The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles

by Jake Gyllenhaal

The art of Auntieology and Uncleology is a sacred craft, but ten-year-old Leo has an Uncle Mo-a clueless stationery supply salesman with good intentions-who just doesn’t get it. Yet.

The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles is a madcap, magical adventure into the heart of what it means to have an aunt or uncle-how we learn to keep each other close and how we find love in the simplest things.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Greta Caruso paint a goofy, loving portrait of one of the most important relationships in children’s lives in this funny and heartfelt romp of a picture book with witty and inventive illustrations by award-winning illustrator Dan Santat.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and the wonderful relationship between Leo and Uncle Mo. I find it a privilege to be an auntie and treasure it so much! This book reminds me of that beautiful treasured relationship. The illustrations by Dan Santat is truly out of this world amazing ness!

[Roy Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why do I get the feeling that Jake Gyllenhaal would make a very creepy uncle?

[sarah]

oh jake gyllenhaal

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about an uncle and his nephew whose relationship needs some work. Through a cosmic like portal they are transported to a place that helps aunts and uncles become better at their jobs. The art work is amazing but I would expect nothing less from Dan Santat. The story has holes and doesn’t seem to flow well in reading it with a kid in mind. I want to love it because I love the idea of a secret society of aunts and uncles and I want to be in it…and, well, Jake Gyllenhaal wrote it.

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a bad children's book, I think I went into it with too high of expectations. I was thinking it was going to be an initiation into a secret society with code words and secret handshakes. It is none of those things - more of how to be a babysitter. The illustrations were decent and I think kids will enjoy the story.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an aunt myself, I am happy to see some representation of the important work we do! ;)

Poor Leo has a major disappointment in his Uncle Mo -- an uncle who enforces bedtime, only serves veggies, and goes to rubber band conventions for fun. He picks up Leo from dance class one day and on their way home, they are plunged into the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. There, the pair is put through a rigorous training schedule so that Uncle Mo can get to learn more about Leo and how to be a world-class uncle. The premise is charming, but would be lost without the pictures. Dan Santat takes this book from fine to super fun as only he can. Gyllenhaal and Caruso do their job okay, but there's an obvious reason they brought Santat on.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of This is Needed

Aunts and Uncles, (especially those of us without children), need more representation. Who else has an enormous amount of love and care, (matched only by an actual parent), for you AND is often the prime candidate for being your closest confidant for the things that matter most in life? It’s your aunt and/or uncle! We spend time with you because we CHOOSE to and have unfettered resources we want to shower upon you!

I love that this book highlights this special relationship. A nephew being seen and his needs met by his loving uncle. I hope there are more adventures to come for these two in the future!

[Jaymie]

I didn't care for this one. There were some moments I enjoyed - the uncle's realization that he doesn't truly know his nephew and his efforts to know him and see him and help him - but I didn't love the premise that the uncle is "bad" because he plans to follow the rules the kid's mom sets when she asks him to babysit or because he has rules or nerdy interests. The take away is good aunts and uncles are fun-times-all-the-time people and I didn't love that.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't know that bedtime is three minutes before Mom and Dad get home or that desserts come before eating broccoli, then you might need to go to training school at the Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles. Santat's signature art style carries this picture book coauthored by celebrity actor Jake Gyllenhaal. No matter. It's a fun romp with a compelling premise just in time for holiday gift giving.

[Hannah DCamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well hang on, I would love to go to a stationary convention.

This was fun - the last page actually got me good - but the real gem of this book are the illustrations. There are so many fun details, and they really enhance the story. At least one star in this rating is due to the illustrations alone 👌

**How long are they in there?? Man has significant beard growth at the halfway mark 😂

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was cute but let’s be real, this could have been complete gibberish and I still would have given it 5 stars because it was co-written by Jake and he had his big hands all over my copy at one point in order to sign it.

[Pernille Elgaard Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sød 🙌 glæder mig til at læse den med min nevø 🩷

[Katie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book automatically gets 5 stars since it's by Jake Gyllenhaal! This is super adorable, and I am even more excited to give the book to Maeve and Reid! ❤️

[Nancy Ticotin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book! I’m so happy someone thought to write about the special gift aunts and uncles are to their nieces and nephews. I loved this book and my niece does too!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.

[Jones & the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

you must pair this book with the audiobook. MUST!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leo, an aspiring dancer with a glasses problem, is picked up by his Uncle Mo. Once Uncle Mo announces their plans for the night, their car is suddenly swept into the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles where Uncle Mo gets a crash course in Uncleology.

I like that the key point of this is Uncle Mo really learning to see/understand his nephew, and how when that happens Leo gets a breakthrough in the dancing + glasses problem. While my husband and I might pass some of the categories of Uncleology and Auntieology, we may not pass others (we’d totally make our nieces go to bed at parental times instead of the Society’s recommended 3 min before parents get home). It’s totally doable to have boundaries/follow guidelines and have fun. So I’m not sure how I feel about the book telling Uncle Mo he should let Leo stay up later and eat ice cream before veggies. Will kids get that this is fantasy and hyperbole? Will they understand that even aunts and uncles with guidelines still love them (and so do their parents)? 2.5 for me. Know the kid you read this to and how they will take it. Middle grade readers should find it a hoot and have no problem with it, so maybe save it for older readers to enjoy the silly situations.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo's Uncle Mo is a "boring" office supplies salesman who just doesn't get Leo. This results in Uncle Mo being all straight and narrow, following all the rules not giving Leo any wiggle room from mom and dad's rules. When Leo has to spend the night with Uncle Mo, they start their drive to a dreaded sleep over for Leo, until they somehow get swept up to some place that teaches all about the art of Auntology and Uncleology. This includes not following any of mom and dad's rules like bedtime, dessert before dinner, etc.

I raised an eyebrow at the aunt and uncle training that requires them to disregard parental rules, however, at the story's end, I felt that the message of Uncle Mo understanding Leo more and just getting to know him, trumps the other rules of uncleology. I especially liked how it was Uncle Mo's boring job that made him the hero at the end of the day when he pulls out the rubber band to solve Leo's problem. Though not stated, I feel like with that relational ground won, Uncle Mo could still win with Leo while also making him go to bed at 8pm and eat his dinner before dessert.

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Aunt, how can I not love this book. I do have to say, I need to go through training like these people. I tend to follow the rules mostly. It drives my niece and nephew crazy. But I've also done plenty of things that would fit in with this society.

The story is an uncle is picking up his nephew. The uncle is following all the rules his parents laid out and the nephew is thinking how terrible this is. They go through a portal to the secret society where the uncle is taught all the important ways to be a good uncle. Bed time is 3 minutes before the parents get home etc.

The artwork is by Dan Santat so of course it's amazing. What a fun book and I'm so glad there is a book out there for us wacky aunts and uncles.

The book is funny and has a tender moment in it also. It's great being an Aunt. The kids grow up too fast.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC through SLJ Picture Book Palooza.
Uncle Mo plans to stick to the rules Leo's mom set for their evening together. However, plans change as they are riding in Mo's car and end up in a secret location. Suddenly, they are at the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles headquarters where Mo is flunking being an uncle. When Leo tries to help by dancing, disaster strikes when his glasses fly off again. Mo solves this and Leo dances brilliantly. From that point, Mo aces the tests and they return home. Both have grown closer and learned a bit more about each other.
Love the illustrations - especially while at the Society headquarters. Don't miss all the activity happening around them.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is being looked after by his Uncle Mo for the day. But Mo is not the best if Uncles: attending a rubber band convention, eating broccoli, and be in bed by 8. It looks like it'll be one dull night for Leo. Until they both stumbled onto the Society of Aunts & Uncles. Now both of them will learn the secrets and skills it would take for them to become the best of Uncles and nephews.

An ode to all Aunts and Uncles, this book explains what it takes to be the best adults around for kids. All time fun and none if the stuffy grown ups is what this is! I found it relatively enjoyable, though I thought there would be more to it. The illustrations are good, reminiscent of Pixar style. If you are am aunt or uncle, do yourself a favor and read this to be the best kind.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads a little incomplete. The concept of the story is clear-- a test for all aunts and uncles to make sure they're paying attention and really seeing their nieces and nephews but there are random loose ends and a fuller emotional story that's left untold. Probably because the approach was supposed to be goofier with a touch of sentimentality, I think it could have led with the sentimentality and been goofy using Santat's AMAZING illustrative style.

Fun enough, but I wanted more.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, with a nice final message about engaging with your young relatives. The illustrations are standard Dan Santat: full of expressive characters and engaging vignettes. This would be a fun book for a new aunt or uncle.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of quirky, kind of creative, kind of cute. It was nice to see a boy who liked ballet and have it just be a normal aside in a story for children. I'm not sure I bought the "Secret Society" completely, but it was a cute idea. If you're looking for something different, give this picture book a whirl.

[Becky Larrabee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade: 1-3
This was such a great book. I liked that this book helped the readers see how aunts and uncles can be some of the coolest people in the world. I also liked all of the description words in the book. I also liked how the uncle is portrayed as "not cool" but becomes cool in the end.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many celebrity picture books, this one has an imaginative premise and includes illustrations from a talented and seasoned illustrator. And, like many celebrity picture books, it falls short of being an engaging, cohesive book. I appreciate a story about an uncle and nephew, but I'm not adding it to my collection.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a book for aunts and uncles! I especially appreciated that Leo, the nephew, is a ballet dancer. The tone of this book will be humorous for both kids and adults and the illustrations are fabulous.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for the storyline
5 stars for the illustration
Settled at 4 stars.

Love the premise of the story (the relationships between aunties & uncles & nieces & nephews), but felt the storyline was lacking. It felt jarred and forced. I wanted to love it, but liked it.

[Heather McC · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a great concept and ending in this children's book celebrating familial relationships, but the execution doesn't quite hit the mark. My advice would be to read the beginning and ending and skip the middle.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story premise and illustrator so I set aside my intense dislike for celebrity authors and read this one. The story feels incomplete, like maybe there will be another volume. It's not terrible but not what I had hoped to read.
Dan Santat's illustrations are outstanding, as always.