Families who loved The Troll's Toe Cheese by Aaron Reynolds often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book if your child uses potty humor to deflect from talking about tough things like loss or feeling misunderstood. While the title promises gross-out fun, the story is a surprisingly deep exploration of a child's longing for a lost parent and the realization that memories aren't always perfect. It follows four young adventurers on a rescue mission into goblin caves, where they face literal monsters and the metaphorical ghosts of the past. It is an ideal bridge for 8 to 12 year olds who enjoy Dungeons and Dragons style action but are ready to grapple with the idea that heroes, and parents, make mistakes. You might choose this to normalize big emotions through the safe lens of high-stakes fantasy and slapstick comedy.