The whole game runs on not knowing. You hand over a noun with no idea where it is going, which is the most ninja thing about it.

Ninjas Mad Libs is 21 fill in the blank stories about throwing stars, nunchucks and secret missions, and the publisher would like it on record that ninjas enjoyed relaxing at A PLACE. Words go in blind, the page gets read aloud, and a master of stealth is caught doing something no dojo would teach. The cover has the tone exactly right: one grinning ninja holding nunchucks, two more mid leap behind him, three throwing stars already in the air, and a pagoda under a full moon.

Publisher age guidance is 8 to 12. Penguin Random House suggests playing alone, in a group, or at the dojo, and a row of kids waiting on the mats for pickup beats all three.