Mad Libs™ books were first created in the 1950s, and the number of titles in the series has exploded in the years since then. Mad Libs are the most fun to use with two or more participants, but they include options for those using them on their own.
Without knowing the context, “Mad Libbers” fill in the blanks with words that fit designations such as “abstract common noun,” “preposition,” or “nominative case personal pronoun (feminine)” or with terms such “person in the room,” “type of liquid,” or “part of the body.” They then slot these parts of speech or terms into a pre-written story in the book, and the result is bound to be silly. This is a great way to review grammatical terms.
Many Mad Lib titles appeal to a broad audience while some are specialized. Among the many titles likely to have broad appeal are Mad Libs Mania; Best of Mad Libs; Give Me Liberty or Give Me Mad Libs; Dog Ate My Mad Libs; and Unicorns, Mermaids, and Mad Libs.
A few that are likely to appeal particularly to younger children are titles such as Kid Libs Mad Libs, SpongeBob SquarePants Mad Libs, and Finding Dory Mad Libs.
Many specialized titles are available for fans of television shows, movies, cartoon strips, bands, and games. Among them, you will find titles such as Marvel Avengers Mad Libs, The Big Bang Theory Mad Libs, Disney Frozen Mad Libs, BFG Mad Libs, Aerosmith Mad Libs, Doctor Who Mad Libs, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mad Libs.
Still other titles are specialized in regard to holidays, sport, or other topics. Among these you will find titles such as History of the World Mad Libs, Spooky Mad Libs, Winter Games Mad Libs, Easter Eggstravaganza Mad Libs, Field Trip Mad Libs, Hanukkah Mad Libs, and Mad About Animals Mad Libs.
Be aware that there are a number of titles with sexual content written for adult audiences.
Mad Libs can be used just for fun or for keeping the peace on car trips. They don’t feel like schoolwork. But keep in mind that they are also a super resource for reinforcing knowledge (and maybe sometimes teaching) about the parts of speech.
