How to Read Bill Cotter's Books
Bill Cotter's children's books are designed for early readers, toddlers, and pre-K students. Because they are highly interactive picture books, there is no strict narrative continuity or complex plot that spans across multiple releases. Instead, the reading order is shaped by the complexity of the interactive prompts and the themes of the books.
1. The Recommended Path: The Core Larry Books
For the best experience, you should introduce young readers to Larry in the order of his main interactive adventures. These books establish the rules of the game and teach kids how to interact with the pages:
- Don't Push the Button! (2013): This is the definitive starting point. It introduces Larry, a friendly purple monster, and a single red button. Kids are instructed not to push it, but once they inevitably do, they must tap, shake, and slide the book to resolve the chaotic consequences (like Larry turning yellow or multiplying).
- Don't Touch This Book! (2016): The direct sequel. Larry returns, but this time he warns readers not to touch the book itself. Kids are prompted to perform physical actions like clapping, wiping, and roaring to navigate through Larry's changing imaginary worlds.
- Don't Draw in This Book! (2025): Larry's latest core adventure focuses on creativity and boundaries, inviting children to use their imagination and interactive gestures to draw and paint without actually needing physical crayons.
2. The Holiday & Seasonal Larry Books
Once your child is familiar with Larry, you can dive into the seasonal spin-offs. These can be read in any order, though they are perfect for matching holiday themes:
- Don't Push the Button! A Christmas Adventure (2017): A festive tale where the forbidden button is tied to Santa's arrival and holiday surprises.
- Don't Push the Button! A Halloween Treat (2018): A spooky but gentle trick-or-treat story where pushing the button reveals monsters, costumes, and candies.
- Don't Push the Button! An Easter Surprise (2019): Larry meets the Easter Bunny, and readers must help him look for hidden eggs by interacting with the pages.
- Don't Shake the Present! (2019): Though it doesn't have "Push the Button" in the title, this is a direct holiday entry featuring Larry. Readers are tempted by a wrapped gift and told not to shake it, leading to silly page-shaking responses.
3. The Toddler Concept Board Books
These are smaller, simpler board books aimed at younger toddlers, focusing on daily routines, emotions, and basic concepts:
- Don't Push the Button! Let's Say Good Night (2021): A bedtime-oriented spin on the classic formula, designed to wind kids down rather than pump them up.
- Don't Push the Button! On the Farm (2024): An educational journey introducing farm animals, sounds, and rural settings.
- Don't Push the Button! Tons of Love (2024/2025): A sweet, love-themed board book perfect for Valentine's Day or expressing affection to young readers.
The Complete Publication Order
If you prefer to collect and read the books exactly as they were released, here is the chronological publication list of Bill Cotter's Larry the Monster books:
- Don't Push the Button! (2013)
- Don't Touch This Book! (2016)
- Don't Push the Button! A Christmas Adventure (2017)
- Don't Push the Button! A Halloween Treat (2018)
- Don't Push the Button! An Easter Surprise (2019)
- Don't Shake the Present! (2019)
- Don't Push the Button! Let's Say Good Night (2021)
- Don't Push the Button! On the Farm (2024)
- Don't Push the Button! Tons of Love (2024/2025)
- Don't Draw in This Book! (2025)
Bill Cotter's Standalone Picture Books
Beyond the Larry the Monster universe, Cotter has written and illustrated several standalone picture books. These have no crossover elements and can be enjoyed independently at any time:
- Hello, Airplane! (2014): A simple, beautifully illustrated book following a flight from take-off to landing, perfect for young transit enthusiasts.
- Beard in a Box (2016): A humorous story about a young boy who wants to grow a beard just like his dad's, leading him to buy a quick-grow beard kit with comical results.
- Little Face Big Face (2017) and Happy Face / Sad Face (2017): A pair of interactive concept board books designed to help toddlers recognize different facial expressions, feelings, and emotions.
- Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed (2020): A playful, monster-themed adaptation of the classic nursery rhyme "Five Little Monkeys," utilizing Cotter's signature vibrant art style.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Cotter's work, it is helpful to keep a few key concepts in mind:
The Style of "Interactive Play": If your child is a fan of books like Hervé Tullet's Press Here or Jon Stone's The Monster at the End of This Book, they will feel right at home with Larry. These books break the fourth wall and require kids to tap, shake, tilt, and swipe the physical pages to push the narrative forward. Because of this, physical print editions or board books are highly recommended over digital e-books.
The "Two Bill Cotters" Rule: When searching for books by this author online, be aware that there is another novelist named Bill Cotter who writes literary adult fiction (such as Fever Chart and The Parallel Apartments). Additionally, another author named W. Stone Cotter writes middle-grade fantasy (such as Saint Philomene's Infirmary for Magical Creatures). Ensure you are looking at the children's illustrator version of Bill Cotter when building your library for toddlers!