You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except...here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say...BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY. Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)
— Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids LTD in Madison, Wis., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak is one of the best-selling books at their store.

Spot's only full-length lift-the-flap bedtime story is now available as a board book. Spot's had a busy day, and now it's time for bed. Time to put his toys away, to take a bath and to say goodnight to his mom and dad and his cat, Ginger. At last, looking out at the moon, Spot wonders if there's anyone else to say goodnight to. "Oh yes," he says, "Goodnight, me." This charming bedtime book is perfect for easing toddlers off to sweet dreams.
— Syd Clarke, owner of Ali-Cat in Carrboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Spot books from Putnam are some of the best-sellers at their store.

With over 300,000 copies sold since its publication in 1985, The Very Busy Spider is well on its way to becoming a modern classic. Follow an industrious spider as she carefully spins her web. A cow, a pig, and other farm animals want her to play-but a busy spider needs to finish her work, or there'll be no dinner.
— Mary Walsh-Martel, owner of Magical Child in Greenfield, Mass., told TDmonthly in a December 2013 survey that this is one of their best-selling books.

The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch's hat, then her bow, and then her wand. Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom.  But is there room on the broom for so many friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?
— As of 12/5/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 128 reviews on Amazon.com
— Pat Siegfried, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly in a Winter 2012 survey that Room on the Broom was their bestselling Halloween book.

When Betty Bunny eats chocolate cake for the first time, she declares, "I am going to marry chocolate cake." She loves it so much that she takes a piece to school with her in her pocket and refuses to eat anything else. Mommy tells Betty that she has to eat healthy food first, and have patience because cake is for dessert, not pockets. But Betty doesn't want to have patience; she wants to have chocolate cake. In this hilarious and spot-on tribute to the chocolate lover (and picky eater) in all of us, a new kindred spirit to Olivia, Eloise, and Ladybug Girl makes her stand.
— As of 12/4/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a Winter 2012 survey, Pat Siegfried, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly that they sell 25-30 copies of this book each month.

Welcome to the wondrous world of Diana Schoenbrun's "Beasties," where mythic and imaginary creatures come alive from simple materials, such as scrap fabric and thread. From werewolves to zombies to yetis to unidentifiable yet adorable beasts, these projects allow crafters to push the limits of their imaginations to sew a menagerie of whimsical beings.
— “Author Diana Schoenbrun does a fantastic job of presenting an array of wonderful creatures to create,” proclaimed BookLegion. According to the reviewers, the monsters created based on the book “make great personalized gifts for others.”
— Jocelynn Brown of the Detroit News Handmade Crafts Blog loved that the book encouraged the resourceful use of fabric scraps, since the “more woven and textured scraps of fabric, the more interesting your creatures will look.” Her colleague Erik Henrickson loved the irreverent designs of the monsters, from the “soft and fluffy” Tomte to a “patriotic Werewolf” complete with “red, white and blue fur.”

Mad Libs combine language education, creative stimulation, and just plain silly fun. Each page asks for a list of words by part of speech, which are then plugged into strategic blanks in a short story on the page following. When distributed throughout the Mad Libs framework, a list of seemingly ordinary words becomes inventive and hilarious.
― Two of 39 retailers who participated in TDmonthly's March 2010 survey of top-selling travel toys said Mad Libs are their best.
— “We sell three Mad Libs a day,” Ava Allen, owner of Be Beep A Toy Store in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in autumn 2010.
— In an April 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers said that Mad Libs are one of their best-selling travel products.

Written by Kimiko Kajikawa and illustrated by Ed Young, this 32-page hardcover tells the story of a rich, old villager name Ojiisan who makes a great sacrifice to save his fellow villagers in the midst of a great tsunami. Launch date: February 5, 2009.

TDmonthly Review:

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This 32-page hardcover tells the classic story of the caterpillar who eats, eats and eats, and then transforms into a lovely butterfly. Launch date: October 15, 1981.
— Two of 44 specialty retailers named this as one of their best-selling books in late 2009.
— As of 8.12.10, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 17 reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 21 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Engaging, interactive and easy for children to understand.

This 40-page hardcover tells the story of how Llama is frightened going to his first day of preschool, and wonders if Mama Llama will come back. The other kids, though, show Llama that school can be fun. Launch date: March 19, 2009.
— "What is doing well is the 'Llama Llama' books by Anna Dewdney," Rebecca Goblish, co-owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly when discussing best-selling titles in late 2009. She added that her store sells about a dozen "Llama Llama" books per month, with a plush llama
— Two of 44 specialty retailers commented on the popularity of this book series in fall 2009.

In this word game activity book, kids fill in the blanks about their own family members on topics such as “Family Ghost Stories” and “Famous Ancestors.”
— Barbara Paeth Haas, owner of The Durango Kid in Durango, Colo., said in spring 2009 that Mad Libs sell so well she can’t keep them in stock.
— “A lot of people choose things like Mad Libs for travel specifically because they're very compact and they're entertaining for a while, and they just seem to be one of those perennially popular items,” Gini Wingard-Phillips, owner of Math ‘n’ Stuff in Seattle, told TDmonthly in March 2009.

This board book, one of several in the Precious Pals series, is sturdy enough to handle the babies it draws in with its whimsical illustrations and touch-and-feel textures inside. Babies and young children will enjoy both the visual and tactile stimulation presented by the book, which is made infant-friendly by its padded cover, heavy-duty board pages and rounded corners. 
— “Our board books are popular,” said Rosie Morris, manager of Whiz Kids in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
— “The board books … have been really popular,” Genevieve Collogne, manager of Wooden Horse in Los Gatos, Calif., told TDmonthly.
— Eight percent of 52 retailers said in November 2008 that board books comprise their best-selling books.

Did you know that there are over 350 kinds of sharks? They might have a scary reputation, but you can find the truth about these fearsome fish by opening these jaws and reading the board book inside!

What do you get when you combine everyone’s favorite bear with a board book that also houses 12 touch-and-feel ABC flashcards in a resealable box? You get an exciting, unique format that will teach the letters of the alphabet and simple words in a way no one has done before!

Mad Art is the newest extension of Mad Libs. But instead of "fill in the blanks," it's "fill in the picture!" Each spread features simple rebus text and then a picture where kids can draw in silly features. Give a fireman a wacky hat or draw a portrait of yourself with hilarious hair!

Read, flip, and find with Skippyjon Jones! Skippyjon Jones fans will go loco over this brandnew matching game format! Skippyjon Jones has found a treasure map, and you can help find the treasure by flipping over the correct bilingual tiles in the pop-up matching game included with the book.

The 32-page book covers the true story of Frederic Aguste Bartholdi and the creation of the Statue of Liberty, alongside the fictional story of a young Russian Jewish girl whose family emigrates to the United States. Launch date: July 2008.

Skippyjon has an overactive imagination; he also likes to be active physically. He shapes up with shapes: he runs in a circle, tap-dances on a square, orbits an oval and much more. Launch date: January 2008.

First published in 1939, this classic story of the energetic tugboat is brought to new life in this restored edition. With the support of Hardie Gramatky’s estate, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, Penguin has used archived first editions and Hardie’s original paintings to restore "Little Toot" to its full glory, bringing back a richness of color lost in decades of reprintings. This edition also features some of the artist’s full-color manuscript sketches, never before seen in print, and reintroduces the book’s exquisite original endpapers. Launch date: September 2007.

This 320-page, hardcover novel concludes a four-book series and is written by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris. Roddy Macallan’s search for treasure in the Scottish Highlands turns into even more of an adventure when he meets up with a roaming rogue. Launch date: September 2007.

After their first gingerbread disaster, the lonely old woman and man gather their courage to bake again. They decide to make a girl this time, figuring she will be too sweet to leave home. But when they open the oven, it's all too familiar: “You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread GIRL!" This smart cookie overheard them talking about the fox, and she has a plan. Will it work? Let's just say that the ending is sweet for everyone. This book by Lisa Campbell Ernst received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: September 21, 2006.

This picture book written by Shelley Moore Thomas and illustrated by Paul Meisel features the Good Knight and his three little dragon friends, the stars of Dutton's best-loved Easy Readers. The old wizard has asked the dragons to take care of his cats for a few days, but they can't read his instructions! The dragons take the cats swimming and camping, with hilarious results. Of course, it's up to the Good Knight to come to the rescue in his funniest outing yet. This book received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: September 21, 2006.

This book by Frank Beddor unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions of mad tea parties, sleepy dormice, and a curious little blonde girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for imagination. It tells the story of Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, and her return to Wonderland to fight for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. It received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: September 26, 2006.

In this book, readers follow the parallel adventures of a family who lives in a snow globe and the “big family” who owns the globe. Children will take pleasure in the miniature world of the snow globe, where the skating pond is the size of a shiny quarter and the snowman is no bigger than a sugar cube. This book received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: September 7, 2006.

Sock monkeys have been a beloved part of American culture for almost a century, but for all this time, their lives, culture and history have remained a mystery to humans. Sock Monkey Dreams instantly transports the reader into the quirky, colorful and imaginative world of the Red Heel Shelter and delves deep into the lives of sock monkeys past and present. From Depression-era one-sock creations, to the elbaorate red-heeled monkeys from the 1950s and beyond, no stone is left unturned. Written by Whitney Shroyer and Letitia Walker, the books is lavishly illustrated with the comical photographs of Michael Traister. The book will go on sale in September 2006 and be available wherever books are sold. (Read Review)