funny Archives - ResearchParent.com

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma

Michelle — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:56:10 +0000

This story features a twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. In this book, the audience gets to witness the humorous exchange between a hilarious and creative dog and the cat who is reading him the story. This book reminds me a little bit of Interrupting Chicken which was one of my oldest’s favorites nearly a decade ago!

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma Details

Title: The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma
Author: Diane Fox
Illustrator: Christyan Fox
Publication Year: 2014
Age Group: Kindergarten, Early Elementary, Mid Elementary
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Comments

This is probably the most entertaining version of Little Red Riding Hood my kids and I have ever read. The poor cat is trying to read the classic story, but the dog keeps interjecting with his colorful commentary. For example, he asks if Little Red has a kindness ray or exploding eggs in her basket. The imaginative canine throws in his own suggestions for adding excitement to the tale while the cat grows more and more frustrated. He also asks several insightful questions that will get kids giggling and have them wondering why, as kids, we accepted the tale in its original form.

Maybe it’s because my own children love interrupting so much, but they definitely enjoyed the dog’s antics! They can relate to not waiting until the end of the story to share their thoughts and ideas. Not only does the audience get to hear a fun story-within-a-story, but the dialogue between the two characters adds an additional level of entertainment and amusement.

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Z is for Moose

Michelle — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 05:11:25 +0000

We have checked this book out from the library multiple times and it has not lost its appeal. Whether you have a child who is learning their letters or not, your kids are sure to enjoy this alphabet presentation featuring an interrupting moose.

Z is for Moose Details

Title: Z is for Moose
Author: Kelly Bingham
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Publication Year: 2012
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Elementary
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Comments

This book starts out like many other alphabet books. However, by the time you get to D is for Moose, you know something is awry. The poor moose wants to be in the story so badly that he can’t wait for the letter M. My kids thought it was hysterical when the book finally gets to the letter M, and find out that M is for mouse. The Zebra organizing the parade of characters basically tells the moose, “we decided to go in a different direction.” What follows is anger, pettiness, grief, and ultimately a satisying conclusion for the poor moose.

My oldest thinks this would be a terrible book to introduce kids to the alphabet. He may be right, but it doesn’t matter. This book is so clever and humorous that the chaos is well worth the confusion. Honestly, if a child is just starting to recognize the alphabet and letter sounds, this would be the perfect book to read. The unexpected and incorrect pairings will keep them on their toes!

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Anansi and the Talking Melon

Michelle — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:36:24 +0000

In studying Ancient Africa, we have read so many tales about Anansi the spider and they are all winners. This one was particularly funny to my kids, probably because they like to hear about people being tricked and acting foolishly. Just as a warning, this book does feature the expression, “stupid melon.” It was probably my own kids’ favorite part!

Anansi and the Talking Melon Details

Title: Anansi and the Talking Melon
Author: Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Publication Year: 1994
Age Group: Kindergarten, Early Elementary, Mid Elementary
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Comments

My kids love all of the books featuring Anansi. It doesn’t matter who the author is. Sometimes Anansi tricks others and sometimes his plans go all wrong. Either way, my kids think it is hilarious. They found this book particularly comical. We actually read this book as part of our history curriculum while we were studying Africa, but it got my kids giggling so much, I had to include it on our funniest picture book list.

In this tale, Anansi gets stuck inside a melon and tricks several of his animal friends into believing the melon could talk. My kids seem to particularly enjoy characters looking foolish. This is one story in which Anansi gets away with his mischief. His trickery goes better than expected. Not only does no one learn his trick, but they unknowingly help him escape from his predicament. I did not see the last line coming, but it was absolutely fitting and even had me laughing.

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The Very Impatient Caterpillar

Michelle — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:57:49 +0000

All of my children laughed along with this very impatient caterpillar’s journey through metamorphosis. Honestly, I think it is because all of them can relate to the “are we there yet” mentality. We parents on the other hand will feel solidarity with this impatient caterpillar’s friends.

The Very Impatient Caterpillar Details

Title: The Very Impatient Caterpillar
Author/Illustrator: Ross Burach
Publication Year: 2019
Website: www.rossburach.com
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Elementary
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments

Hilarious science books are hard to come by, but this one fits the bill. This educational picture book will teach your kids a lot about metamorphosis. However, your child will not even realize they are being presented with scientific information. They will be too busy enjoying the story of this impatient caterpillar. The story is written entirely in dialogue format which is engaging even to the youngest reader, especially those who have a lot to say and trouble waiting!

A long time ago our family did one of those butterfly gardens where we raised caterpillars and watched them go through this metamorphosis process. This would be the perfect book to accompany that activity! By giving the caterpillar in the story such a strong, distinctive personality, the kids will better attach to the insects they are raising and enjoy imagining them being as impatient as the insect in this tale.

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Be Quiet!

Michelle — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 19:41:02 +0000

This clever, unique picture book lets us imagine that we are getting to see behind the scenes of a picture book being made. The main character has a vision that it will be a wordless pictures book, but his friends unintentionally mess up all his plans. I don’t know what it is about my children, but they get a big kick out of plans gone awry.

Be Quiet! Details

Title: Be Quiet!
Author/Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins
Publication Year: 2017
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Elementary
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Comments

The premise of this amusing book had everyone in our family smiling along. That poor mouse just wants to make an artsy wordless picture book. The book is presented as if it were filming him as he stars in this story walking through beautiful scenery. However, his two friends are completely unable to keep quiet even when they try their best. I’m sure a lot of young readers will be able to relate. The hilarious climax of the book comes when the protagonist finally can’t take it anymore and snaps. He fills his story up with a frustrated eruption of words until they are running off the page.

Adding to the humor is the fact that the two talkative characters in this book have a lot of comical misunderstandings such as interpreting “onomatopoeia” (sound words) as “Imma-gonna-pee-a.” Even my oldest was laughing out loud. This book also features a cute, cuddly, deadly kitten, a cucumber with googly eyes, and the phrase “lettuce sweater.” What more can you ask for?

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Riding a Donkey Backwards

Michelle — Mon, 16 May 2022 23:13:51 +0000

This is a much longer picture book than I usually include in our list of funniest picture books. However, my kids love it so much that my 7-year-old won’t let me return it to the library. It is a series of about 20 short stories, each featuring a wise and foolish man named Mulla Nasruddin. Several of the tales even had my 12-year-old giggling along with the younger kids.

Be Quiet! Details

Title: Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin
Author: Sean Taylor and the Khayaal Theatre
Illustrator: Shirin Adl
Publication Year: 2019
Age Group: Kindergarten, Early Elementary, Mid Elementary
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Comments

This book featuring a popular character from Muslim literature was a gem. My kids absolutely adored these hilarious tales. Each one covers a one or two-page spread, so is short enough for even the youngest listeners. There are over 20 tales in all, so lots of laughs are contained within these pages. Each story ends with a punchline that even my older kids appreciated. Occasionally, my 5 year old missed the joke, but often he was laughing right along with his siblings.

These stories reminded us a little of Noodleheads which is another favorite of my kids. One of the stories, featuring a donkey changing into a man is nearly identical. It is interesting how some of these storylines have been adopted and adapted across cultures. Overall, this book was a huge hit with all of my kids. My 7-year-old in particular wants some of the stories read to him nightly. I may end up buying it for him for his birthday he loves it so much!

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Hog Eye

Michelle — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 17:10:56 +0000

I love reading funny picture books to my kids. This is one that I think my 11-year-old actually enjoyed most of all, but all of my kids down to five found it hilarious. Everyone loves rooting for the underdog and in this charming story, a little pig outwits a big bad wolf.

Hog Eye Details

Title: Hog Eye
Author/Illustrator: Susan Meddaugh
Publication Year: 1995
Age Group: Kindergarten, Early Elementary
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Comments

I think kids, in particular, like to see youthful characters outwit the bigger, stronger, more powerful characters. My kids aged 5 to 11 all enjoyed this story about a little girl piggie who gets kidnapped by a wolf on the way home from school. The pig learns that the wolf can’t read and uses this knowledge to her advantage. She pretends to read the cookbook for soup and instead sends the wolf on a variety of painful and hilarious missions to get the correct ingredients. My kids are in particular are fans of unrealistic Wylie Coyote style violence, so the poor wolf’s fate was hysterical in their minds.

In the end, she sends the wolf to collect “Green Threeleaf” which turns out to be poison ivy. Then she pretends to place a Hog Eye spell on him to make him itch. My kids could not get over how funny this was. Ultimately, the story ends with the wolf trying to learn to read, which I thought was a particularly nice touch.

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Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great

Michelle — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 05:45:44 +0000

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great is a hilarious tale for anyone who has ever felt a little envious. The story is told from the point of view of a goat who is repeatedly outdone by the magical unicorn. In the end, the two learn to appreciate their differences. Hilarity ensues throughout the entire evolution of their developing friendship.

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great Details

Title: Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great
Author/Illustrator: Bob Shea
Publication Year: 2013
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Elementary
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Comments

One of the things I love most about books is that they reflect back to us emotions that we all feel which helps us to become more aware of what we are feeling. In this story, the main character, a goat, is a school-age child who thinks he has a lot of confidence until a unicorn comes to town. The goat is envious of all of the unicorn’s magical abilities. However, later on, the unicorn smells the goat’s amazing goat cheese pizza and we find out the unicorn has some insecurities as well.

This book would be adorable and sweet if it were just a book about realizing that everyone has their own unique strengths. However, this book has the added advantage that it is hilarious. I was not familiar with the author Bob Shea before this book, but now I think we are going to have to check out more of his books. Any book that includes lines like “Taste my cloven justice!” and “I can only eat glitter and rainbows. Darn my sensitive stomach!” is a winner in my book. Just as a warning, this book does include the phrase, “Stupid regular hooves!” Be prepped to change that word or warn your kids that this book has some language not to be repeated if you choose!

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Falling For Rapunzel

Michelle — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:54:22 +0000

My 9-year-old daughter thought this book was so hysterical, she read it multiple times. You know a book is funny when even an 11-year-old boy is laughing at a story about Rapunzel. This fractured tale involves a lot of comical understandings which even my 5 year old enjoyed.

Falling for Rapunzel Details

Title: Falling for Rapunzel
Author: Leah Wilcox
Illustrator: Lydia Monks
Publication Year: 2003
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten
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Comments

This book is pretty old, but we stumbled across it by accident at the library. I am a huge fan of fractured fairy tales to begin with. I love the idea of taking a classic story and switching up some aspect of it. This particular version of Rapunzel is set in modern times. The illustrations include elements such as cars, computers, and blow dryers. The primary comical vehicle in this story is that Rapunzel cannot understand the prince who is trying to convince her to let down her hair. My kids think it is hysterical when she throws down her underwear instead. In the end, Rapunzel’s maid rides off with the prince rather than Rapunzel. There is an added element of humor when she walks out her back door to leave the tower.

Another aspect of this picture book that I appreciate is the illustrations. While most of it is drawn, many of the trees are created using photographs of the leaves and branches of real trees. This adds visual interest that draws the audience in. There are also many details that are not necessarily relevant to the plotline but add humor as well, such as Rapunzel’s messy room and her crayon-drawn decorations. This attention to detail makes this a book that kids will want to revisit.

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The Bear Who Wasn’t There

Michelle — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 04:17:45 +0000

This story starring a missing bear had wide appeal among my kids. The humor was simple and straightforward enough that my 5 year old was laughing out loud. The clever way the characters are talking directly to the reader and the author even made an appearance was amusing even for my 11 year old. (Not to mention the brief and harmless potty humor that had my 9 year old practically rolling on the floor.)

The Bear Who Wasn’t There Details

Title: The Bear Who Wasn’t There
Author/Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Publication Year: 2016
Age Group: Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Elementary
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Comments

This is such a sweet and clever story. My kids always enjoy it when a picture book lets them feel like they are part of an inside joke. This entire book feels as if it is a picture book gone wrong. The bear is supposed to be the star of the book, but the bear just, well, isn’t there. Instead, a duck tries to steal the spotlight as all the other animals (and even the author) try to locate the missing bear. The dialogue bubbles intermixed with the story text is engaging. My kids enjoyed the way the characters talk to each other from one page to the next as they fold down the corners. My kids’ favorite part is when a mouse plays a prank on the audience and tricks us into walking in on a giraffe trying to go potty.

This book would also be a good way to introduce kids to the idea of a fourth wall and how sometimes the fourth wall can be broken for humor’s sake. This entire story is one big example of the fourth wall being missing. We, the audience, are a part of the story and my kids loved going along for the ride! (P.S. Don’t forget to pay attention to the back cover and the book flaps for some bonus giggles.)

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funny Archives - ResearchParent.com

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma Details

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Z is for Moose

Z is for Moose Details

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Anansi and the Talking Melon

Anansi and the Talking Melon Details

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The Very Impatient Caterpillar

The Very Impatient Caterpillar Details

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Be Quiet!

Be Quiet! Details

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Riding a Donkey Backwards

Be Quiet! Details

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Hog Eye

Hog Eye Details

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Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great Details

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Falling For Rapunzel

Falling for Rapunzel Details

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The Bear Who Wasn’t There

The Bear Who Wasn’t There Details

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