Families who loved Mabel O'Leary Put Peas in Her Ear-y by Mary G. Delaney 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 when you are locked in a mealtime power struggle or when your child has started using 'creative' logic to avoid rules. This story addresses the stubbornness of picky eaters through the lens of humor rather than lecturing, making it an excellent tool for de-escalating dinner table tension. It follows Mabel, a girl who decides that the best way to get through a bowl of peas is to hide them in her ears, only to find that being unable to hear leads to a series of ridiculous and embarrassing misunderstandings. While the book centers on healthy eating and manners, it deeply explores the emotional themes of embarrassment and the realization that shortcuts often lead to bigger problems. It is perfectly pitched for the 4 to 8 age range, offering a relatable scenario that validates a child's dislike of certain foods while gently modeling the consequences of mischief. Parents will appreciate the rhyming cadence and the way it turns a common domestic conflict into a moment of shared laughter.
