For parents & caregivers

The right story for tonight.

Bedtime battles, big energy, "I can't do it!" and "hurry up!" Mr. Twisty's books turn the hard moments of the day into a story you can share.

Find your book Parent FAQ

Which moment is your house in?

"Just one more!" at bedtime

Oliver doesn't want his fun day to end either. A gentle bedtime story that convinces instead of commands.

ONE MORE ZOOMIE!

"I can't do it!"

Oliver can't do Penny's trick... yet. A story about trying again, with help from someone who loves you.

UP! OVER! DOWN!

"Hurry UP!" (or "wait for me!")

Fast puppy, slow big sister. Great for siblings, grandparents and anyone who goes at a different speed.

SLOW DOWN!

"Why can't they just sit still?"

Ronald the dinosaur learns to move first, then focus. The book for high-energy kids and tired grown-ups.

Sit Still. Be Quiet.

Read it together

Be a dog detective. Stop and ask, "What do you think Oliver's tail is saying?" There's no wrong answer.
Point to the big words. Let your kid "read" UP!, OVER!, DOWN! and SLOW from how they look.
Do the move. Every book has something to do: a hop, a slow walk, a stomp, one last zoomie.
Share your own. "Something I couldn't do yet when I was little was..."
Meet the real dogs at olivertwisty.com.

Parent questions

What ages are the books for?

The Oliver & Penny books are made for preschool and early elementary read-aloud, about ages 3 to 7. Sit Still. Be Quiet. is ages 4 to 9 as a read-aloud, and 6 to 9 for kids reading on their own.

Are Oliver and Penny real?

Yes! They're Mr. Twisty's own dogs. Penny is a red miniature dachshund and Oliver is a chocolate-and-white Havanese puppy. Every story really happened.

My kid has ADHD (or just a LOT of energy). Which book?

Sit Still. Be Quiet. It never labels anything as a problem, and it gives kids a tool to use. It's a complement to whatever supports your family uses, not a replacement. More at sitstillbequiet.com.

Is there a good book for bedtime?

ONE MORE ZOOMIE! was written for exactly that. Oliver isn't forced to bed. He's convinced, and falls asleep while it's happening.

Where can I buy them?

All four are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. At Mr. Twisty's shows they're $12 each or 3 for $30.

Say the magic word!

Read-aloud permission: Teachers, librarians and caregivers are welcome to read Mr. Twisty's books aloud in classrooms, storytimes and live or virtual library programs. Please don't post full recordings online.

Meet the storyteller

Raised in a library

Mr. Twisty (Chad Currin) is the son of an elementary school librarian. He grew up in libraries: reading stories, writing stories, reshelving books, and taking in everything a library had to offer. He has loved telling stories ever since.

On stage, his magic illustrates the stories he tells. His books are the stories that come from the rest of his life: the morning walks, the dogs, and the kids he meets along the way.

Magic on the stage. Stories on the page.