Online reader looking included three new titles from the My Life is Weird by Bill Canterbury series that are due in April and June 2025. I almost did not read them, as they looked too easy for what I was looking for. However, while they were easy, they had a little something about them that made me think about reading them. It was only until I saw that if you liked the How to Catch series by Adam Wallace that sealed the deal. I enjoy that series, it is not my favorite, but I wanted to see if they stood up to that honor.
And they did and didn’t. That’s an odd statement, but true. I feel if you like that series you will like My Mom Is a Mermaid!, My Dad Is a Unicorn!, and My Teacher Is a Dinosaur! (due June), but they feel a bit younger than the How to Catch series. Still, it is up to you to know your reader. Each story is similar with its “statement and fact” approach (Moms are all weird, my is the weirdest; all Dads tell jokes, my dad has the worst). Bill Canterbury made something simple, but has potential for giggles and fun.
Jeff Harter then takes artistic tools and talent and makes goofy, bright, bold, simple illustrations that allow you to see the adventures of each main character and their parents or teachers. Each book shows how the parents (a boy and his unicorn dad; mom and her mermaid mom) are embarrassing, but also, might not be so bad after all. They have cool jobs, are funny and so forth. Of course having a dinosaur teacher has its issues, but also perks, as well. Your desk might get stepped on, but you have some cool school trips. However, they might not last very long if you are not the only group and the dinosaur museum.
Not only are these easy read-alouds, they will make for good first reads with a little help or a little farther along in the solo reading.