Funniest Picture Book This Year

By Freya Hooper (Open Post)

Funny picture book alert! I love books that cause my listeners to laugh until they cry, giggle until they can’t breath and spit milk through their nose as they crack up. I have a high, or some might say a very low bar. But irregardless, I see my job as providing you with books that will make your children love words ... and this book will do that in spades.

Don’t forget to visit my blog at www.onegreatbook.com for more inspired book choices for kids.

Title: The Book With No Pictures

Author: B.J. Novak

Target: Preschool - Grade 2

What this book is about:
Siliness is the name of the game in this new offering. This book really has no pictures, so the author diligently reminds the kids that the person reading the book has to read ALL the words … no matter what. The reader is then reduced to having to claim that he/she is a robot monkey with blueberry pie for a head, their best friend is a hippo named Boo Boo Butt and that the child listening to the story is The Best Kid Ever! I dare you to name a child who can resist this one!

Why I love this book:
Laughter! My son was laughing so hard while I read this book that he almost spit milk out of his nose - which met the criteria I have outlined above for a funny book, so I knew I had a winner. While Boo Boo Butt will of course reduce kids to a cacophony of giggling, this book allows any adult, even the less theatric, to play up the fun.

I love that the author added engaging side notes in the book where the adult is appalled that he/she has to say all these things. It is also delightful in a picture book when the words are the star of the show. As kids move into books with fewer and fewer illustrations, this reminds them how powerful text can be!

Who this book is for:
Kids who like to laugh and parents who are willing to make fools of themselves for the joy of reading.

Final thoughts:
While I am normally not a fan of celebrities writing children’s books, when an actor who has won an Emmy for comedy writing decides to bring his talents to the children’s arena, I am thrilled. Smart humor is always in style, especially when it is directed at the younger set, who lets be honest, will laugh at anything with the word butt in it.

I am a mom of three with a passion for literature! No matter what book series our kids devour, as they come to an end, we as parents ask the inevitable question - what is next? I am ever on the job, trying to answer that question. I try to do it with a variety of books. Some are silly, some true to life, some pure fantasy, but in the end I hope they make my children love words, explore new ideas, and laugh!