Recent picture books such as 'Don't Trust Fish' (2025) by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat, and 'The Bear Out There' (2025) by Jess Hannigan, leverage the humor of unreliable narrators to engage young readers. In 'Don't Trust Fish,' a seemingly straightforward narrative about animals spirals into absurdity as the narrator warns against fish, revealing a comically paranoid character. Similarly, 'The Bear Out There' features a girl who misleads readers about a bear lurking outside, only to discover that the bear is harmless and even hospitable. This tradition of unreliable narrators, which gained popularity in the 1970s, allows children to feel a sense of authority over the story, as they often understand the truth before the characters do. Other notable examples include Jon Stone's 'The Monster at the End of This Book' (1971) and Jon Scieszka's 'The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs' (1989), both of which highlight the joy of being 'in on the joke.' These books not only entertain but also encourage children to think critically about perspectives, making them an essential part of early literacy.