It seems that as soon as children are potty trained, underwear becomes a fascinating topic of discussion. Especially for boys, who love potty jokes and discussing what super heroes they are wearing on their nether region. It seems boys can’t stop talking about their underwear.
Lucky for us, there are books to read to our children about any topic – even underwear. As we all know, the best way to get kids interested in reading is to read to them about things that capture their attention. Underwear may not be your favorite thing to talk about, but if it encourages reading, underwear books are surprisingly easy to find. From the popular Captain Underpants series to the Arthur books (from PBS), there is a wide array of books available from the silly to the educational.
Arthur’s Underwear by Marc Brown
Made popular by the PBS children’s series, Arthur books are fun stories for children to read and always have a great life lesson hidden in the story. In this story, Arthur learns how to deal with bad dreams – especially the one where he shows up to school in his underwear. The colorful recurring characters in the Arthur stories, from his friends to his family, give children a comfort level of familiarity when reading this series of books. For ages 3-6 years.
Underwear Dos and Don’ts by Todd Parr
Those familiar with Todd Parr’s books will recognize his bright colors and easy to read words. Children just love his simple but descriptive illustrations. The words are simple and easy for beginning readers. His dos and don’ts give children a laugh but also teach them some valuable life lessons, for example: you should wear underwear, but you shouldn’t wear all your underwear at once. For ages 1-4 years.
The New Captain Underpants Collection by Dav Pilkey
This is a great collection of five amazing adventures of Captain Underpants and his companions Harold and George as they battle through pages of potty humor and (clean) dirty jokes. The Captain Underpants books are graphic novels filled with characters like the Wedgie Woman and Professor Poopypants that make boys just laugh their way through the pages. For ages 7 and up.
Underwear! By Mary Elise Monsell and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
This is a beautifully illustrated story about a buffalo named Bismark who learns to laugh with the help of his friends and some colorful underwear. The colorful pictures and alliterative prose make this book a favorite for a bedtime story and beginning readers. For ages 3-7 years.
