From a quiet smile to a laugh out loud guffaw, who doesn’t like to laugh? Sometimes laughter means surprise. It is often said “laughter is the best medicine.” Laughter makes us feel good. Interestingly, from HowStuffWorks 2, “Laughter is actually a complex response that involves many of the same skills used in solving problems.” This month’s column from the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) is about humor. Kids love funny books so this list is designed to help teachers find some new laughs for their classrooms. In addition, watch for Last Laughs; animal epitaphs (Charlesbridge 2012) coming in July by Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen for more smiles. Teachers may also want to add to their professional collections for background on some of the great children’s humor authors, Funny Business; Conversations with Writers of Comedy (Candlewick, 2009) by Leonard S. Marcus.
Teachers will enjoy the ReadWriteThink podcast of “Tickle Your Funnybone” or for older students, looking for the humor in newspaper articles through the eyes of Erma Bombeck.
GRADES K-3
Buzzeo, Toni. (2012) One Cool Friend. Pictures by David Small. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Elliot’s somewhat eccentric, green plaid suit wearing father invites him to Family Fun Day at the aquarium. Prim and proper Elliot is actually not enthusiastic about going but agrees to accompany his father and politely says “thank you for inviting me.” In trying to escape the crowds, Elliot discovers the penguins and is immediately impressed with their black tuxedo look and their proper postures. Totally taken in by the penguins, Elliot asks his father if he can have one to take home. Oblivious to what Elliot is really asking, father agrees. So hidden away in Elliot’s backpack is the newly acquired penguin he names Magellan. Once they get home, the fun begins as Elliot turns their mansion of a house into a home for a penguin, including lying around on bags of ice, flipping goldfish crackers into his mouth, skating on the ice rink Elliot makes in one of the bedrooms with the air conditioner and a water hose. Follow David Small’s use of white and blue to create an Arctic-like color palette for background. The reader will be glued (“frozen?”) to the illustrations, creative layout and typography as the penguins’ antics unfold living in a real house. For a reader’s theater script and curriculum and activity kit, visit the author’s website: A sly little way to incorporate some library research waits!
- Karen Hildebrand, Library and Reading Consultant
Going, K. L. (2012). Dog in charge. Illus. by Dan Santat. New York: Dial.
As do most canines, Dog savors his family’s words of praise whenever he does something good. Plus, the dog treats they use as rewards are mighty savory themselves. But everything falls apart when he is left in charge while his human family goes to the store. As he makes plans for the family’s five cats to sit and stay where they are, lined up sedately on the couch until the door closes, he causes havoc, startling the felines and making quite a mess. When he drags out their cat treats as an enticement, he ends up eating them and falls asleep in exhaustion. His feline friends save the day by cleaning up everything. Pet lovers will adore this story since its creators clearly draw from their own experiences with the mischievous habits of felines and canines, especially when their human companions are away. The cartoon-like illustrations of cats lapping up milk, looking in mirrors, leaping from clothes hampers, knocking over flowerpots, and then curling up next to dog are delightful. Despite his best efforts, it isn’t Dog that is in charge of anything.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Jeffers, Oliver. (2012). The Hueys in The New Sweater. New York: Philomel.
Apparently cast from the same mold, not only do all the Hueys look the same, but they sound and act just alike. When Rubert show a little free thinking by knitting and wearing a bright orange sweater, he stands out from the others. Although most of the other Hueys criticize him for being different, another Huey, Gillespie joins him, starting a trend. All of a sudden, orange sweaters are cool, and Rupert comes up with another idea in order to show his originality. The pencil illustrations bring the book's simple message about daring to be a little bit different home. The text and illustrations contain subtle aspects that show the herd-like thinking of the Hueys; for instance, several scenes show one Huey using a microphone to keep them all in line while praising their sameness. Not only is it healthy to embrace one’s uniqueness, but it can be fun to baffle others about what come next.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Mack, Jeff. (2012). Good news bad news. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Bunny and Mouse are two friends with very different perspectives on life, and their attitudes are evident on a picnic they take. Ever the optimist, Bunny tends to see the bright side of life while the pessimistic Mouse sees only the bad in situations. For Bunny, things will keep getting better, and for Mouse, they will only get worse. The author only uses four words ("Good news! Bad news!") in the story, but he uses those four words quite effectively. In the end, Mouse frightens Bunny so badly that the two friends will have to switch roles, and he will have to bring good news to Bunny. The clever use of simple words, the book’s characters, which will remind readers of individuals they know, and the mixed media illustrations all combine for a fun-filled read.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Macleod, Mark. (2012). Wrong way. Illus. by Judieth Rossell. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller.
A little duckling, named Wrong Way, likes to do things differently from his mother and siblings. For example, he sometimes forgets to listen or pay attention when his mother is talking. No child would ever do this—right? This is a perfect read aloud for young children because they will smile and giggle as they hear about little ducks antics. Mother duck decides to teach her ducklings how to swim. All of her other children flip-flop along behind her in a nice straight line, but not Wrong Way. He sits down in the middle of the path and says he wants to be carried. Later Wrong Way detours into the bushes for a big juicy snail and then stops to play in a puddle. Finally, at the pond the mother gives a quick swimming lesson and the ducklings paddle away, except for Wrong Way. He quacks, flaps, summersaults and splashes into the water. Some ducklings (and kids) just do things differently!
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver
Sadler, Marilyn. (2012) Pass it on! Illustrations by Michael Slack. Blue Apple.
When Cow gets stuck in a fence and calls for help, Bee is quick to help and spreads the word that Cow is in trouble. From Bee to frog to kitten and mouse and more, somehow the message gets mangled and a totally different concept is getting spread around the barnyard. Illustrations and speech bubbles add to the urgency but continue to spread the misinformation. Reading this book aloud is sure to bring laughs and have kids begging to play the “telephone” game. Or teachers can get their electronic white boards ready and use with the interactive The Telephone Game at Reading is Fundamental. In addition, there is an app for that.
- Karen Hildebrand, Library and Reading Consultant
Sauer, Tammi. (2012). Bawk and roll. Illus. by Dan Santat. Toronto, Canada. Sterling Publishing.
Two hens, Marge and Lola, are touring with superstar singer Elvis Poultry as dancers. At their first concert when the lights go down and the curtains go up the two hens tremble and wiggle their wattles. They have never seen such a large crowd and they faint from fear. Later Elvis tells them the next gig will be better, “Just chill, chicks.” Marge and Lola decide to picture the crowd in their underwear, but unfortunately the next shows are the same and the chicken dancers chicken out. The hens try different things to calm their jitters from knitting to meditating to painting. Elvis tells them that if they can’t rock, he is going solo. The bewildered chickens aren’t sure what is wrong until some familiar friends attend one of their concerts. Having a fan club in the audience helps them face the barnyard crowd. Children will definitely be able to relate to how these two hens feel. The colorful illustrations and the chicken talk will give everyone something to talk about too.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver
Stoeke, Janet Morgan. (2012). Pip’s trip. New York: Dial.
In another installment of the Loopy Coop Hens series, the hens, especially Pip, long for adventure and to see what the rest of the world is like. When they notice a red truck in the yard, Pip bravely climbs aboard, but the others make excuses for why they can’t join her. Pip’s courage deserts her, and despite her yearning for adventure, she, too, grows frightened by the truck's noisy engine, and hides under a blanket in the truck bed until the noise stops. Exhausted from the trip, Pip steps down once the engine is silent and regales the other hens with her experiences. However, although Pip has had an adventure, it's not quite the one she imagined since the truck never went anywhere. The simple text and brightly hued illustrations portray barnyard animal fun along with a hint of wisdom about the adventures that lie in everyone’s backyard.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Tricarico, Christine. (2012). Cock-A-doodle dance! Illus. by Rich Deas. New York: Feiwel and Friends/ Macmillan.
At a gloomy, grouchy farm in Texas the animals work overtime and life has lost its charm. Another words it is “Cock-a-Doodle DULL!” One day the rooster begins to jitterbug, shimmy and scream, “Cock-a-Doodle DANCE!” And that is exactly what the barn animals do. The milking cows, chickens, pigs and goats doodle-dance round the clock. They pivot, pounce and prance, neglecting their farm work. Eventually the animals come to their senses because the chickens’ eggs are scrambled and the cattles’ buttermilk is curdled. The rooster makes the decision that the farm animals must complete their barnyard jobs during the day and wait to doodle-dance at dusk. Throughout the picture book the dance vocabulary words are highlighted in color and bold lettering. The end pages contain the definitions of each dance term from polka to hula. This book will certainly get children jumping the jitterbug or skipping the two-step.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver
GRADES 3-6
Fleischman, Paul. (2012) The Dunderheads behind bars. Illustrated by David Roberts. Candlewick Press.
Start your summer with this new Dunderheads (2009) adventure and sequel. School is out and the Dunderheads think they are finished with their evil teacher Miss Breakbone … but not to be! Not only have the kids signed up to be extras on a movie being filmed in their town, but also so has Miss Breakbone. Ugh! Meanwhile, a cat burglar has been breaking into houses in the neighborhood and when a particular necklace turns up missing, Miss Breakbone accuses Spider of the theft because of his amazing climbing skills. Convincing her brother, the police chief no less, that Spider is capable of this crime, he is thrown in jail. Einstein and the kids create a plot to get him out. The narrator of the story, as before, is Einstein. Fleishman has named his characters after their unique skill sets: Clips, Wheels, Spitball, Junkyard, Spider and Einstein. Roberts’s watercolor and pen and ink illustrations add to the humor of these characters. When they try to create a way to get him out that involves all of their special skills, it fails. Plan B, however works and the fun begins anew. Keep up with this Newbery award-winning author at www.paulfleischman.net.
- Karen Hildebrand, Library and Reading Consultant
Foley, Lizzie. (2012) Remarkable. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
A remarkable new book from debut author Lizzie Foley about ten-year old Jane Doe from the town of Remarkable where everyone is gifted or extraordinary in some way … except Jane. She is the only child in town who does not attend the School for the Remarkably Gifted until the raucous Grimlet twins enroll after being expelled from the Gifted School. Now add in some very interesting characters who have come to town like the pirates Rojo Herring, Jeb, Ebb and Flotsam or other colorful locals like Mrs.Belphonia-Champlain and her dog Asta Magnifica or the psychic pizza maker and the lake monster (cousin to the Loch Ness monster?). The adventure begins when the composer for the bell tower goes missing, in addition to the ropes for the bells. Lots of crazy characters create the laughter in this whimsical town of talents. Only Jane’s grandfather, John Doe, helps her bring it all into focus and reveals a secret that helps Jane feel good about herself and her town. Get to know this new author at her website: www.lizziekfoley.com.
- Karen Hildebrand, Library and Reading Consultant
McKay, Hilary. (2012). Caddy’s world. New York: Simon & Schuster/McElderry Books.
In the sixth title in this series about the Casson family, Caddy and her siblings try their father’s patience while their mother is in the hospital with a new baby born prematurely. She has a penchant for naming her children after colors since she has an artistic eye, but this baby has no name yet since it may not survive. Twelve-year-old Caddy and her younger siblings Saffy and Indigo do their best to keep things running smoothly at home, but things are a mess. Their father is clueless about how to handle them for any extended amount of time, and their decision to bury their stuffed bear in the backyard graveyard results in poor Dad having to search for the animal in the middle of the night when they change their minds. Amid all the family mishaps, Caddy's world is shaken to the core, both because of the baby and because her three best friends are changing. Although there are heartbreaking passages concerning Beth's food restriction and use of the so-called “Norman diet” to stay small enough to ride her pony, there are also amusing ones that describe her gorging on Mars bars, candy that makes her sick. Handsome but careless Dingbat, the class Lothario, provides comic relief as he dates three of the girls at the same time and breaks up with them through a messenger. This book is balm for wounded hearts while providing hilarious examples of the imperfections of other families.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Reich, Suzanna. (2012). Minette’s feast: The delicious story of Julia Child and her cat. Illus. by Amy Bates. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
This yummy and hilarious introduction to chef, Julia Child focuses on her cat, Minette. Despite the fact that Minette could smell and taste all the dishes Julia tried out when she lived in France, the feline preferred mice over most of Julia’s early culinary efforts. Minette's antics and personality are amusing, her preference for mice over many of Julia's creations. The author's use of Julia's actual words, including some French, adds to the story's flavor. Minette finally comes to appreciate Julia’s cooking after waiting days for a taste. So much does she relish the treat that she even rolls all over the leftover bone. The pencil and watercolor illustrations are quite appealing as are the savory words the author uses to describe Julia's transition from ordinary cook to an extraordinary one. Readers can learn about the interesting lives of Julia and her husband Paul in the back matter. An Author's Note explains how the author crafted this story of such an unusual woman. Filled with descriptions of Paris and "delicious smells of mayonnaise, hollandaise, cassoulets, cheese souffles, and duck pates wafting from the pots and pans" (unpaged), this is a delectable, amusing, and cleverly written book.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. (2012). Wumbers. Illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
This gr8t book is filled with word and number play 4 those who never get tired of the originality and cleverness of its cre8tors. Although there is no real storyline here, the pages are filled with words that rely on letters and numbers to communicate. Readers will shake their heads, laugh and cer10ly try their hands at cre8ing a few of these on their own after reading examples such as these tuba instructions from a teacher to her student to "Tigh10 your mouth...then 4ce out the air" (unpaged). Although some of the letter and number partnerships are harder than others and not as easily noticed; for instance, "I think you'll sur5" (unpaged), they make sense with a little practice. Even the endnotes with philosophical ponderings about “what the path is 2 true enligh10ment” and dedication contain these wumbers, combinations of letters and words for the creative-minded. The ink and PanPastel illustrations are just as delightful as the text. Readers will clamor for more.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
GRADES 9-12
Rosoff, Meg. (2012). There is no dog. New York: Putnam Juvenile.
This title imagines that God is a teenage boy named Bob, who is hard to like because he is self-absorbed, lazy, and intent on bedding as many females as he possibly can. There are Biblical references about the creation of the heavens and the earth interspersed with the storyline, which involves the indolent Bob who spots the voluptuous but virginal Lucy, who works at the city zoo, and decides he must have her. This bothers his assistant, the long-suffering Mr. B, who does most of Bob’s work. From centuries of experience, he knows that Bob’s love affairs with mortals never end well. Earth suffers each time as natural disasters follow in the wake of his romances. But this time, Bob is sure that Lucy is the one with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life. Or is she? Not only do ponderings about the nature of God elevate this one from most of today’s titles, but readers who can ignore their annoyance at the nature of God as a teenager will chortle at the spot-on depiction of an adolescent who doesn’t remember to pick up after himself being in charge of the world. Patient readers may glean a bit of hope for the future, not to mention laughing at some of the book's characters and the situations in which they find themselves.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman