree House books

Frankenstein Takes the Cake

release date: Jan 01, 2008
Frankenstein Takes the Cake
Nineteen funny poems look at the secret lives of Frankenstein, Wolfman, Dracula, Bigfoot, Godzilla, etc.

Pssst!

release date: Jan 01, 2007
Pssst!
The animals at the zoo have some unusual requests for a little girl who goes to visit.

Nothing Rhymes with Orange

release date: Aug 01, 2017
Nothing Rhymes with Orange
All the fruits gather together and enjoy a rhyming party, but poor Orange feels left out because he does not rhyme with anything--until Apple invents a new word.

Guys Read: Will

release date: Jul 05, 2011
Guys Read: Will
Will’s got it rough. He’s practically the only kid in school who hasn’t found out that he’s a wizard or a vampire or the child of a Norse god. But when a supervillain takes over the school and all the kids with powers are gone, it’s up to Will to try and save the day. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Digestion! The Musical

release date: Oct 25, 2022
Digestion! The Musical
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body meets Hamilton in this hilarious picture book about the most basic process of the human body: digesting food! Candy''s made it. She''s finally here: the human body! This intrepid sweet treat meets each of the human body''s organs as she approaches her "big break": being successfully digested! Here is the scientific process of digestion as you''ve never seen it before—told through a musical, with Candy in the role of the small-town kid who wants to make it big, the baby carrots as the Greek chorus narrating all the action, and cameos from every body part that plays an important role in transforming food from ingredients to nutrition. From beloved duo Adam Rex and Laura Park comes a genuinely educational, laugh-out-loud Broadway musical of a book about an epic adventure through the human body, from bite to bottom. REAL SCIENCE PRESENTED IN A FUN WAY: The text has countless facts about the human body, teaches readers how the body works, and includes all kinds of "teachable moments." GLOSSARY: A glossary in the back explains the function of all organs we encounter in the book. ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY: The book is an invented fable and will make kids excited to write their own fables or musicals. OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY: The over-the-top humor is perfect for fans of Goodnight Already!, The Day the Crayons Quit, and the Mother Bruce series. POPULAR AUTHOR: Acclaimed kids book creator Adam Rex is known for his funny and smart books. The winner of countless state list awards, Rex is the author of beloved books including, On Account of The Gum, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, School''s First Day of School, and many more. Perfect for: Fans of Adam Rex Parents and grandparents Teachers and librarians
1 - 40 of 1,000,000 results
>>


  • Aboutread.com makes it one-click away to discover great books from local library by linking books/movies to your library catalog search.

  • Copyright © 2026 Aboutread.com