I tend to think we are in the midst of a great period of creativity in children’s books. In many ways, there seems to be a loosening of the tie, with unexpected combinations of illustration, text, and design popping up all over the place. Below are a few 2013 books that had me saying “huh?!” in the very best of ways.

Click here for the Wildest Children’s Books of 2012

Little Ghost Party by Jacques Duquennoy

ABRAMS | August 20, 2013

It’s dance party time and Little Ghost is playing host. He invites all his friends to join in the fun.

Why it’s Wild: One word: chains. Duquennoy incorporates thin chains into his illustrations, allowing the reader to tilt the book to create different motions and moods. It’s a board book, sure, but it’s the sort of inventiveness that will delight anyone who picks it up. I really wish there was a video for this one so you could see it in action.

The Hole by Øyvind Torseter

Enchanted Lion Books | September 10, 2013

A man/creature finds a hole next to the door in his apartment. He can’t explain it. Maybe the local laboratory can?

Why it’s Wild: We’ve all seen die cuts before, but few like this. A single small hole runs through the entire book, moving into and out of the story.

Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier; illustrated by Suzy Lee

Chronicle Books | January 1, 2013

A cast of animal characters lead the way as the reader is encouraged to open a series of smaller and smaller books.

Why it’s Wild: A book within a book within a book within a – you get the idea.

Topsy Turvy World by ATAK

Flying Eye Books | July 2, 2013

If Salvador Dali made a picture book, it might look like this. In this surreal world, everything is the opposite of what you’d expect.

Why it’s Wild: Each page presents a bizarro version of reality, where horses jockey jockeys, babies feed grown-ups, and butterflies net kids. I’m working on a theory: the fewer the letters in a picture book creator’s name, the higher the chances he/she makes wild books.

Battle Bunny by Mac Barnett and Jon Scieszka; illustrated by Matthew Myers

Simon & Schuster | October 22, 2013

A boy takes a saccarine bunny story and puts his own spin on it.

Why it’s Wild: There are plenty of books made to look like they were created by kids (see: The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby), but a “kid” taking one story and giving it a complete overhaul? Can’t say I’ve seen that before.

That Night, a Monster… by Marzena Sowa; illustrated by Berenika Kolomycka

Uncivilized Books | November 12, 2013

In this picture book/graphic novel, a boy wakes up to find that his mother has been replaced with … a giant fern.

Why it’s Wild: Some of the books on this list are here for unique design elements – this one is unique in story. Leave it to a Polish author/illustrator team to turn a book about a fern into a child-relatable meditation on the fear of a maternal disappearance.

Odd ducks – keep doing what you do.