Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables

Reach for this book when you find yourself repeating the same lectures about chores, white lies, or school habits and your child has started tuning you out. Instead of another stern talk, these fractured fables use absurdist humor to hold up a mirror to common childhood behaviors. Through a cast of ridiculous animals like a squid who won't do his homework or a grasshopper who won't stop talking about himself, Jon Scieszka turns everyday power struggles into moments of shared laughter. While the stories are silly, they serve a sophisticated purpose by teaching children to recognize and critique their own less-than-stellar choices. It is an ideal pick for children ages 6 to 12 who respond better to satire than to direct instruction. By laughing at the 'beastly' characters, kids gain the perspective needed to navigate their own social and behavioral challenges with a bit more self-awareness.