Kids Are Still Weird: And More Observations from Parenthood

Things are weird

by Jeffrey Brown

A sweet and charming collection of comics about how strange and funny kids can be, New York Times bestselling cartoonist Jeffrey (Darth Vader & Son, Jedi Academy) Brown chronicles his life as a parent while his children speak brutal truths and make unintentionally hilarious observations.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Parenting, Nonfiction, Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

Jeffrey Brown was born in 1975 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up reading comic books with dreams of someday drawing them, only to abandon them and focus on becoming a 'fine artist.' While earning his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Brown abandoned painting and began drawing comics with his first autobiographical book 'Clumsy' in 2001. Since then he's drawn a dozen books for publishers including TopShelf, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, McSweeney's and Chronicle Books. Simon & Schuster published his latest graphic memoir 'Funny Misshapen Body.' In addition to directing an animated video for the band Death Cab For Cutie, Brown has had his work featured on NPR's 'This American Life' His art has been shown at galleries in New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Paris. Jeffrey's work has also appeared in the Best American Comics series and received the Ignatz Award in 2003 for 'Outstanding Minicomic.'
He currently lives in Chicago with his wife Jennifer and their son Oscar.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jeffrey Brown milks the "kids say the darndest things" vein for some pretty darn mild family humor. Bil Keane would be proud.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kids Are Still Weird: And Other Observations from Parenthood is a collection of cartoons that captures snippets of things toddlers/preschoolers say. The art is average, and while the title promises humor, most observations fall short of being genuinely funny or clever; they’re simply kid quotes captured as-is. I could easily imagine the artist following his kid around the house and jotting down each phrase uttered in a notes app before sketching it into a panel. The result is cute, sure—I'm not heartless—but I couldn’t help feeling that if the bar for publication were a bit higher, this collection might not have made it to print.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute, but very strange. I guess I don't really understand children.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know that one FaceBook friend you have that is constantly posting stories about how unexpectedly deep her four year old is or "funny" little anecdotes about their kid saying something dumb? This book is exactly that. It's quick little one to six panel things that his kids said that I assume he thinks are cute or funny or philosophical, but every parent thinks their kid is those things and most of the time they are wrong. One of the pages is the kid telling his dad's phone, which is giving directions, to stop talking. Is that funny? What about a kid saying "Pepperonis are good, but pizza bagels are gooder"? Fucking hilarious, right? Like, and all time classic! I don't know, maybe two of these segments were marginally funny, but overall, this whole thing just reeks of "My kid said the funniest thing yesterday. He said he loves me more than his IPad! Isn't that a hoot?". Even though (I assume) this was made for adults, I think the real audience is the author, his family, and children the age of his kids. Who else is going to crack up at his kid saying used tissues belong in this butt?

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is kind of the book version of, "My kid said the funniest thing the other day..."

Which I normally don't really like. I mean, I get it, you think your kid has an amazing personality and is hilarious, and the rest of us are like, "Save it for Family Circus, pops."

Buuuut, I can't ding the book on this front because when you read it, that's EXACTLY what you're signing up for. It's not like when you're talking to a buddy and he's like, "My kid did this hilarious thing the other day," and then they tell you a riveting story that their kid shit their pants at a less-than-ideal moment, which is MY JOKE, you little fuckers! Stop stealing my A material.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is the follow up to "Kids Are Weird". This is a book that focuses on the humorous part of parenthood, and the funny things kids say and do. Simon, a precocious 3 year-old gets into situations as a toddler does. Oscar, Simon's older brother, also finds himself in his share of situations of his own. Their parents work through each with love and understanding. The book was ok, but I found it a bit boring at times. Other times, I could relate. I probably won't read the first book in the series.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nominated for the Eisner 2025 Humor Award.

If you have or had kids, these are relatable, in company with other funny parenting books such as those such as Guy DeLisle's The Owner's anual To Terrible Parenting, any of Keiler Roberts's books about her and her daughter. I go way back to the TV show and books by Art Linklater, Kids Say the Darndest Things from the sixties. So it's never-ending, the cuteness and goofiness of kids. These are all cartoons of his two little sons, so are of course probably true. I smiled quite a bit but went through them quickly.

[Norman Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

2025 Eisner Award finalist - Best Humor Publication

Art Linkletter made a career out of kids saying the darndest things (does anyone younger than me remember Art Linkletter?). This book takes this concept into the modern cartoon world with mixed results. Presumably based on Brown's home life, these sometimes cute but rarely funny kids' observations are the kind of thing that made Family Circus an innocuous staple of newspaper comics for decades. Brown's minimalist artwork doesn't redeem things.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, definitely not as good as the first book. The kid quotes selected rely more on context, a leading line or conversation or prompt, which isn't provided. Maybe it's supposed to be leaning more into the absurdity? The reason kid sayings are funny to me is because they make sense from that unique point of view; removing context makes them less funny, only absurd.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, lightly amusing anecdote comics pulled from Brown’s experience raising two boys. They’re pleasant enough, but compared to more timeless fictional depictions of childhood like Calvin and Hobbes or Peanuts, these often feel like I’d appreciate them more if I knew Brown’s specific kids in real life.

[Lisa Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Relatable to anyone who's ever had or worked with kids.

[Jason Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if it's just cuz my kids are older, but this was pretty boring

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comics
Brown offers a series of comics about being parents. Readers see them with their two sons in normal settings as they navigate life.
Very relatable situations shared with love and humor.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Short. Simple.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I laughed at a few pages but overall this was less funny than I’d expect from this sort of check-out-these-funny-things-my-kids-did-and-said type of book.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have kids it will resonate.

[Ebony · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it. Simon is a bad kid, annoying and nothing he says is cute, funny or weird

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough but I think I preferred the Star Wars jokes more.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super funny comic about being a parent and the weird, awkward, serious, silly, and downright apropos things kids will do and say.

[Vanessa Toth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The editition I have had a couple duplicate comics in it.

[Meli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute breakfast read.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. A quick read.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it cheating to list this shorty little book? Cute little moments!