How to Raise Mom and Dad

by Josh Lerman, Greg Clarke (Illustrator)

With some helpful advice from his older sister, a young boy learns the perfect techniques needed to handle his parents in order to get just what he wants, including having his homework done for him and picking a new puppy, in this amusing tale about a duo of plotting siblings and the parents who love them.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2009

Reviews

[Colleen]

If children didn't have these disrespectful thoughts and behaviors before they read this book, they will now. I'm sure the author thought this would be funny book but when you have children and work so hard to teach them how to be honest, respectful, kind, etc, you don't appreciate it when authors like this work to undermine your hard work.

[Jocelyn]

This book was humorous for an adult to read, and I appreciated the vocabulary used. I was impressed by how many big words it used.

That being said, this book should not be read to a precocious child who will pick up on everything in the book. It basically instructs children to do all those little things that drive parents crazy such as asking for things constantly, insisting on water after being put to bed, etc. This is all just fine if your child already does those things. If not, your child picks up some nasty new habits. I read it to Eleanor on Wednesday, and Thursday night, she was coming out after being put to bed, telling us she was scared (one of the things the book instructed children to do). Coincidence? I think not. We won't be reading this one again.

[Kristi Maurer]

"How to Raise Mom and Dad" is a fun book for younger children. It reminded me of Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books. The difference is that it is longer. I thought it was probably too long for younger children. It is a cute read for a parent of a 4 to 6 year old as it takes you through an exhausting day of caring for a child. This book appears to have been written by the parent of young children who know just how to make mom and dad work all day for them. I could certainly relate back to my days of trying to put three little ones to bed. By the time you are done, you're too tired to do anything else, and go to bed (with the children still awake and bouncing off the walls). I would not recommend this book as a read aloud. I think children will enjoy parts of the book, but much of the humor will go over their little heads.

[Alisa]

This story is DEFINITELY one more for parents. It's a hilarious account of how a big sister tells her little brother how to raise parents. Though in our stage of parenthood, we hadn't reached every "teaching", almost all of them we have at some point. I especially liked the ones where you can't let your parents sleep in. Funny laugh out loud book. Not sure it was available to be understood by Collin, so maybe a bit older age group.

[Jamie Macaluso]

(Mirror) This book was interesting. It is about a sister telling her little brother about how to take care of their parents but it is completely sarcastic and the stuff that she is saying is humorous. I think that the author's dialogue was a little much. It is written to be in the perspective of the older sister but it seemed to ramble on a bit. I did like it at first because it reminded me of my older sister giving me tips for when I was little.

[Ardae Perry]

The only reason why this is on here is cuz I read this book to my brother. But this book was about how two kids a sister and a younger brother were talking and the older sister was teaching her younger brother how to raise their parents meaning make them do what they wanted them to do. And how to ask questions and how to bother her parents. She taught her brother how to be wasteful, taught her brother how to nitpick, and also tell her brother how to circumvent his parents.

[Michelle]

I don't need a book to tell my kids how to misbehave.

[Kristine L.]

Hilarious! (Has someone been reading my crib notes?)

[Melissa]

This should be marketed to parents, not children. They don't need anymore ideas.

[Erin]

Not well written. It could’ve been fun but it feels less of a kids book and more of a gag gift for parents who hate their kids.

[Regina]

Some of these reviews apparently took the book far too literal. It's clearly a book that makes fun of what kids already do; waking parents up by screaming (to give them exercise), or knowing that dad's "Absolutely not" really translates to "maybe".

It's a cute story for grown-ups and older children. Could also be used as a book to talk about the OPPOSITE of what this particular big sister was teaching as the best way to "raise parents".

Maybe some folks should lighten up a bit? The book was funny.

[Donald Armfield]

How funny, is this how my kids think? Or did I just give them ideas?

A big sister runs down the list of ways to raise MOM & DAD!! Really funny a must read to your children. Laughs for the MOMs and DADs too.

1) Make sure to YELL really loud from your room to wake mom & dad in the morning.
2) How to redecorate the living room, by tossing toys around and moving the furniture.
3)Make sure to watch them while they are cleaning your room, they may get distracted.

just a few, although the little girl telling the story is the better story teller.

My kids say its an excellent read.

[Grant]

This is a horrible, horrible book. If there was an option for giving negative stars, I would give it negative 5. Despite its look, it should not be considered a children's book. It outlines very clearly very poor and manipulative behavior--lets face it, kids are already good at manipulating parents, the last thing they need is a book that makes disobeying sound acceptable. After Jocelyn read it to Eleanor weve had several nights were she tried the tactics--they were not pleasant evenings.

[Kristen Jorgensen]

Not a great book. Pretty annoying actually. Even the illustrations are boring. Besides if a book is teaching kids to be obnoxious then I don't want it in my house.
I don't even think kids would find it entertaining. I know it's supposed to be funny but it didn't really succeed. It would have been a lot more successful if it had gone the cute route.

[Megan M]

I laughed. Out loud. Multiple times.

This is probably not a book that a lot of children are going to think is crazy hilarious, but parents and people who are close to parents will enjoy the story. The artwork is awkward, but that's part of its charm.

I think a lot of reviewers really missed the point of the book.

[Gianna Mosser]

Atticus and I both thought this was revelational, in part because he saw so much of what he does in the narrating kids. He loved that they woke the mom up super early, loved how much they fight about getting dress, being too tired for chores, avoiding vegetables. Right down to the damn dog request! Hilariously accurate.

[Amy]

Great book if your kids are grown up. If they aren't, you don't want your kids getting ideas to manipulate you and drive you nearly insane! The premise is that the wiley older sister teaches the younger brother how to get away with all kinds of things.

[Kristen]

I like the kids' to-do list at the beginning of the book best, the one that says things like "teach them how to make your lunch", "tire them out so they'll get a good night's rest" and "ask for things", which is on the list three times.

[Kelly]

Preschool children are learning to become more independent from their parents. This book gives children a chance to role play being in charge. It could also be used by parents as a way to teach bedtime rules. Our family found the book to be funny.

[Muriel]

While it might be humorous/entertaining for the adults, this book risks leading your child to undesirable behavior. It is difficult to help a child to unlearn bad habits (lying about nightmare to get out of bed), unsuspecting parents, so don't sow the seeds in this book.

[Lisa]

Who is this book for?

[Katie]

kinda funny, perhaps more so for parents than kids?

[Molly]

Funny read and a great nighttime read aloud with kids. The kids get the idea that they need to raise their parents and it truly is exhausting to do. Ages 5+

[Zack]

Has its moments, but I found myself bored. When it becomes a chore to finish a picture book, there is a problem.

[Kim]

A sister gives tips to her younger brother on how to raise mom and dad. Funny but i think soe of it may be too subtle for storytime

[N]

Buy this if you want to teach your kids to annoy the crap out of you any more than they already do. Nice gift book idea for aunts or uncles seeking revenge on their sibling.

[carissa]

Recommended Ages: Preschool and up

[Sarah]

Funny, but more from the older sibling or adult perspective

[Breonne]

Love the concept of this book and is easy to relate to if you have children.

[Tara]

It's a hard job taking care of your parents. You have to make sure to wake them up, help them get dressed (in pirate hats!) and feed them lots of sugar.

A very silly book I enjoyed very much.