Funny Books for Kids

Residents of Chewandswallow were accustomed to their predictable weather which kept them in juice and mashed potatoes (and more) three times a day. That is, until the weather took a strange turn; foods falling not only got larger, but so did the portions! This outrageous tale will be released as a film in September 2009.

When Duck decides to try riding a bike, the other farm animals scoff at him – that is, until a group of kids leave their bikes unattended. Expressive illustrations use different perspectives to show the animals gleefully riding the bikes around the barnyard in this imaginative and funny romp.

When Farmer Brown leaves his brother in charge, he warns Bob to keep an eye on the duck, because “he’s trouble.” Bob follows the farmer’s written instructions to the letter, but are they authentic? Astute readers will know who’s really writing them from the animated, cartoon-like illustrations. The animals were first introduced in Click, Clack, Moo(Simon and Schuster,2000), another barnyard chuckler.

Knock, Knock! “Who’s There?” “Olive” “Olive Who?” “Olive you so much!” Only ten knock-knock jokes are in this gentle and pun-filled book, subtitled “My First Book of Knock-Knock Jokes.” Sturdy and colorful and designed for preschoolers, the set up for each joke is on one page and the answer is beneath the flap on the other. Youngsters will soon be telling these jokes on their own.

The engaging pig first met in Olivia (Atheneum, 2000)introduces counting from one to ten. Young children will enjoy Olivia’s mischief and silly poses in this simple but appealing counting book.

Sheila Rae taunts Louise with her peppermint stick, not wanting to share it, and uses her experience to trick her sibling. Louise eventually gets some of the candy, and Sheila Rae gets her comeuppance in a very satisfying ending. Children of all ages will see themselves in these characters, first introduced in Sheila Rae, the Brave (Greenwillow, 1987)

Ugly ogre parents make an even uglier ogre son named Shrek. Of course Shrek seeks (on the back of a donkey) and finds a bride — an ogress even uglier than he! Enjoy the rich language used in the now 20-years-old and still-funny picture book that inspired a movie adaptation.

Morris, Doris, Boris and Norris can’t get much right – including eating a banana – but they do know how to laugh at themselves (and get readers chuckling!). Infour short chapters, perfect for newly independent readers, the four friends enjoy simple things in their own silly way.

The incomparable author and illustrator team retells traditional tales such as the “Gingerbread Man” and the “Little Red Hen” in inventive and hilarious ways, sure to make readers familiar with the originals laugh out loud. Even the traditional format of the book is changed to suit the absurdity of the new versions, for a memorable reading experience.

What kind of house do you live in? In this classic beginner book from Dr. Seuss, the simple, bouncy rhymes show all kinds of strange creatures living in the different rooms of a house. Some are rather nice and some not at all. The amusing, silly tale will keep a youngster’s attention to the very end.

This lighthearted approach to a young child’s changing feelings is told with a rhyming cadence and equally appealing, cartoon-like illustrations. The gentle levity of the style allows children and adults to put words to the feelings that they recognize in themselves.