Picture Book Highlights | Underwear!

By Monica C. RSS Wed, January 25, 2023

When looking for funny books to read aloud, one can’t go wrong with books about underwear. It’s undeniable that kids love stories about underwear; there’s something light and playful about undergarments that can easily bring an audience to giggles.

We have got you covered (wink!) with these fun picture books:

Underwear by Jennifer Harney

Underwear by Jennifer Harney

"Bare bear! Stop right there! Underwear! Under where?" So begins the dialogue between a tired bear dad and a rambunctious bear cub who would rather play with his tighty whities than get into bed. Underwear makes great hair. It can even turn one into a superber, or a goggle-wearing swimming bear. But beware of a big scare! Rhymes, homonyms, and conjunctions abound in this book that could be used to teach reading, but its primary purpose is to make bedtime fun.

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

A bunch of friendly vegetables wear colorful underwear of all varieties — big, small, clean, dirty, serious, and funny — demonstrating for young ones the silliness and necessity of this item of clothing. The unexpectedness of vegetables in their unmentionables is enough to draw giggles, but the pride with which the “big kid” attire is flaunted in front of the baby carrots in diapers will tickle readers of all ages.

Attack of the Underwear Dragon by Scott Rothman

Attack of the Underwear Dragon by Scott Rothman; illustrated by Pete Oswald

Cole's wish comes true when he becomes an assistant knight to Sir Percival, his favorite knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Cole learns how to ride a horse, swing a sword, cheer for Sir Percival when he goes to battle, and bandage his boo-boos when the battle is over. Cole loves practicing every skill a knight-in-training must master, and he is determined to be granted knighthood. Sir Percival is a great knight in every way, except for one thing: he is terrified that an Underwear Dragon will come and destroy the kingdom. But when the unthinkable happens, Cole is the only knight left standing, and just an assistant knight at that! Cole must use all of his newly acquired skills to battle the fearsome dragon and avoid a catastrophe. Luckily, an unfortunate underwear mishap changes everything and Cole triumphs in this hilarious and triumphant tale!

Ebook available from Overdrive

Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds

Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown

Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark — a ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn’t know any better, he’d say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!

Ebook available from Overdrive

One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl

One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

What’s one thing that two bears, three yaks, four goats, and six cats have in common? They hate to share. But look out — here comes a pack of twenty pigs ready to prove that sharing makes everything twice as fun!

Ebook available from Overdrive

A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt

A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt; illustrated by Korwin Briggs

From Paleolithic loincloths to Henry VIII's wives wearing underwear on their heads to Mary Walker — a civil war surgeon who was arrested for wearing men's underwear and clothing to better work on patients — this book surveys the vast and fascinating history of our most private clothing. Modeled by chickens, the history of underwear is traced from the very first discovery: a Paleolithic nomad whose body was found completely preserved in ice. From there, we look across time and culture in this completely accessible, new take on boring old nonfiction picture books.

Monster's New Undies by Samantha Berger

Monster's New Undies by Samantha Berger; illustrated by Tad Carpenter

"These are my undies! A sweet work of art! Uh-oh! My undies! They just fell apart." Monster is JUST FINE with his old undies, thank you very much. But when his undies fall apart, what's a monster to do? His mommy takes him shopping, of course! But finding the perfect pair of undies is not going to be easy. Come on already! Can't you just see? There are no new undies just right for me. Uh-oh! Will Monster ever find the perfect pair of undies?

Something's Wrong! A Tale of a Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear by Jory John

Something's Wrong! A Tale of a Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear by by Jory John; illustrated by Erin Balzer

Jeff the bear has definitely forgotten something. He ate his breakfast, he watered his plant, he combed his fur ... what could it be? Why does he feel so oddly off? So he asks his friend Anders the rabbit what could possibly be wrong. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he's wearing underwear over his fur ... could it? 

Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera, Tupera

Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera, Tupera

Polar Bear has lost his underwear! Where could it be? There's only one thing to do: remove the book's underwear-shaped bellyband to find the missing pair! Is that Polar Bear's underwear? No, it's Zebra's — see the colorful stripes? What about that itty-bitty pair? No, those belong to Butterfly! And so the search continues, with every page revealing an animal in eye-popping undies. This laugh-out-loud, one-of-a-kind novelty book from Japanese design talents Tupera, Tupera will surprise and amuse children and their parents, all while affirming the importance of putting on your underwear.


Be sure to check our catalog and Overdrive Kids eReading Room for these titles and many more being added!


Have a question for Free Library staff? Please submit it to our Ask a Librarian page and receive a response within two business days.

Leave this field empty

Add a Comment to Picture Book Highlights | Underwear!

Email is kept private and will not be displayed publicly
Comment must be less than 3000 characters