Jory John Books in Order

Edited by Jory John, this collection gathers letters from kids to President Obama written just after his election. Funny, frank, and often surprisingly wise, the notes cover everything from war and the environment to pets and homework, offering a child’s eye view of politics and hope.

This small, darkly comic "picture book for adults" follows dinosaurs, trees, cassette tapes, clowns, and other characters who realize that all their friends are gone. Simple drawings and one line jokes turn loneliness and mortality into wry, memorable laughs.

Part travel guide, part satire, this illustrated book gently punctures the myth of New York as the center of everything. Through charts, photos, and deadpan captions, it points out that famous landmarks, food, and culture are impressive, but also a bit overrated and very human.

This sequel to All My Friends Are Dead offers another round of existential one liners from people, creatures, and objects who find themselves alone. The mix of simple drawings and bleak jokes turns feelings about change, obsolescence, and mortality into quick, surprising laughs.

An alphabet book for adults, this collection pairs cheerful illustrations with intentionally terrible advice, from opening things with your teeth to setting objects on fire. The contrast between innocent picture book style and wildly unsafe suggestions makes the dark humor land even harder.

Exhausted Bear just wants to sleep, but his endlessly energetic neighbor Duck keeps knocking with new ideas—cards, movies, snacks, anything but bedtime. Their back and forth escalates until Bear is wide awake and Duck finally collapses, making for a noisy, very funny almost bedtime story.

Bear dreams of a quiet day alone, but Duck bangs on his door demanding a walk and constant reassurance that Bear likes him. As they trudge through the neighborhood, Bear keeps insisting "I love you already," capturing the push and pull of a one sided but genuine friendship.

A small, sharp toothed creature warns readers not to keep turning pages, threatening to chomp anyone who comes near his stash of delicious cakes. The playful, meta story turns page turning into a game, inviting kids to test boundaries and laugh at the narrator’s over the top warnings.

Miles Murphy moves to the cow obsessed town of Yawnee Valley planning to be the school’s number one prankster, only to find someone has beaten him to it. His rivalry with the suspiciously perfect Niles Sparks slowly turns into a partnership as they plan a legendary prank together.

A grumpy penguin complains about everything in his icy world—cold water, harsh winds, hungry predators, and the fact that all penguins look alike. After a wise walrus offers gentle perspective, he grudgingly admits there are many things worth appreciating, even if he still likes to complain.

Floyd Peterson is tired of everyone screaming and calling him a monster just because he is big, purple, and hairy. In a funny, fourth wall breaking rant, he insists he has hobbies, feelings, and a proper name, inviting readers to think about labels and how we treat those who look different.

Now firmly established as Yawnee Valley’s top pranksters, Miles and Niles suddenly face a new, humorless Principal Barkin who is determined to crush fun. Their code of harmless mischief is tested as they try to outwit stricter rules and keep their pranking spirit alive.

Bear heads into the woods for a peaceful solo camping trip, eager for quiet time away from his clingy neighbor. Duck, left behind and miserable, eventually charges into the forest to check on him, turning Bear’s not so relaxing getaway into another chaotic but comforting reunion.

A sunflower seed with a terrible reputation proudly lists all the rude, messy things he does and why everyone calls him "baaad." After sharing the sad story that hardened him, he decides to try being better, showing that even the worst seed can change with small, steady choices.

Duck is thrilled about a snow day and drags his reluctant friend Bear outside for nonstop winter fun. When Bear inevitably gets sick, Duck insists on fussing over him, then expects the same treatment once he catches the cold, highlighting their messy but loyal friendship.

An itchy elephant begs other animals to scratch a hard to reach spot on his back, but every helper is too small, too slimy, or a little too scary. When a hedgehog finally provides perfect relief, the elephant’s less than gracious response offers a sly joke about gratitude and self awareness.

Edward the giraffe is embarrassed by his extremely long neck and has tried every possible disguise to hide it. Meeting a turtle who wishes for a neck that long helps Edward see his body differently and shows that what looks like a flaw can be a real strength.

This collection of forty four humorous postcards offers ways to tell friends, family, and even the former president himself just how much you miss Barack Obama. Playful illustrations and captions mix nostalgia, admiration, and everyday occasions into bite sized jokes.

In the final Terrible Two book, pranksters Miles Murphy and Niles Sparks face their last year at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy. With rival principals watching and expectations sky high, they scheme to pull off a farewell prank big enough to become school legend.

William the dinosaur loves to roar, loudly and everywhere, even when it annoys everyone around him. When a sore throat forces him to quiet down, he wrestles with who he is without his roar and ultimately finds a way to be himself while still respecting the world around him.

A once close knit group of beans grows up, and some become the effortlessly "cool beans" roaming the school halls. Feeling left out, the narrator learns that real coolness shows up in small acts of kindness and inclusion, not in flashy outfits or perfect confidence.

In a carton full of misbehaving eggs, one Good Egg tries to keep everyone in line and be perfect at all times. Eventually the pressure makes him crack, and a break from the carton teaches him that it is healthier to set boundaries, make mistakes, and simply be good enough.

Before the first day of school, a group of animals fret about their unique worries, from a sloth who moves too slowly to a snake who cannot wear a backpack. At school they discover that even their teacher is nervous, and by helping one another they find that the classroom feels much less scary.

A boy blames every mistake on something else—his pen, his shoes, his backpack, even the moon. When the supposedly inanimate objects finally speak up in his dreams, he is forced to confront how unfair his excuses are and begins to take responsibility for his own choices.

Everyone else calls him a rhinoceros, but he is pretty sure he is a unicorn and has a long list of reasons why. As he argues his case, the story gently explores imagination, identity, and the idea that you can decide for yourself who you are, even if others see you differently.

A cozy couch potato loves screens, snacks, and never leaving his perfectly padded seat. After a power outage pushes him outside, he notices fresh air, friends, and real world fun, and slowly learns to balance screen time with everything happening beyond the couch.

Shel the Good Egg prefers peace and quiet, but his dozen egg friends sneak out of their carton for an elaborate hide and seek game around the grocery store. When the others fail to return, Shel reluctantly joins the hunt and learns that friendship sometimes means leaving the comfort of the carton.

A pampered house cat delivers a nonstop monologue about his many "problems"—the sunbeam keeps moving, the food bowl is not quite full, and someone keeps running the vacuum. His dramatic complaints are both ridiculous and familiar, gently poking fun at feline attitudes and everyday grumpiness.

Jeff the bear is sure he has forgotten something important, but cannot figure out what it is as he strolls through the forest. His friend Anders the hare finally points out that Jeff is wearing only underwear, then cleverly turns the fashion disaster into a trend so Jeff can relax.

A group of animal friends head to summer camp, each secretly worried about something, from swimming lessons to scary stories. When their nervous counselor gets stuck in a tree, they work together to solve the problem and discover that helping one another makes camp a lot less scary.

On Halloween, the Bad Seed is determined to have the perfect costume and the perfect night, and nothing seems good enough. After trying to control every detail, he realizes that enjoying the holiday with friends matters more than impressing everyone with a flawless spooky image.

Living in a busy bakery classroom, one cookie feels slow and not very smart compared to the other treats. With the help of a kind teacher and a creative poetry assignment, she discovers a different kind of intelligence and learns that grades are not the only way to shine.

The Bad Seed discovers an amazing book at the library and wants to keep it forever. When he learns that other readers are waiting, he wrestles with the urge to be selfish and ultimately figures out how sharing, returning books, and library rules help everyone.

The Cool Bean draws the name of Beanadette, the coolest bean around, for a holiday gift exchange and panics about finding the perfect present. After a lot of pressure and false starts, he discovers that a thoughtful, homemade gift can be the coolest choice of all.

The Good Egg is thrilled about the barnyard talent show until he realizes he has no act of his own. As he rushes around helping his friends with their performances, he discovers that supporting others and being kind is its own special talent.

A once sweet grape has turned sour after years of disappointments and broken plans, and now holds grudges against everyone. When a ruined party reveals that not every slight was intentional, he slowly learns to let go, forgive, and enjoy his friends again.

An over enthusiastic kangaroo narrator promises to make readers sleepy, then does the opposite with monster trucks, noisy bands, stampeding sheep, and dragons. The chaos builds until the narrator finally calms down, showing that quiet and comfort work better than hype at bedtime.

Anders the hare insists he is fine, even though everything about his body language says otherwise as he walks to a picnic with his friend Jeff the bear. Jeff gives him space but sticks close, and eventually Anders opens up, showing how patient, steady friendship helps on hard days.

The Big Cheese is used to winning every contest and never lets anyone forget it. When a new competitor named Wedge suddenly beats him at his favorite events, he is forced to deal with disappointment, learn humility, and find joy in cheering for someone else.

An overexcited narrator promises that this is the greatest book ever, packed with thrilling topics like homework, the dentist, and raisins. The joke builds as he oversells every page, ending with a warmer reminder that sharing a silly story together is the real reason to love the book.

Quiet Humble Pie is always working hard behind the scenes while his flashy friend Jake the Cake soaks up the spotlight. When a big school project reveals how uneven their partnership has become, Pie finally speaks up, showing that standing up for yourself is part of being a good friend.