Oh No, the Aunts Are Here

by Adam Rex, Lian Cho (Contributor)

Every family has its special aunt: the cool aunt, the wacky aunt, the scary aunt. But this family has ALL THE AUNTS. 
 

Shhh, listen. Do you hear that?
Oh no. Oh dear. Oh . . . my . . . godmother.
 
They've traveled on planes, in taxis, and across state lines. And now they're here at the doorstep, a cheesy gift in one hand, the other poised for a pinch on the cheek.

IT'S THE AUNTS! THE AUNTS ARE HERE.
 
One girl’s all-too-recognizable experience—a visit from a troupe of overwhelming and overly enthusiastic relations—escalates to new heights of chaos, absurdity, and delight in a laugh-out-loud take on family reunions. Written with signature humor by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho, this picture book is a celebration of the universal and endearing strangeness of family.  

MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY SHENANIGANS: The antics of our silliest family members are never not funny. This uniquely hilarious and authentic observation of aunts and uncles sets this book apart from other sweet family-based stories, which tend to take a more sentimental approach.

LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FAMILY FUN: This book provides a truly different kind of lightheartedness and is perfect for those who love Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA and Goodnight Already. Any family can enjoy and bond over the common experience this book speaks to so humorously.

GREAT READ-ALOUD: This book's irrepressible rhythm and its witty observations make it perfect for family read-alouds or library reading circles.

BELOVED AUTHOR: Adam Rex books are beloved by librarians, booksellers, and readers of all ages. He is the creator of many modern classics, including School's First Day of School, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors.

FUN FOR KIDS: Even for families with normal aunts or no aunts at all, the quirky situations this character faces, and the ways her aunts save the day, will delight any child reader.

Perfect for:
Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles
Librarians and teachers seeking funny picture books to share
Anyone looking for humorous illustrated children's books or read-aloud family books
Birthday, holiday, or Mother's Day gift for aunts, nieces, nephews, or for the family
Fans of Adam Rex, Mo Willems, Drew Daywalt, Mac Barnett, Jory John, and Kevin Henkes

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Adam Rex grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, the middle of three children. He was neither the smart one (older brother) or the cute one (younger sister), but he was the one who could draw. He took a lot of art classes as a kid, trying to learn to draw better, and started painting when he was 11. And later in life he was drawn down to Tucson in order to hone his skills, get a BFA from the University of Arizona, and meet his physicist wife Marie (who is both the smart and cute one).

Adam is nearsighted, bad at all sports, learning to play the theremin, and usually in need of a shave. He can carry a tune, if you don't mind the tune getting dropped and stepped on occasionally. He never remembers anyone's name until he's heard it at least three times. He likes animals, spacemen, Mexican food, Ethiopian food, monsters, puppets, comic books, 19th century art, skeletons, bugs, and robots.

Garlic and crosses are useless against Adam. Sunlight has been shown to be at least moderately effective. A silver bullet does the trick. Pretty much any bullet, really.

Reviews

[Cheryl Gladfelter]

Came in to this book with high expectations since it was highly rated by people I trust. I did not get it.

Does the author have negative feelings about their aunt(s)? I mean, we know family is definitely a mixed-bag. I read this book out loud in the office and the other librarians (all of us aunts btw) were flummoxed by it.

Are the aunts aunts, or are they really grannies? Evidence points to grannies: saving newspaper articles, quilt museum, ignoring what you said about that you changed your opinion on, dealing with a wolf. Now, I'm not a regular aunt, I'm a cool aunt (jk, I'm not) but even I'm not dragging my nieces and nephews to a quilt museum or clipping coupons.

I'm not even touching what must be a drug-induced fever dream where the aunts turn into birds and fly away. This is where I would insert Will Ferrell saying "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills".

I read this out loud without showing the illustrations. The second time I read it where they could see the pictures and one (younger) coworker said she was even more confused than she was before.

I was really hoping for this to be a book I could buy for all my nieces and nephews but alas. I will read the sequel, as I'm sure the author will write because it clearly sets us up for that. If the uncles are treated in a more positive light than the aunts, I'm going to lose my shit.

*I did love the inclusivity and some of the elements of humor.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What’s the point of this “emotionally bombastic staycation”? The child seems traumatized by the aunts who descend on the family, take over her room, and monopolize the household. Then the wolf appears, stretching the strangeness of the story. Busy illustrations add to the chaos the aunts conjure.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

“They’re snapping shut thief purses and stepping out of the shuttles from the airport.”

Oh, the joys and horrors of being an adored child. I laughed out loud over and over.

“You must love living so close the the Quilt Museum.”

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanksgiving weekend family picture book read-aloud fun! (Book 9 of 13.)

A niece is overwhelmed by her high-energy aunts, who can make a quilt museum funny and are undaunted by unexpected danger. Cute and amusing.

[Rachel Doose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was so cute and funny and then it got silly in a way that didn't work for this cool aunt. Kids probably love it.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!!! Made me laugh out loud! Adam Rex always knows how to make a story fun and silly, sometimes for no other reason than to entertain!! And sometimes, that's all you want from a picture book 🙂

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute funny book.

[Trish Banda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute nonsensical story about aunts visiting 🤪
I would read the next one about the uncles 😎

[angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

this makes me miss my aunts and all of their presence and love.

[Valerie Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an aunt, and I approve this message.

[Klare Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny book about when all the aunts show up at once. The narrator, the kid, braces for chaos and the trip turns wild, a little scary, and then full of warmth. By the end you realize, yes, the aunts are loud, but they love him. I’d read this book with my class and say something like: “Let’s imagine what it would be like if all your aunts (or family‑relatives) showed up at once!” Then we’d have the students draw their own “over the top” family arrival scene.

[Michelle Boquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the humor of this book!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everett LOL'd

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange children's book to me! I enjoyed the inclusivity and the illustrations, and thought the premise sounded fun. But the story went in odd directions. I didn't... get it?

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as weirdly misogynistic to me? idk something about it was off-putting

[Emporia Public Library]

"Oh No, the Aunts Are Here" is a spirited gem of a book that courses with energy and enthusiasm as it explores what it’s like to have a quiet life temporarily transformed into a very different sort of existence. #EPLRecommends #PictureBooks #Family #Humor

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely hilarious and it stressed me out so much! I think the best way to read it is just to read it, so I won't say much else here, but I was cracking up and cringing and getting so uncomfortable, all at the same time. A GREAT read! Very, very funny. Also, I loved the illustrations. Kept reading lines out loud to people. This is a book that needs to be shared.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the illustration, so cute!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun romp, gorgeous and clever illustrations really amp up the humour— I want to be in this family!!!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpectedly hilarious book about a slew of exuberant loved ones turning an unsuspecting child's home and life itself into a sensory madhouse.

I like that the aunts all look different but have the exact same smile. I like how much and how little they pay attention. I like how Rex levels with the frustration and overwhelm that can come with hosting company, especially when you're a kid who doesn't have much control over things.

I would say this of all books makes me want to lead a Storytime at the library, but I know better. I will never do it. There is no book that will make me do it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book about a little girl who is overwhelmed by the visit of her four aunts. They all want to give her love and attention, and there is nothing wrong with that.

They want to hug her, and do her hair, and give her gifts, and visit the quilt museum.


Lian Cho is such a good illustrator. Each picture just brims with love and joy. The aunts come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s just fine.

I can’t wait to read more books she has illustrated, including her debut one that is coming out soonish, “Oh Olive”.

This book was published the 23rd of May 2023, and is available at all the places you buy books.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars--This wacky book reminded me of the insurance commercial that features the "Aunt Problem." For anyone who's ever had an overbearing relative or a houseguest who overstayed their welcome, AUNTS will provoke tons of knowing giggles.

The story did get a bit odd toward the end--as if the author was unsure of where to go next. That said, there's an opening for a new book that promises to be just as hilarious as this one.

Oh, and I love that the family in this story buys oatmilk--but wasn't a huge fan of a home-invading, people-eating wolf being used as a villain for the aunts to vanquish.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny book about a noisy and boisterous group of aunts who come to visit.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of family vacations where there is a little too much togetherness. Aunts come to visit and take over the house.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl is overwhelmed by the love and warm attention of her aunts when all four descend on her family in this hilarious picture book. The casewrap, endpapers and jacket all add funny details that depict the aunts’ outsize personalities. Fonts that simulate handwriting contribute to the big emotions. The wonderful art, using watercolor, gouache and colored pencils, shows realistic and fantastical views that amplify the aunts’ presence and the humor of their very auntiness. Kids with lots of older relatives will giggle at the universal aunty practices – “They give you a dollar / and a mint…and a small packet of peanuts they saved you from the airplane.” They take over your room, which smells like lotion now; they give you toy horses, which you liked as a baby, etc.

Little details are so funny: one aunt reads a book entitled ‘How to Aunt’, they wear corny tee shirts with slogans such as ‘Aunt-tastic.’ But they also save you from a wolf (in aunt’s clothing) who has come to steal bacon, by squirting it with hand sanitizer. This rollicky and loving look at family is a must read and is just the thing for summer family reunions. The family and all the aunts cue as Asian, with differing skin clues, and one aunt dresses in an androgynous style, which is a welcome addition to LGBTQ+ representation. In the quiet after the aunts have gone, the last page hints at another visit on the horizon: “Oh man, it’s the uncles”!

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not written to tell aunts how special and amazing they are (I would have thrown up if my aunt/uncle made me read a book about how special they were lol).

It's one of those classic "THIS HOUSE IS GOING CRAZY" kids stories. Sometimes it's monkeys in your kitchen (Monkeys in My Kitchen, by Fitch), sometimes it's having a subway stop inside your house (Blackberry Jam, by Munsch), in this case it's overbearing aunts coming to visit. The general theme is: your space/routine has been disrupted/invaded: "How does it feel? How do you cope?" It's helping kids work through those feelings/situations without imposing adult morals on them.

For instance: I didn't hate when my family visited. But when an aunt would stay over and I had to sleep in a sleeping bag, I wasn't like: "Wow I should be more grateful to have family in my life, they truly are a precious gift. Of course I will give up my bed."I was always secretly concerned that my Lion King Pillow was going to smell weird and flowery for a week! This book captures that feeling of inconvenience as a kid.

I also like that they leave room for a sequel with the ending of"Oh no! Here come the uncles!". I always liked that in stories as a kid. They finally round up all the monkeys, and all seems well. But then on the last page you can spy a group of elephants off in the distance. And as a kid you point at it and go: mom look! Now there's elephants! Hoo boy! Here they go again! Haha

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex and Cho celebrate the joyful—and sometimes annoying—arrival of family. A little brown-skinned girl’s life is upended by the arrival of four exuberant aunts. The aunts are loud and colorful, and seem to take over the little girl’s life, specifically, her bedroom, which is now filled with aunts and smells like lotion. They even invade her dreams, where the aunts are everywhere. But when the dream takes a scary turn, it’s her aunts who save the day, squirting a wolf with hand sanitizer and then enveloping her in a warm hug. Before long it’s time for them to go, and then the house is quiet again, at least until the uncles arrive. Rex’s hilarious story captures the anguish experienced by a child whose normal schedule is upset. In Chen’s watercolor & gouache illustrations, the aunts dominate the page, with large word bubbles suggesting their loud and enthusiastic responses. The girl and her family, on the other hand, are often crowded on the sides of the pictures, and have expressions of frustration and exasperation. Children will laugh out loud at the absurd and exaggerated actions of the aunts during their extended “staycation” with a less than willing family. The bright colored pictures and animated text make this an excellent choice for storytimes about family or learning to get along with others.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: STOP. Do you hear that? Something's coming. They're getting closer. They're snapping shut their purses and stepping out of shuttles from the airport. Oh No. The aunts are here.

Premise/plot: A little girl is distressed (slight exaggeration) by her four visiting aunts. Do they stay a weekend? a week? a lifetime? Probably closer to a weekend. But for this little girl who does not appreciate her aunts, it may seem like a lifetime.

The point of view from this one, I believe, is meant to humorous and solely from the point of view of the young child. The humor is definitely at the aunts' expense for better or worse. This little one does NOT really like the disruption. (Or the fact that her aunts have an interest in quilts, quilts, and more quilts).

My thoughts: Will children find this one amusing? Maybe. Maybe not. Will adults? Again, I think it depends on your own perspective. This one had some humorous lines--no doubt. But overall, it isn't necessarily written from the point of view that aunts are awesome. (More like aunts are bothersome.)

The illustrations seem a little over the top, exaggerated. Definitely emphasizing the humor and comedy.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

We see what happens to one favored niece when all these wonderful aunts with their lotion and pinching cheeks and old people habits, come to visit for a day or two. The poor niece was thrilled by all the attention and they knew how much she loved horses. So much, they drowned her in them. The aunts poured forth their love and the niece love every second of it. HAHA

How fun was this. I admit, four aunts is a lot at once, but we really are kinda great. My niblings love to poke fun at me. Last night my nephew busted me good. We were at IHOP and playing I spy. The color was white and my nephew said, “Aunt Cally’s teeth” then he looked at my teeth and said, “Never mind.”

This book was funny. I enjoyed the humor.

The artwork was created with watercolor, gouache and colored pencils. The niece’s desperation and longing for freedom from the quilt museum was very funny. The artist has a good sense of humor.

I hope there is a sequel. I want to see what the uncles were like.

Anyone with a wonderful loving aunt will love this book.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the aunts cone to visit! The family doesn't seem to be expecting the four aunts who suddenly appear. But, as with most visitors, life becomes topsy-turvy. There are the usual interactions when older relatives visit - pinched cheeks, etc. I loved how the aunties remember that the child loves horses -- or did, the last time they visited. But maybe not now? There's a visit to a quilt museum, the aunt's taking over the child's bedroom while they are assigned a sleeping bag and the couch... and then things go a bit dreamy and surreal. But the important thing is - when the going gets rough, the aunties get tough in the perfect way.
I'm not sure about wolves showing up for a tasty breakfast but all in all, this book gets so much right about visiting aunties.... or older relatives in general, at least from a kid's perspective.