Author & Illustrator Profile
Michael Rex
20 Books
Michael Rex is an American author and illustrator best known for his humorous children's books and graphic novels. He gained widespread popularity with his number-one bestselling picture book parody, "Goodnight Goon," and the "Fangbone!" series. His engaging works often blend sci-fi, mild horror tropes, and comedy to captivate early readers.
Deep underground, the tunneler is busy tunneling through a tunnel. He digs and digs, moving forward one simple, funny sentence at a time. But where is he going, and what will he find when he gets there?
This playful early reader uses repetition, surprise, and bold underground action to keep new readers turning pages. The short text is friendly for children building confidence, while the mystery of the tunnel gives the story just enough suspense. With Michael Rex’s lively humor and a twist to discover, this is a cheerful pick for readers who like silly adventures, easy words, and stories that lead somewhere unexpected.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Icky Ricky does not tiptoe around messes. He digs right into them. This time, he is digging a hole to China in his backyard, rescuing a free toilet from the trash, and landing in a pigpen with one very muddy mega-pig.
Packed with gross-out jokes, quick chapters, and lots of illustrations, this funny chapter book is made for readers who like wild plans that go wrong in the messiest possible way. Ricky’s adventures are silly, yucky, and full of kid-sized trouble, with enough pictures to help early chapter book readers keep moving through the story. If slime, dirt, garbage, and backyard disasters make you laugh, Icky Ricky is ready.
6-8 Years
130 Pages
A shirt made of dirt is only the beginning for Icky Ricky. He spills hot dogs at school, gets tangled up in a frozen-pond mystery involving a woolly mammoth, and somehow turns a book report into a sticky disaster of glue, newspaper, and shoe polish.
This fast, funny chapter book is full of short episodes, bold illustrations, and the kind of over-the-top messes that make new readers want one more chapter. Ricky’s world is loud, goofy, and gloriously icky, but the trouble stays playful and easy to follow. Readers who enjoy school mishaps, silly inventions, and gross humor will find plenty to laugh about in this messy adventure.
6-8 Years
101 Pages
In a cold gray tomb, bedtime is not exactly peaceful. There are claws, jaws, goo, a black lagoon, and a little werewolf trying to settle down. Then the Goon barges in, ready to make noise, cause trouble, and keep every monster awake.
Goodnight Goon gives a classic bedtime rhythm a spooky, silly twist. The story is full of monsters, moonlit mischief, and playful rhymes that make it fun to read aloud. Young readers who like Halloween stories that are more funny than frightening will enjoy the creepy details and the bouncy language. It is a picture book for giggles, shivers, and one more bedtime read.
6-8 Years
34 Pages
Bigfoot may be in the neighborhood. A pepperoni pizza needs a funeral. A one-eyed squirrel has stolen Icky Ricky’s treats. And when Ricky puts on a trash-bag hazmat suit to clean up around town, things only get weirder.
This illustrated chapter book is full of mayhem, mystery, and the gross-out humor Icky Ricky readers expect. The short, lively episodes make it a good fit for kids who are growing into chapter books but still love plenty of pictures. Ricky’s problems are messy, strange, and very funny, with each adventure pushing him deeper into trouble. For readers who like Bigfoot sightings, wild cleanup missions, and jokes with extra ick, this one delivers.
6-8 Years
130 Pages
Even the spookiest monsters need their mothers. In this hilariously creepy twist on a classic tale, a little mummy decides he wants to run away from his tomb. But no matter what terrifying creature he transforms into, his devoted mother mummy is always right behind him.
If you choose to become a wicked gargoyle, your mother will become a monstrous bat to roost beside you. If you decide to prowl the night as a howling werewolf, she will be the glowing full moon shining down on your fur. Through haunted castles and bubbling swamps, this monstrous game of hide-and-seek proves that maternal love is truly unstoppable.
Get ready for delightfully spooky giggles in this wonderful parody. With ghoulish transformations and a whole lot of heart, you will discover that no matter how far you creep, you can never outrun a mother's wrapping hug.
6-8 Years
373 Pages
Duck has a truck, sheep has a jeep, and the animals are on the move. In this lively rhyming picture book, animals do much more than walk, hop, or swim. They drive, fly, steer, and ride vehicles whose names sound just right with their own.
Truck Duck is a playful read for children who love animals, vehicles, and word sounds. The simple rhymes make it fun to guess what comes next, while the silly animal-and-vehicle pairings keep each page bright and surprising. It is especially appealing for readers who enjoy sound play, transportation books, and quick, funny picture book adventures.
6-8 Years
28 Pages
A birthday party should mean games, cake, and fun. With a title like The Birthday Party of Dread, you can expect something much stranger. Michael Rex brings his comic style to a story built around a party that does not sound ordinary at all.
Because the available catalog information is limited, this description stays close to what is known: the book centers on a birthday party and appears to belong with Rex’s funny, high-energy children’s storytelling. Readers looking for a humorous illustrated story with a party theme may find an offbeat celebration here, while parents and librarians may want to review the book directly for full plot details.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
122 Pages
A spooky night is no reason to turn back. The goon hunters are heading out through a tangled pumpkin patch, a bubbling swamp, and a crumbling graveyard. Monsters may be skulking nearby, but the chant keeps moving: they are going to catch a green one.
This playful picture book turns a familiar read-aloud adventure into a giggle-and-shiver Halloween romp. The repeating rhythm, sound effects, and creepy settings make it fun for children to join in as the hunt gets scarier and sillier. Michael Rex keeps the mood more funny than frightening, with one brave child who finds monsters exciting. It is a lively choice for readers who like spooky stories, bold illustrations, and read-aloud fun.
6-8 Years
21 Pages
Brooms are for flying, feet are for stomping, eyes are for peeking, and tummies are for treating. A group of young trick-or-treaters moves through Halloween night, showing what each part of the body can do in a playful, spooky way.
This picture book uses simple, energetic language that works well for read-aloud sharing. The Halloween theme brings costumes, movement, and pretend scares, while the repeating structure helps children follow along and anticipate the next action. For young readers who enjoy trick-or-treat stories, silly body-action words, and gentle seasonal fun, Brooms Are for Flying offers a lively Halloween read.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Fangbone may be a barbarian, but now he is in third grade, where the class has a very unusual responsibility: taking care of an egg until it hatches. School rules and barbarian instincts do not always match, especially when the egg could bring serious trouble.
This funny illustrated chapter book mixes classroom life with fantasy adventure. Readers get the familiar world of third grade plus the wild energy of Fangbone’s barbarian background, making the story easy to enter and exciting to follow. With an egg to protect, classmates involved, and plenty of comic tension, it is a strong choice for kids who like school stories with monsters, action, and a fantasy twist.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
Icky Ricky can turn any day into a disaster. A water demon seems to have taken over the boys’ bathroom sink, housecleaning involves a leaf blower, and Ricky’s sweaty armpit becomes a very strange kind of bank. Then a dead raccoon in a runaway go-cart goes speeding downhill.
This illustrated chapter book is packed with gross humor, fast action, and ridiculous problems that only Icky Ricky could have. The short, lively scenes are easy for growing readers to follow, while the jokes keep the pace moving. Readers who like messy adventures, school bathroom chaos, strange garage-sale finds, and wild downhill chases will find plenty of ick and laughter here.
6-8 Years
130 Pages
Robots can help you spot the difference between a fact and an opinion. Some things can be proven, like how many robots are in a book. Other things are opinions, like which robot would make the best friend or which one dances best.
This funny, friendly picture book introduces an important idea in a way young readers can actually use. The robots keep the examples playful, while the text explains that facts can be checked and opinions are what people think, feel, or believe. It also encourages listening kindly to different opinions while standing up for what is true. Clear, silly, and useful, this is a smart read for classrooms, families, and curious kids.
6-8 Years
21 Pages
Fred was made to be a friend. In a future world where savage leaders rule and kindness is not exactly popular, that mission is harder than it sounds. After being accidentally activated, the life-size toy sets out to spread goodwill, even if the first people he needs to help are two fierce warlords named Lord Bonkers and Papa Mayhem.
Your Pal Fred is a funny, action-filled graphic novel about friendship in a wild science fiction world. Fred’s cheerful purpose bumps up against mayhem, conflict, and survival rules, creating a story with humor and heart. Readers who like robots, odd heroes, futuristic settings, and big battles with a kindness-powered twist will find plenty to enjoy.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
Icky Ricky has a lot to explain. His homework was written on cheese slices, but then he got hungry. A sleepover somehow ends up on the bedroom ceiling. His favorite hot dog, Harry, lands in Dad’s toolbox. And Mean Dean, the town bully, wants to know who lost his remote-controlled car.
This illustrated chapter book is full of messy choices, goofy trouble, and the kind of gross humor that keeps young readers laughing. Ricky’s adventures move quickly, with short scenes and lots of visual energy for kids building chapter book confidence. From toilet-paper mummy silliness to snack-related homework disasters, this story is made for readers who like mayhem with extra ick.
6-8 Years
130 Pages
Icky Ricky’s backpack has a problem: fish are swimming in it. That is only one of the strange messes waiting for him. He also wears a disguise made out of trash and plays soccer with a snake in his pocket, which is exactly the kind of plan that could only belong to Ricky.
This funny illustrated chapter book brings together animals, sports, garbage, and gross-out trouble in quick, high-energy episodes. The story is a good fit for readers who are ready for chapter books but still enjoy plenty of pictures and fast jokes. If you like your school-day stories messy, weird, and full of unexpected creatures, Ricky’s latest problems are ready to spill everywhere.
6-8 Years
130 Pages
Class 3G is getting a class pet, but this is no ordinary hamster or goldfish. The new arrival comes from Fangbone’s barbarian home world: an unhatched egg of the legendary White Titan razor dragon. Taking care of it may be the most dangerous class job ever.
The Egg of Misery blends school comedy, fantasy danger, and graphic novel energy. Fangbone and his classmates must deal with an egg that could become something powerful, frightening, or impossible to manage. The classroom setting keeps the story familiar, while the dragon twist gives it action and suspense. Readers who like funny school adventures with monsters, fantasy creatures, and big trouble in small places will want to crack this one open.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
120 Pages
George is an ape, not a monkey, and he is happy in the jungle until a man in a funny hat takes him away to the big city. Caged, put to work, and laughed at onstage, George has every reason to be furious.
This picture book retells a familiar classic from a sharper, funnier angle. Instead of simple curiosity, George’s anger comes from being treated unfairly, and his cleverness may help him find another way forward. Michael Rex uses parody, animal humor, and a strong sense of justice to make readers laugh while noticing how George is treated. It is a lively choice for kids who enjoy animal stories, clever heroes, and comic twists on classics.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Pete is thrilled when a monster shows up in his room. Finally, someone to play cars with. Someone to play pirates with. Someone to share a playdate with. The monster is excited too, but mostly because he wants to eat Pete.
Eat Pete is a funny picture book about friendship, patience, and the bumpy parts of playing together. Pete keeps coming up with games that are much more fun than becoming a snack, while the hungry monster keeps getting distracted. The joke is simple, bold, and easy for young readers to follow, with just enough suspense to make every page turn exciting. It is a playful pick for readers who like monsters that are silly, not too scary.
6-8 Years
33 Pages
A robot may really want jellybean tacos or groovy boots, but that does not mean the robot needs them. Fuel, feet, and other essentials matter in a different way. As the robots trade for things they want, they begin to discover what happens when needs get left behind.
This witty picture book helps young readers understand the difference between wants and needs through silly examples and robot-filled action. The concept can be tricky, especially when something feels very important in the moment, but Michael Rex keeps the explanation clear and playful. Funny, useful, and easy to discuss, this book works well for children learning about choices, priorities, and everyday decision-making.
6-8 Years
21 Pages
