Comedian and actor Pete Holmes conjures up a tale where kids run the show in this hilarious interactive picture book. With a wisecracking dragon heckling from the sidelines, young readers will cast delightfully ridiculous spells that turn grown-ups into giggling, snoring, clucking bundles of chaos.
“Pete has created something really amazing here - a book you can read to your kids and you’re BOTH laughing. I loved it.” - Judd Apatow
“This is THE greatest idea for a children's book. It’s a lot of power wielding for someone who still needs help reaching the cereal, but since I’m scheduled to moo at 4PM, it clearly works.” - Tig Notaro
Snakes that slither, frogs that leap,
Make my grown-up FALL ASLEEP!
SIP-SAP-SOAP-SHHHHH!
Featuring a snarky dragon named Jesse - and YOU as the narrator - Pete Holmes’s debut children’s book celebrates silliness, imagination, and the magic of reading together. Each page invites young readers to cast a spell on their grown-up - causing them to fall asleep mid-sentence, talk in slow motion, make animal noises, or speak total gibberish.
Spells to Cast on Your Parents isn’t just a picture book - it’s a full-blown performance, an instant family event, and a fun twist on the traditional bedtime story. And beneath all the mayhem, it’s a story that celebrates the power and wonder of being a kid. With mounting mischief, interactive call-and-response, and pitch-perfect comedic timing, this is a book children will demand again and again.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Pre-K - 2nd Grade
OUR BOOKS ARE LISTED BY AGE GROUP to indicate that the content is engaging and appropriate for those selected ages. PLEASE NOTE: They may not be the appropriate reading level for every individual at those ages or may extend beyond the brackets.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: September 01, 2026
Pages: 50
Dimensions: 11.3 X 9.3 X 0.4 inches | 0.9 pounds
Language: English
Type: Hardcover
Condition: NEW
PLEASE NOTE: Not everything that is available in our online collections is in-stock at our Booktique! If you order a book or product that is not readily available at either of our locations, we will notify you immediately via email, confirm your custom order approval, and order your item(s) right away (orders typically arrive within one week) OR we will suggest an in-stock substitution if your order is time-sensitive. We'll also suggest an alternative option if your requested book format is no longer available from our supplier. Please send us a message or email us at newbookjoy@gmail.com if you’d like to check availability before ordering!
We also have a TON of books and products in our Booktique that we’re working on uploading to our website as we speak… If you’re looking for something that’s not on our online store, please reach out!