Josh Funk

Josh Funk is a children's book author known for his humorous and imaginative picture books that often feature wordplay, food-themed characters, and interactive storytelling elements. His works include the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to Code a Sandcastle, and Dear Dragon. Prior to becoming a full-time author, Funk worked as a software engineer while writing children's books in his spare time. His first picture book, Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, was published in 2015 and has spawned multiple sequels that follow the adventures of breakfast food characters racing through a refrigerator. Beyond writing, Funk frequently visits schools and libraries to discuss the creative process and conduct writing workshops with young readers. He serves as the co-coordinator of the New England chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Funk's books have received recognition from various organizations, including being selected for the 2020 Texas 2x2 Reading List and winning the Maine State Library Cream of the Crop list. His works have been translated into multiple languages and are used in elementary school curricula across the United States.

Parents and teachers praise Josh Funk's books for making reading fun and engaging young children. Readers highlight the clever rhyming text, puns, and food-based humor in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series as standout elements that keep kids requesting repeat readings. What readers liked: - Interactive elements that encourage participation - Educational value mixed with entertainment - Detailed illustrations that reward close examination - Strong read-aloud appeal for classroom settings What readers disliked: - Some find the rhyming forced in places - A few note the humor can be too silly - Occasional complaints about complex vocabulary for youngest readers Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: 4.2/5 average across all titles (12,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.7/5 average (2,000+ reviews) - Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 average One parent wrote: "My 4-year-old laughs at every page and has memorized whole sections." A teacher noted: "The coding concepts in How to Code a Sandcastle connect perfectly with our STEM curriculum."

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast - Two breakfast foods race through the refrigerator to claim the last drop of syrup.

The Case of the Stinky Stench - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast investigate a foul odor threatening their refrigerator home.

Mission Defrostable - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast must save their food friends when the refrigerator starts freezing over.

Short & Sweet - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast experience magical shrinking while exploring their refrigerator world.

It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk - A reluctant Jack tries to follow his story while the narrator becomes increasingly frustrated with his questions.

It's Not Hansel and Gretel - Two siblings attempt to follow their traditional fairy tale while questioning the logic of their story.

It's Not Little Red Riding Hood - Little Red Riding Hood disrupts her own story by making unexpected choices and asking questions.

Dear Dragon - Two pen pals exchange letters without realizing one is a human boy and the other is a dragon.

How to Code a Sandcastle - A girl uses coding concepts to build the perfect sandcastle with her robot assistant.

Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude - Two lion statues from the New York Public Library come to life for an adventure.

Albie Newton - A young inventor creates amazing machines on his first day of school while learning about friendship.

Where Is Our Library? - Two lions search for their library when it appears to have vanished overnight.

My Pet Feet - A child wakes up to discover all Rs have disappeared from the world, turning her pet ferret into feet.

Mac Barnett writes picture books that mix reality with imagination, similar to Funk's blend of fact and whimsy. His work includes interactive elements and often breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to readers.

Tom Fletcher creates stories with unexpected twists and humorous situations that mirror Funk's style. His books feature wordplay and rhythmic text that appeals to the same age group.

Adam Rubin specializes in books with food themes and silly scenarios comparable to Funk's Lady Pancake series. His stories incorporate repeating patterns and call-and-response elements that work well for read-alouds.

Drew Daywalt writes stories that give personalities to everyday objects, similar to Funk's approach to personification. His books feature dialogue-driven narratives with clear character voices.

Tad Hills produces character-driven series with recurring personalities that readers follow through multiple books. His writing includes problem-solving elements and friendship themes that align with Funk's storytelling approach.