This week I got go to the launch of @metaphrog.bsky.social’s new book Wilomina which @louiestowell.bsky.social describes as ‘gloriously weird’. So for this week’s #KidsBooksFriday I thought we could celebrate books that revel in the weird, wonderful and fantastical.

It's #KidLit #KidsBooksFriday & this week is about weird, wonderful, fantastical tales. There are so many magical imaginative books that really let kids free their minds & enjoy twists on the expected without preaching at them about "how great to be different."

Some little gems of recently read weirdness! #KidsBooksFriday #kidlit

Andy Stanton’s Mr Gum books spring to mind - wonderfully surreal and brilliantly funny x #KidsBooksFriday

Well, this one, obviously. 😄 #ReadingForPleasure

I don’t think anyone has mentioned this so far but the first thing that came to my mind was the fabulous Mr Gum (original cover for nostalgia reasons - can you believe it’s been TWENTY YEARS?!) Shabba me whiskers!

Great topic! Great recommendations from everyone! Some older weirdnesses: the Uncle books by JP Martin Outside Over There, by Maurice Sendak Newer weirdness: practically everything by Frances Hardinge

I think gloriously weird might be my favourite genre - anything quirky makes me happy. These four popped into my head but will be remembering more all weekend now!

One of my favourite books from my own childhood definitely fitting the magical/fantastical category! #KidsBooksFriday

New weird fave for me is Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, in which a bunch of 12 year olds get possessed by ancient Chinese emperors. Bonkers and glorious. #KidsBooksFriday

Adding Jason Shiga's most recent adventuregame comic, Samurai vs Ninja, not because the story is particularly weird but the mechanics of the book are weird to play through. All his choice based comic books are fab, but the twist in this one is difficult but supremely satisfying when you work it out.

Boss of the underworld by Tor Freeman is a banger - imagine if Alice in Wonderland was a late night channel four animation with added sewer alligators. I love the flow of weird logic. And it's laugh out loud funny. #KidsBooksFriday

Someone already mentioned @patricknessbooks.bsky.social and Tim miller's series about a monitor lizard with France on his knee but I need to mention it again. He has FRANCE on his KNEE.

The weirder the better #KidsBooksFriday

Nothing can beat Jack Gantos and the the ‘Love Curse of the Rumbaughs ‘ ‘I have my mother’s hands ‘. If you know you KNOW. Definitely quirky & darkly humorous .You really had to know which kids to recommend it to & esp how their parents might feel about the art of human taxidermy!

@jacquisydney.bsky.social @ljfspinningbooks.bsky.social @maisiechanwrites.bsky.social @louiestowell.bsky.social @gabliotecaria.bsky.social @tobebooks.bsky.social @metaphrog.bsky.social @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social @slatterymr.bsky.social @sarahwebbwriter.bsky.social @marygtroche.bsky.social

#KidsBooksFriday All delightfully weird and wonderful in very different ways. Humour, dark humour, different languages, and a glimpse into both the past and future. Wouldn’t be without any of them!

Going to fly the flag for an Irish author today and recommend two series by Helena Duggan. I know The Faraway Tree isn't news to anyone but sometimes we forget to introduce new readers to the classics and this one really stands the test of time. #KidLitFriday #BookSky

Weird, spooky and sweet.

Four books that have weird elements and a certain ‘edge’ - definitely for older teenagers #KidsBooksFriday More info in ALT text

Definitely the Deadendia graphic novels by Hamish Steele! I feel like I keep recommending them recently but they are absolutely gloriously weird!!

Anything by Jon Klassen, Don’t Trust Fish, Don’t Think of Tigers. I think when I think of weird, I think of irreverently funny so I don’t know whether that quite fits the bill!

Thank you so much for sharing Wilomina with all these fab graphic novels!

These are some of the most enjoyably weird YA and middle-grade books I have read!