Posted by CBethM on December 6, 2024 in Top Ten Lists |
My two-year-old grandson Ezra loves to laugh. His irresistible giggling brings joy to my heart and a wide grin to my face. Together we read and laugh and share the joy books bring. Few things please me more than humor, whether through children’s books, via smart sitcoms and movies, or through laughter that brings catharsis during tumultuous times.I love to laugh.
Shakespeare understood the need for comic relief, so he gave audiences Lear’s Fool. In Romeo and Juliet the Porter and Nurse make us giggle. In Hamlet Polonius is a jester-like character. Tragedy begs for jesters and clowns to ease heartache. One of my fondest teaching memories is laughing through a student performance of Macbeth’s final encounter with the Weird Sisters. Laughter is a lovely way to learn.
This year I read several books that made me laugh out loud. Some brought a smile to my face, and some sparked joy in my soul, so it you’re looking for humor to ring in 2025, consider one of the following books:
Mavis the Bravest
by Sarah Warburton (Author, Illustrator)
Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
Mavis is a chicken chicken who’d rather sit and knit than confront her fears–until her friends, the sheep, face danger. Now Mavis must dig deep into her chicken heart and summon courage to help save the sheep.
I fell in love with Mavis and cheered for her throughout this barnyard romp. The story invites readers to interact through onomatopoeic words and rhyme, but there’s a deeper message about finding strength and courage in the most difficult circumstances.
The Smell of Wet Dog and Other Dog Poems and Drawings
by Barney Saltzberg
Neal Porter Books
Dog lovers of all ages will love and laugh reading this collection of poems. No matter the size, age, or breed of dog, the collection offers a smorgasbord of rhyme and rhythm featuring our furry friends. In the title poem, Salzburg writes:
The smell of wet dog is not a good smell.
When a dog is wet it’s easy to tell.
Imagine moose and skunk perfume.
An odiferous stench, a paint-peeling plume…
Children and adults will find inspiration for writing poems and stories about their pups in these delightful pages.
Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature
by Lynn Brunelle (Author), Julia Patton (Illustrator)
Millbrook Press
Combining haiku evoking Ew! responses from readers with narration teaching children why animals do the things they do, Brunelle taps into the grossness I remember from one of my children’s favorite books, Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things by Sylvia Branzei. Suddenly, the beauty of flamingos took on a different hue when I read this:
Steamy flamingo,
Your technique for staying cool?
Just poop on your legs!
Have fun writing haiku about Ew stuff with the young folks in your life!
Letters to Never Send Santa: Confessions, Complaints, and Outlandish Requests from the Files of St. Nick.
by David Griswold (Author), Luis San Vicente (Illustrator)
Bushel & Peck Books
If you’re looking for a fun seasonal book to share with children, including teens, pause to write letters to Santa, but not the typical ones asking for stuff. Think about what not to say to Santa. I love the idea of resurrecting the art of letter writing in a fun way. In his letter to Santa, Earl the Zookeeper asks Santa to dispense with a holiday tradition. Here’s how the letter ends:
So, Santa, please listen
And get rid of the kissin’
(Especially here at the zoo).
Other poems feature the letter writer reflecting on misdeeds during the year. I know kids (and adults) of all ages will find lots to laugh about and inspire in these silly letters.
The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings
By Jolie Taylor (Author), Brandon Dorman (Illustrator)
Shadow Mountain
All the emotions we can imagine find voice in this collection of poems exploring how children often feel but don’t always know how to describe. You’ll meet Uniquey, The Zopples, the Grumpy Zogopog Crackler, and other imaginative characters who show children they are not alone in their feelings and offer ways to process them.
How to Tantrum Like a Champion: The Small Ways to Temper Big Feelings
by Allan Wolf (Author), Keisha Morris (Illustrator)
Candlewick
We’ve all known someone who pitches a fit, and that someone isn’t always a terrible two toddler. This poetic picture book teaches children (and adults) how to recognize and respond to pent-up anger.
Your hands turn to fists.
Your giggles are all gone.
Your body’s trying to tell you
there’s a tantrum coming on.
I can envision teachers inviting children to role play during a read-aloud and found myself reflecting on my responses in the heat of the moment.
The Book That Almost Rhymed
by Omar Abed (Author), Hatem Aly (Illustrator)
Dial Books
In this picture book about working together in a writing community, a brother and sister collaborate to make an adventure story better. Share this delightful book with young writers who think all poems must rhyme, no matter how nonsensical and forced they rhyme. Consider these lines:
Knights carry shields–not fluffy pillows.
Dragons breathe fire–not armadillos.
And why would a pirate trade his pants?
Have you ever seen pirates dance?
Yes, this is an imaginative, fun romp through the writing process and a book for writers of all ages.
Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz
by Sylvia Vardell (Author), Janet Wong (Author), Frank Ramspott (Illustrator)
Pomelo Books
Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong introduce us to Clara, a young creator who loves to journal, and in her journal she doodles, writes poetry, takes notes, and creates in myriad ways. A community of writers contributed to this engaging collection I could not put down. My imagination ran wild reading the pages, turning the book sideways and around to glean all the creative genius in these pages. As the authors say, “Kids need funny books–books that fill them with joy and wonder.” This book will do that for young creators and their teachers.
Pie-Rats
by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough (Author), David Mottram (Illustrator)
Viking Books for Young Readers
Imagine a ship full of rats sailing the seas in search of pie. Yes, that’s the mission of the pie-rats in this clever tale that reminded me of the NYC pizza rat that stole the internet a few years ago. These rats love pie, and happily accept all flavors!
Land, Ho!
Dessert-ed island.
Slack the mainsheet.
Must be Pie-land!
Beware the Dragon and the Nozzlewok: A Graphic Novel Poetry Collection Full of Surprising Characters
by Vikram Madan (Author)
Wordsong
What’s a Nozzlewock? I wondered when I picked up this inventive, unique book. Soon I learned a Nozzlewock is a vacuum-like creature with “unique sucking powers.” Stay out of its way if you don’t want to be vacuumed up! I love the merging of genres in this feast of imagery, story, and poetry and know children will, too.
Beware the Nozzlewock, my child!
The nose with super-vacuum strength!
Beware its manners—coarse and wild!
Beware its titan length!
As the year ends and a season of uncertainty awaits us, take time to giggle, guffaw, laugh, chuckle, and chortle. Resolve to find mirth for yourself and the young people in your world.
Glenda Funk is a member of the NCTE Children’s Poetry Awards Committee and a 38 year teaching veteran who fancies herself a dog and cat mom, a granna, and a writer of poemish things. Glenda blogs at Swirl & Swing: Lines on Living & Learning: www.glendafunk.wordpress.com. This year Glenda is participating in the Stafford Poetry Challenge to write a poem every day. She is also a contributor to several open source poetry anthologies and teaching resources available via Oklahoma State U and EthicalELA.com, as well as a contributor to Rhyme & Rhythm: Poems for Student Athletes (Archer Books, 2021) ed. Sarah J. Donovan.
English (US) · 