If You Give a Man a Cookie

A funny and quick read. I wish there where one or two more stories in the book, just to add some length. But, it is fun as it is as well. Remind me a lot of children books, but I guess that was part of the point.

Could have bought it as a gift for a friend with a boyfriend or husband.

From the creator of all of those great "If You Give a..." books we read as a kid, such as If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, a Pig a Pancake, a Moose a Muffin...comes an incredible parody If you Give a Man a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff.

Though the illustrations aren't reminiscent of the books I remember as a kid, I still got a kick out of this. I even made my husband read it, because it's pretty spot on, sorry fellas, but this book left me holding my gut, due to the accuracy, and the ending is pure gold.



The story begins with a man, who obviously has some quirks about him, but the story goes on to tell how if you give a man a cookie he will want to do a bunch of other things, like the typical books in this series. All of them are hilarious, but I'm not going to go into detail about each one, because I find it's so much better if you go in not knowing!
The drawings are gorgeous, the colors really pop out of the page, and make the book even funnier. This is clearly a book for adults, so don't read it to your kiddos before bed, but go ahead and have a quick laugh with your spouse!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, so fun, and so so funny.

What a wonderful addition to the series! Sometimes it's so much fun to poke fun at ourselves. This will definitely going to be in my house.

For all those times that, as a parent, I had to read <em>If you give a mouse a cookie</em> and the other books in the series that Numeroff came up with after that, this one is so perfect.

In the original series, if you gave a mouse a cookie, he was going to want a glass of milk to go with it, and then it went on from there. In this version the man wants a glass of milk as well, and the exasperated wife thinks to herself, "God forbid he should get it himself."

As with any parody, it helps if you are familiar with the source material, and because of that, it makes this all the more fun. Especially when at the end, when he asks for a glass of milk again, and she says "he can drag his sorry ass out of bed and get it himself."


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A household name thanks to enchanting children and their caregivers a world over with her “If you give” series that started innocently with a Mouse she has now turned her talents towards making women everywhere laugh, shake their heads, and roll their eyes at a relationship dynamic many know is rife for comedy.

I can only hope that in the current climate of taking offense at everything people take a break to see the humor and enjoy the lighthearted illustrations that bring her trademark wit to laugh.

It’s the perfect take on an aspect of monogamous relationships many of us have complained about to our friends while questioning the ability of our significant others to have ever made it out of childhood and to a point where they had to feed themselves and stop relying on mom to do it (hopefully or that’s a whole other therapy session).

Numeroff knows how to play up the seemingly helplessness of men, their remarkable ability to not see how selfish/childish they’re being, the extra work and strain they put on their partners and our tendency to enable it all.

This is THE gift to buy for someone who has gotten engaged, complains about her partner 24/7 or pretty much just any woman in a relationship or who is thinking about getting into one. Think of it as a warning of what is to come if you agree to get that cookie lol.

I really have enjoyed this book. It is full of good humor and I was greatly interested what will happen next. In my humble opinion illustrations are well done and suits this book perfectly. The only downside is that this read is a short one.

Imagine my delight! Not only was this a parody of the If you Give a Mouse a Cookie books, but it's by that same author!!! To be fair, I wasn't looking that closely and I'm not great with remembering names.

It goes along the same line, but it's totally written for wives. "If you give a man a cookies, he'll ask for a glass of milk to go with it...God forbid he should get it himself!"

As a mom who has read all of her books a million times each, and a wife...I just about died laughing. My husband chuckled and my kids didn't think it was funny at all. But me, Mom, I laughed and laughed and then read it a few more times.

What a wonderfully funny parody. And I love that the author is parodying her own work. Instead of giving a Mouse a cookie, she is giving, i Assume her husband, a cookie. The story is right on. Except for the hair thing, this is my guy to a tee. While it would be fun to read to a kid, it is an adult parody and has some adult language.

If You Give A Man A Cookie is about a wife and the annoying behaviours of her husband, the eponymous man. He has some stereotypical husband problems, like worrying about his hairline, and the wife has stereotypical wife problems, like her husband not noticing her household work. I really like the illustration here, though they don't look like the ones in her other books. A funny thing was the dog in the background, which just appeared throughout the book. The ending was a good one, humorous too. Nice book to flip through.
A digital copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Hilariously nostalgic

Laura Numeroff provided my granddaughters and myself hours and hours of enjoyment. I've just recently bought "When You Give A Mouse A Cookie for my new great granddaughter so had to read this.
It made me smile just like her original books did. Both the copy and illustrations were perfect. I really do think if you are familiar with the original books you will enjoy this light hearted story.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

If You Give A Man A Cookie is about a wife and the annoying but very typical behaviour of her husband. The husband demonstrates stereotypical husband problems - with really beautiful illustration work! My favorite part was the couples dog (and the little snaggletooths!), which appears throughout the book. This was a really fun parody and I would recommend this to friends!

I don't think the series this book is parodying has crossed the Atlantic - certainly I don't know of it. But what I get from the real author's own send-up of it from the repressed housewife angle, is that it's great fun, and she has a healthy dose of spirit in her writing. The illustrations also make the book, and are definitely five star efforts. Yes, it's slight and definitely belongs on the 'tacky gift book' shelf in stores, but with those "adult" Ladybird Books spin-offs doing so well, this has the chance to gain a similar audience.

This was a hilariously fantastic parody!! I laughed out loud for the ten minutes it took to read this book. Thank you for letting me enjoy Ms. Numeroff's satirical side!!

I loved this!! It was a quick read and very short in length but I did find it funny! Definitely the kind of book you could buy and give as a present - wish it was a bit longer - 4 stars from me!

Funny take a a beloved children's book. A very fun read

Hilarious! I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more but a really cute parody of the originals.

Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of If You Give a Man a Cookie. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Author Laura Joffe Numeroff has created a parody of her popular children's book that started a whole franchise. If You Give a Man a Cookie is a charming look at a wife who is exasperated with her husband, especially when he takes for granted the work she does.

I am not sure what audience would be the best for this book, but I liked the story, the illustrations, and the message. The drawings have a more mature feeling than the origin story "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", but there is no mistaking that this book is meant to remind readers of that famous children's story. I can see a woman buying this book for her best friend, as a way to laugh about or poke fun at certain situations. If You Give a Man a Cookie was written to be a humorous look at relationships and the author has definitely accomplished her goal.

This awesome parody of one of Numeroff's best selling children's picture books, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, deserves all the stars! The concept is just the same as it is in each of her other "If You Give" series books; however, this picture book is not geared towards children at all but rather towards adults. That's not saying it has questionable content, it does not! It merely indicates topically it's meant to be enjoyed by adults, most likely couples. Like in her classic series, the story progresses after the main character is initially offered some kind of treat- in this case the wife offers her husband a cookie. Of course, that leads to him to wanting something else, which yet again inspires him to request something different still, and on and on until eventually the story and requests go full circle.

Those with young children or who work with young children will likely enjoy this book most of all simply because they are probably already familiar with Numeroff's style. It's cute and comical with classically funny illustrations that again parallel the original books this parody is based on.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the early review copy and opportunity.

I love a good parody, especially about things I grew up with. What makes If You Give A Man A Cookie so special is that Laura Joffee Numeroff is parodying herself! she is having fun with her own work and that fun is infectious!
In this parody, Laura asks what would happen if you gave a man a cookie? Hilarity and truth ensue! So many of the events in the book are my father, my brother and my coworkers. have done. Brian Ajhar's are illustrations are perfectly whimsical and add so much to the experience.
I recommend this gift to anyone who need a bedtime story for their "man child." lol

I loved these books as a child so it was fun to read one that was made for someone a bit more grown up. It was just as funny as the ones that I read when I was a kid. If you are looking for a quick humorous read that will make you nostalgic then definitely pick up this book.

For all that have read and loved watching children respond to Laura Numeroff's circular logic storytelling, now here is a picture book that adults will beg for during read aloud time. Hilarious and spot on perfection. This will make a perfect gift 365 days of the year!

This book is hilarious. I could read it over and over. I love this author and this book goes along the lines of her other books.

Lots of fun this time for parents who grew up reading "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to their children, when they were young. This time it's Dad, or rather the husband who is causing all the trouble by leaving towels on the ground, putting back empty milk cartons in the fridge and whining to his wife. If you read the originals, these will give you a chuckle of memory and recognition. Bravo to the whimsical artwork, though not in the same style as the original books, but that carry the same humor and spirit. This would make a very cute gift to a parent who remembers the original.

“If you give a man a cookie” tells in very few pages the story of every girl’s relationship with a man. It portrays in a cute way the not so cute ways men think and act. I kept shooting glances at my blissfully ignorant husband while reading it, because, well, you know, he is not an exception….The illustrations are beautiful, making the book even funnier.
It may seem a little “mean” to some, but, hey, don’t we all complaint about exactly these things when it’s just us, girls? And after all, it is a humor book and should not be taken too seriously.
Definitely a book I would give as a present to all my married or in a relationship friends, so I hope it finds a greek publisher.

Many many moons ago, I worked at a local Barnes & Noble – which was the equivalent of putting a cat in charge of a patch of catnip. Between a 30% employee discount and the occasional availability of stripped books, my personal library redoubled. I had to touch basically every book in the place in any given week as we put shelves back together after a long day of customers tearing them apart – and the section in most need of attention, of course, was the picture book section. (It was not uncommon for the manager of the children's department to have to call in authorities, as parents would dump their kids off in front of the shelves and go see a movie at the theatre down the road. Of course, even theoretically supervised children did a lot of damage. But I digress.) It was while trying to restore order one evening that I came across [book:If You Give a Mouse a Cookie], and I was instantly completely charmed. I didn't buy myself a copy, though … I wonder why.

Now, almost thirty years after Mouse was first published, comes a new book from Laura Joffe Numeroff for all those folks who grew up with the mouse, the cookie, and the ramifications of giving one to the other, and who are now married. It's the same sense of humor, only now aimed squarely at the grown-ups: "If you give a man a cookie, he'll ask for some milk to go with it … God forbid he should get it himself!"

I'm completely in love with the vivid, adorable illustrations. The cookie-getting man reminds me of a much rounder Greg Proops, shown as exasperating and ridiculous without making him a complete buffoon. And it pays to pay attention to the dog, who appears in every picture with his master. (The man can't be as big a jerk as all that, introduced as he is playing with the dog. But he is a twit.) My only regret, and it's on me and not the book, is that for some reason it felt like this would be one of those picture books where close examination of the illustrations would turn up little visual puns or gags or other kinds of hidden surprises. It doesn't – except for the fact that the dog is the subject of every "photo" shown in the house, framed or hung on the fridge.But that's a quibble. If you give a woman adorable, she'll want puzzles too.

I love that this was targeted at adults without resorting to vulgarity or non-G-rated language (except for a non-equine use of "ass"). A child, attracted by the illustrations, could absolutely read it safely – but it would whoosh over his head.

I wonder if there will be a follow-up, like [book:If You Give a Moose a Muffin]. Because if you give a woman a book she likes, she'll ask for another one. (God forbid she should write one herself.)

Parodies of children's books are fun, even more so when the author of a children's book parodies her own book! Laura Numeroff is famous for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the whole series of similarly titled books. Her newest, If You Give a Man a Cookie, is for Mom and Dad. It's a little bit sexist, playing on the stereotypes of the man who worries about losing his hair, leaves messes around the house, falls asleep watching TV, and generally takes his wife for granted.


But stereotypes get to be stereotypes because they contain a grain of truth, and I'll go ahead and acknowledge that Numeroff's stereotypes have the ring of truth! If you've enjoyed her previous books with your kids, read this one with the man or woman in your life and enjoy a good laugh!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

One of the funniest books I have ever read! This is a MUST have for ANY woman who has ever had a man in their life!!!! I laughed out loud through the entire book!!!!!!

If You Give a Man a Cookie

Written by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Illustrated by Brian Ajhar

For as long as I can remember, our family byword for “one thing leading to another” has been “if you give a mouse…” We don’t even have to finish the title; we all know what it means. I’m sure a lot of my readers can identify with that as you grew up with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as a storytime favorite. Or maybe you were one of the many adults who shared this book with children.

Laura Joffe Numeroff has since produced many variations on this children’s book, but now she has written one for adults: If You Give a Man a Cookie. In this humorous parody, a woman offers up a cookie to her husband and, to nobody’s surprise who has read the original, he asks for milk to go with it. The book progresses in this delightful fashion with lots of helpless husband scenarios that may seem familiar to patient spouses.

Whereas Felicia Bond is responsible for the sweet, funny, and appealing artwork in Numeroff’s children’s books, the illustrator of If You Give a Man a Cookie is Brian Ajhar. His style is very different with sharper lines in a more comic book manner, with more appeal to its adult target audience. Be sure to note the dog who appears on almost every page adding to both the story and the humor.

This book would make a fun, less serious gift for the woman who has it all, including a man with 24/7 needs. I think most men would even find the humor in it. Also, consider it for those contemplating marriage; they might have second thoughts!

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Andrews McMeel Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Entertainment, Humor

Publication: October 10, 2017—Andrews McMeel Publishing

'If You Give A Man a Cookie: A Parody' by Laura Numeroff with illustrations by Brian Ajhar is a parody based on something written by the same author, and it's a pretty funny one.

When my son was little, we read the book 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' so many times that I could recite it without looking at the pages (other parents know what I'm talking about). There were a whole string of these books about mooses and muffins, pigs and pancakes, etc. So it's only natural that the author would put out a parody of her own corner of the publishing industry.

A man gets a cookie from his wife, which sets off a whole chain of events, starting with making her get him some milk. There are wet towels on the floor, folded laundry (not by the husband), and falling asleep on the couch along the way.

This is a parody book for grown ups. It is probably best enjoyed by those familiar with what is being parodied. The art is pretty comical, as is the text of the book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

If You Give a Man a Cookie is a parody book and is by the same author as the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" book that you may be familiar with. There is a series of events portrayed in the book between a husband and a wife - if you give a man a cookie he will ask for milk (god forbid he gets it himself) and then things just spiral completely out of control from there. A lot of fun to read and good for a quick laugh if you're looking for one!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

Cute funny parody based on the Children's book. The illustrations are cute but the story is very simple. It is a very quick read.