Laughter is good medicine: My favorite funny picture books.

Last November, I wrote about why humor is important in children's books, and I promised a post about my favorite titles. Finally, FINALLY, here it is. This is by no means an exhaustive list, because I love SO MANY books that I'm sure I'll leave some out. Also, a caveat: Some of these only kids will find funny. Some of these will make you both laugh. But since kids ARE the target audience here, I'm less worried about you. Sorry, not sorry.

I will try to update this periodically, though. In no particular order, my favorite funny picture books:

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TODDLERS

BARK, GEORGE by Jules Feiffer

Anyone who does storytime regularly knows this classic. It's a hilarious tale of a puppy who doesn't know that dogs are supposed to bark - not say "quack" or "moo!" WHY is puppy confused? The reason will surprise you - and George's mother, too!

DINOSAUR VS. BEDTIME by Bob Shea

Dinosaur is pretty tough. But now they have to face their biggets challenge of all: BEDTIME.

Best read in a "monster truck announcer" voice, this is a fun, relatable story in which Dino must battle such foes as talking grownups, spaghetti, and tooth brushing, in order to make it to the ultimate test: defeating bedtime. WHO WILL WIN?

DUCK ON A BIKE by David Shannon

I've used this book in animal sound-themed storytimes, in farm animal storytimes, and in silly

storytimes. It's tongue-in-cheek story of a duck who decides one day to ride a bike is delightful and unexpected. Duck becomes increasingly dangerous, showing off by riding no hands or standing on the seat. Some animals watch with disbelief, others with awe, and a few narrowly avoid a collision. But the biggest twist comes at the end, when... well. I can't spoil it, can I?

GRUMPY BIRD by Jeremy Tankard

An oldie (if you consider 2007 old) but SUCH a goodie! Bird is grumpy. So he goes on a grumpy

walk. Every animal he passes asks him what he's doing (as if it's not obvious) and he grumpily tells them that he's JUST WALKING. One by one they each cheerfully join the procession until bird realizes something that lifts his grumpiness. They all end up in his nest eating cookies. Because SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF. Bird, with his oversized blue head and red sneakers is perfectly silly and gives this book just the right comic effect.

HATS ARE NOT FOR CATS by Jaqueline K. Rayner

A haughty dog wearing a top hat insists that hats are NOT for cats. All the while an

assortment of cats tumble past wearing a variety of hats. This is good, silly fun - both text and pictures - and will definitely appeal to toddlers who find much humor in incongruity.

HOW MANY ANIMALS CAN FIT IN THIS BOOK? by Natalia Yaskina

How many animals can fit in the book? According to a grumpy ant, ONE. Them. That's it, no

more. However, the bevy of animals that follow might say otherwise. The ant remains adamant (ha!) that the number is still ONE. An absolutely delighful and silly book about making space and, sometimes, being alone.

IS EVERYONE READY FOR FUN? by Jan Thomas

Honestly, pretty much every Jan Thomas book is perfect for making a little one laugh. In this outing, three cows invite us to jump, dance, and wiggle - on Chicken's sofa. Chicken, rightly, protests, and eventually they all find something to do that they can agree on. This is an interactive story that will get everyone moving and laughing.

LITTLE FREDDIE TWO PANTS by Drew Daywalt and Lucy Ruth Cummins

When I read this to the kids in my library program, there were laughs all around - from both the kids AND their grownups. That's the sign of a great book! This book is just plain silly. There's no problem resolution. But there is underwear, extra pants, and a monkey. At the end of the book, Freddie is still wearing his two pants. And, honestly, that's just fine. Sometimes we just need to laugh, and LITTLE FREDDIE TWO PANTS will make you do just that.

MAX THE BRAVE by Ed Vere

A small black cat insists that he is very brave - and to prove it, goes in search of a mouse to chase. There's only one problem - he's not sure what a mouse actually looks like. He asks a variety of animals, and finally, encounters what we know to be a mouse, who misdirects him and sends him right to a sleeping monster. Don't worry - the ending's not scary, and Max gets to prove his bravery! The sparse illustrations allow us to focus on Max and his quest, and this is one of those books where the toddlers know more than the protagonist - always a favorite trope!

MOO! by David Larochelle and Mike Wohnoutka

There's one word in this book: moo. (Well, technically two. But mostly one.) What's important

is the WAY you read that moo. The illustrations and print perfectly reflect a cow's excitement and, later, fear and frustration as they take the farmer's car out for a joyride. The twist at the end will get everyone cracking up. This one's for toddlers AND preschoolers, who will get a little more of the nuance in the story and be able to express what the cow's saying through that one word.

NOT NOW, COW! by Tammi Sauer and Troy Cummings

Out on the farm, all of the animals are looking forward to the changing seasons. When spring

arrives, they show off their garden and fly kites. In winter, they skate, go sledding and build snowmen. But cow? Cow manages to demonstrate exactly NOT how to dress for the season. Kids will enjoy repeating "Not now, Cow!" every time cow appears wearing the wrong thing. Perfect for a conversation about the seasons and what clothes we wear for each!

POLAR BEAR'S UNDERWEAR by Tupera Tupera

Honestly, if you're a little kid, underwear stories are always funny. I've got two! This first is the

story of a polar bear who goes in search of his missing underwear. We find various pairs, but none of them are right - either by size or design - and we discover whose they actually belong to. Finally, in a silly twist, Polar Bear realizes he's made a mistake. But I won't spoil the fun!

VEGETABLES IN UNDERWEAR by Jared Chapman

More underwear! This time, various vegetables show off their underclothes. That's it. But who needs a plot when you can giggle over a broccoli in boxers? The simple bright illustrations fit the tone perfectly. See also: FRUITS IN SUITS.

THE WATERMELON SEED by Greg Pizzoli

Croc is enjoying some sweet watermelon when they accidentally swallow a seed. Panic ensues. Will they grow a tree in their belly? Will they become a fruit salad? Perfectly reflects toddler fears and with a hilarious resolution that will make little ones giggle.

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PRESCHOOLERS (and older kids too!)

100 MIGHTY DRAGONS ALL NAMED BROCCOLI by David LaRochelle and Lian Cho

Yes, they're really all named Broccoli. And every dragon is unique. You'll giggle at the dragons who are heading off to be professional surfers, or a heavy metal rock band, or are turned into unicorns. Can you count them all?

BATHE THE CAT by Alice B McGinty and David Roberts

It's cleaning day, and letters on the fridge indicate what chores need to be done. These include bathing the titular cat, who obviously wants to avoid this fate, so they rearrange the letters until everything is mixed up. The lawn is to be vacuumed. The dishes are to be swept. The house is in frantic chaos until finally one of two dads sorts out the problem. The rollicking, rhyming text will keep you laughing.

BEAR'S LOST GLASSES by Leo Timmers

Silly Bear! Bear can't find his glasses - so he goes looking for them. He doesn't find them right

away, but does find - or so he thinks - an elephant, a crocodile, and various other animals. When giraffe helps him locate his glasses, he discovers that what he THOUGHT were animals were actually something else entirely. This is a hilarious story that will be appreciated by anyone with bad eyesight who has mistaken one thing for another, and kids who like to feel smarter than the main character (which is all of them, really). I love a good silly story like this.

BE QUIET! by Ryan T. Higgins

Ryan T. Higgins is a master of preschool/early elementary humor. This is supposed to be a quiet book, but two of Rupert's friends keep offering suggestions that are anything but quiet. The bespectacled narrator's frustration and increasingly loud exhortations for his companions to BE QUIET will have everyone laughing.

BLOB by Anne Appert

A blob can be anything - cotton candy, an octopus - but when the unseen narrator insists on

calling Blob "Bob", Blob wonders what EXACTLY they are. Blob goes through a series of options (the illustrations are particularly giggle-inducing) until they finally realize the best thing they can be is... a blob.

BOOK THAT ALMOST RHYMED by Omar Abed and Hatem Aly

A boy is telling an adventure story but his little sister keeps interruping with outlandish ideas -

that don't rhyme! Fire-breathing... armadillo? Dancing... pirate? Big brother is frustrated until he realizes that the additions might actually make the story better! Hatem Aly's cartoonish illustrations add to the wackiness! Read it and then make up your own silly story!

CHEZ BOB by Bob Shea

Bob, a crocodile, is hungry, and wants nothing more than to eat a bird or two. But he's also lazy, so how can he entice them to come to him in order to gobble them up? Why, open a restaurant on his snout, of course! Everything's going just as planned, and the birds are flocking to Chez Bob. But when it's time to chomp down, Bob has second thoughts. Bob Shea's books always delight.

COUNTING TO BANANAS by Carrie Tillotson and Estrella Lourenço

This is a counting book. And what are we counting? Fruit. Lots of fruit. But Banana is impatient for their turn and starts inserting themself into every page. Cartoon illustrations of anthropomorphic fruit add to the humor. Get the sequel, B IS FOR BANANAS, too!

CRANKY, CRABBY CROW (SAVES THE WORLD) by Corey Tabor

Crow is cranky. He does NOT want to play with squirrel or bat or any one of the many other

animals who ask. He shoos them away with a sharp "KAW!" When he's warned that if he keeps it up he'll have no friends at all, he doesn't change is ways. Because he's got more important things to do - like save the world. What seems like a book about making friends turns into an unexpected adventure. Corey Tabor is magnificent.

DOG VS. STRAWBERRY by Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill

Are you ready for an epic, thrill-a-minute race? That just so happens to be between a dog and... a strawberry? Well then hold on to your hat! Dog is given a strawberry treat, and, in perfect dog logic, decides it's time for a race. Dog hurdles around the room, while the strawberry stays right where it is. No matter, Dog is still going to win. With text that reads like a Nascar announcer's script and action-packed cartoon illustrations, this one will have you cheering.

DON'T DO IT, DOUG! by Maddie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

Doug. Don't. Push. That. Button. Of course, Doug can't help themself and pushes it. In fact, Doug can't resist doing everything they shouldn't, including, but not limited to, eating too many donuts, yodeling in an avalanche zone, and knocking over a pile of canned goods. Kids will giggle as Doug tries to learn a little self-control - a totally relatable thing when you're still developing your executive function skills as preschoolers are.

DON'T EAT BEES: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt

I kind of think the title says it all, doesn't it? Anyone with a dog who's attempted to eat a tasty

bee knows what happens when they do. And if you don't, watch this video from We Rate Dogs (FYI ALL THE DOGS WERE FINE). Chip the dog shares this lesson, along with several others that all dogs should know. Boldt's illustrations depict Chip as the goofy sweetie he is, and dog owners young and old will relate.

DON'T TRUST FISH by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat

After reading this hilarious book you'll 1000% not trust fish. The are clearly... fishy. Sharpson lays out all the reasons why we shouldn't trust fish. For example: some of them are bus-sized, we can't keep an eye on them, and OBVIOUSLY they're plotting something. If you need a new read-aloud for early elementary kids, this is it.

HANK GOES HONK by Maddie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

Another gem from the team that brought us DON'T DO IT, DOUG! Hank the goose is RUDE. He honks in inappropriate places and is generally not pleasant to be around. But being unpleasant usually means being alone a lot, and Hank is not sure he wants that ALL the time. Can he learn to behave in a more welcoming way? The epic side-eye Hank's giving us on the cover is just a hint at the hilarity of Beedie's illustrations. If you like this one, you'll love the sequels: HANK MEETS FRANK and HANK GOES HO-HO-HONK.

INTERRUPTING CHICKEN by David Stein

Little Chicken wants to hear a bedtime story. But each time Papa starts to read, Little

Chicken interrupts and finishes the story by inserting herself into it and saving the day. After a frustrating third time this happens, Papa asks Little Chicken to tell their own story, hoping it will tire her out enough to sleep. It has the opposite effect, however, and soon Papa is snoring. Two additional titles follow this one, INTERRUPTING CHICKEN AND THE ELEPHANT OF SURPRISE and INTERRUPTING CHICKEN: COOKIES FOR BREAKFAST.

ITTY BITTY KITTYCORN by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

A fluffy and oh-so-adorable kitty declares that they are, in fact, a unicorn. Two small birdie naysayers disagree, and when a REAL unicorn arrives, Kitty is feeling pretty low. But what Unicorn says next surprises her, and the two form an unlikely friendship - naysayers be damned! This is a delightful, sweet and funny story about being yourself that is beautifully illustrated in candy-bright colors by one of my favorite illustrators.

OFF-LIMITS by Helen Yoon

This story celebrates(?) doing something you're not supposed to - in this case, going into Daddy's office and playing with his office supplies. A little girl delights in making patterns with paperclips and post-its, and in a full Busby Berkley style illustration dances around them singing. Suddenly, she realizes what she has done and sneaks out. Is she punished? The surprise ending will make you laugh and smile. Share this book with your budding stationery fiend.

PENGUIN PROBLEMS by Jory John and Lane Smith

Penguin's got problems. They're cold. They can't fly. They're tired of fish. Penguin tells us all about their hard life, until Walrus comes along and monologues about how wonderful life really is. Will Penguin take this to heart? Maybe?

THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG by Mo Willems

Honestly, I love all the Pigeon books. But this one might be my favorite. In this outing, the Pigeon finds a hot dog. What luck! Just as they are about to take a big bite, a small duckling enters the scene and wonders aloud what a hot dog might taste like. The Pigeon faces a moral dilemma: keep the hot dog all to themself, or do the kind thing and share? What makes these stories so funny is not only the dialogue between the characters but also the simple illustrations that express so much.

POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME by Betsy Bird and Andrea Tsurumi

This book that was a big hit with my storytime families. The repeated appearance of the weasel in rhymes they didn't belong in elicited peals of laughter and the chaotic illustrations provided the perfect visual. This is a great silly book that not only reinforces traditional English nursery rhymes but also twists them to hilarious effect! POP GOES THE WEASEL!

A QUICK TRIP TO THE STORE by Sam Wedelich

A quick trip to the grocery store for bananas turns into an adventure when mom turns her back on a red-headed girl in order to have a chat. The girl decides that she will go in search of the bananas herself, and, well, chaos ensues. Hilarious and relatable for anyone who's ever had to go on a BORING shopping trip.

RHYMING DUST BUNNIES by Jan Thomas

Another Jan Thomas classic, but this one's for the preschoolers who are starting to learn about rhymes! Ed, Ned, Ted, and... wait for it... Bob are dust bunnies who like to rhyme... all the time! They merrily go about saying rhyming words but each time Bob gets it wrong. Turns out, though, Bob was just trying to warn them about the horror of horrors that is A BROOM. Silly and original.

STILL STUCK by Shinsuke Yoshitake

Anyone who's ever gotten stuck in an article of clothing and thinks to themself, "well, I guess I

live here, now" will relate to this silly story of a kid attempting to take off a shirt. He envisions all the things that will be hard to do while stuck in a shirt. How will he keep the cat from tickling his belly? How will he play on the playground? The illustrations, imagining how he might do these things while stuck in a shirt, will have everyone laughing.

STUCK by Oliver Jeffers

A boy gets his kite stuck in a tree. What to do? Throw up a shoe and try to dislodge it, of course. But when the shoe gets stuck, you have to throw your other shoe. And when THAT gets stuck, it's time to get the ladder. To climb the tree, right? Nope. The ladder gets thrown in the tree as well. And also gets stuck. Thus begins a parade of objects, inanimate or not, that get thrown into the tree. A fire truck? This absurdist story is perfectly paired with Jeffers' rough and animated illustrations.

THIS IS A BALL by Beck Stanton and Matt Stanton

This is another story where the kids get to feel smarter than the narrator, which is always a

good thing. The supremely unreliable narrator here insists that the cover image (clearly a cube) is a ball - and from then on continues to insist increasingly outlandish scenarious are not what they appear to be in the images. You'll get lots of laughs from everyone when you read this out loud with a completely deadpan, incredulous voice.

WE DON'T EAT OUR CLASSMATES by Ryan T. Higgins

Another gem from Ryan T. Higgins, who does preschool humor really, really well. Penelope Rex

is, obviously, a young dinosaur beginning school for the first time. Because her classmates are, ahem, NOT dinosaurs (especially not carnivorous ones) she has a lot to learn about how to behave in this situation. Number one, we do NOT eat our classmates. The illustration where Penelope spits out a saliva-covered friend is particularly silly. This is an hilarious take on first-day-of-school stories and there are several sequels to enjoy!

I'd love to hear some of your favorite sill stories. Please share!