Peterson, left, and Aly Plasterer, Parnassus Books' children's bookseller and floor manager, host weekly storytimes. Photo courtesy of Hannah Peterson.

As a bookstore children’s events manager and weekly storytime reader, I know firsthand that different books serve different purposes. A slow, peaceful story is perfect for bedtime. A heartwarming tale can comfort and validate new feelings. A book about potty training accomplishes…well, that. But what works best for a group of eager children at 10:30 on a Saturday morning? More specifically, what makes a picture book a storytime smash hit?

First, we need to understand how the reader sets themself up for smash-hit success. My cohost, Aly, and I have seen it all, from sticky sippy-cup spills to children plopping themselves onto our laps to an every-weekend attendee stopping us in the middle of a book to announce with great pride and enthusiasm that her new baby sister had just been born. Kids often interject because they want to join in, and when choosing books, I look for spots that will give my audience chances to speak, move, sing, or provide sound effects. If possible, I recommend having two readers and two copies of each book. We read four books total, taking turns as the reader and the book-holder. This strategy preserves our voices and energy, saves our arms from going numb and our necks from craning, and allows us to be our most engaging selves. The following are a few of my tried-and-true successes.

The Book with No Pictures (Dial) by B. J. Novak (2014)

In my experience, there is no kid this ridiculous book can’t crack. From the beginning, the flap copy makes it clear what is needed to make the story work. “If a kid is trying to make you read this book, the kid is playing a trick on you,” it cautions, immediately placing the collective audience in the role of troublemaker. Because the book calls for imaginative interpretations, I try to make every reading a performance, and each one can be unique. As we are pulled deeper into the text, bouncing through made-up absurdities (“My head is made of blueberry pizza”) and speaking in a robot monkey voice, I exaggerate my request: “Can I stop reading, please?” This push-and-pull is irresistible to many children and practically guarantees that you will be asked to read the book again.

Dog vs. Strawberry (Random House Studio/Random) by Nelly Buchet, illus. by Andrea Zuill (2024)

I put on my best “racetrack announcer” voice for this one: “Who will win in the greatest race of all time between a dog and a strawberry?” I ask the crowd who they think will be the winner and give them a chance to cheer. “Can I get a D? An O? A G? Give it up for our reigning champion: the one and only…DOOOGGG!!!” We all clap and cheer. “Now put your hands together for her ferocious opponent, the legend! Joining us from the fruit bowl, it’s…STRAAAWBERRY!!!” We give five big chants for our favorite, with me counting on one hand, before we move on. Of course, when Dog gives her big “AWWWWOOOO!” at the end, it’s mandatory that everyone show off their best howl.

Little Freddie Two Pants (The Dog with Too Many Pants) (Philomel) by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Lucy Ruth Cummins (2025)

This silly story, complete with large, colorful illustrations, centers on a puppy who can’t figure out how many pairs of pants to wear or how to wear them. As the reader, I try to help: “Pants on your head? Freddie, that’s not where pants go!” Then I ask the audience, “Do you wear pants on your head?!” A giggly chorus of “Noooooo” sprinkled with a few cheeky shouts of “Yes!” is always the response. The first time Aly and I read this aloud, a four-year-old girl loudly answered, “I wear my undies on my head!” Without hesitation, Aly responded, “Well, you’re going to love this next part of the story!”

Nanette’s Baguette (Hyperion) by Mo Willems (2016)

The bouncy rhyme scheme and clever wordplay make this one of my favorites. “Today is a day Nanette won’t soon forget. Today, in the kitchenette, Mom tells Nanette that Nanette gets to get the baguette!” Rhyming words and onomatopoeia (KRACK! KABOOM!) bring this story alive. When Nanette fetches the baguette but becomes entranced by its warm and wonderful smell, the anticipation builds, and I ask, “What do you think will happen next?!” Aside from opening the door to engagement, this also serves as a building block in using context clues to predict storylines. Willems’s wildly expressive illustrations pop off the pages, enhancing the experience.

Every Monday Mabel (Simon) by Jashar Awan (2025)

Another book perfect for building anticipation. Every Monday morning, Mabel wakes up extra early for the best part of her week. What is it? I take guesses from the audience and toss in a few of my own hypotheses (“Is it a dragon? An alien spaceship?”) until the long-awaited reveal: “THE GARBAGE TRUCK IS HERE!…The engine roars!…The brakes squeak! IT GRABS THE TRASH CAN! AND LIFTS IT INTO THE AIR!” I read with as much excitement as I can muster, and Aly, becoming the garbage truck, raises her book above her head with machine-like arms and a whirrrr noise. Bold, bright illustrations make it a visual joy for attendees no matter where they’re sitting.

Lucky Duck (Knopf) by Greg Pizzoli (2024)

The classic disguised-wolf-at-the-door fairy tale is turned on its head in this laugh-out-loud story of a duck named Susan whose rotten luck saves her from peril. I get to break out my best character voices — a sweet, high-pitched voice for Susan, and a low, raspy growl for the wolf. The wolf repeatedly knocks on Susan’s door to award her with increasingly suspicious “prizes” (a large pot and many vegetables), foreshadowing that he is slowly readying the oblivious duck to be the main ingredient of his soup. The best part of asking, “What do you think will happen?” is that nobody will ever guess it right. When the wolf bares his teeth and reveals his plans, Susan’s previous misfortunes work in her favor: “The wolf slipped on Susan’s marble, and he fell headfirst into the empty pickle jar!” Several more outlandish calamities ensue, providing lots of opportunities for the reader to lean into physical comedy.

Boop! (Harper/HarperCollins) by Bea Birdsong, illus. by Linzie Hunter (2023)

“Snoots need boops. Can you boop this snoot? A boop is a pat. A gentle tap. Get your finger ready and…Boop!” I boop the snoot of each dog on every page, taking a few volunteers to come up and boop a snoot as well, and at the end of the book, everyone gives their own snoot a boop. At Parnassus, we have an infamous dog statue named Barney [see photo below] who is always happy to participate. If you are experiencing a dog statue shortage, bringing a plushie dog to practice booping works just as well. Birdsong’s focus on hands-on engagement is combined with a valuable lesson on being gentle with animals.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Peterson.

Play This Book (Bloomsbury) by Jessica Young, illus. by Daniel Wiseman (2018)

Like Boop!, this story, about a band’s big day, is ideal for both building -one-on-one participation and cultivating the sense of an engaged community. As I introduce each instrument, I ask the audience to help bring it to life. Everyone shakes their make-believe maracas in the air with a chick-chick-chick and puffs their cheeks on their saxophones with a doo-bee-doo-bee-doo! Children take turns coming up to my book to strum on the guitar or pat a beat on the drum. At the end of the book, which calls for a symphony performance, attendees erupt in the sounds and movements of their favorite instruments.

* * *

Storytime is essential. At the store, the first responses we hear are directly from the kids, and the second responses are from their accompanying adults, who may say they feel newly inspired to read aloud at home. I want parents and caregivers to see the joy that reading aloud gives me, notice the joy on their child’s face, and understand that this joy is transferable. Children know that they can expect to love books when they see their grownups doing the same.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

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