Animal Jokes, Riddles, and Games. (No Kidding!). Clara Christopher. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & EBOOK, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (LIST RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2391-2 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2387-5 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1744-1 (EBOOK). Subject Heading: Animals-Juvenile literature. Wit and humor, Juvenile. Riddles, Juvenile. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Around the World in Jokes, Riddles, and Games. (No Kidding!). Marguerite Rodger. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & EBOOK, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (LIST RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2392-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2388-2 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1745-8 (EBOOK). Subject Headings: Wit and humor, Juvenile. Riddles, Juvenile. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Monster and Creepy-Crawly Jokes, Riddles, and Games. (No Kidding!). Rachel Eagan. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & EBOOK, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (LIST RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2393-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2389-9 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1746-5 (EBOOK). Subject Headings: Monsters-Juvenile literature. Wit and humor, Juvenile. Riddles, Juvenile. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Sports Jokes, Riddles, and Games. (No Kidding!). Anne-Marie Rodger. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 32 pp., pbk., hc. & EBOOK, $9.95 (pbk.), $26.95 (LIST RLB), $21.56 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2394-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2390-5 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1747-2 (EBOOK). Subject Headings: Sports-Juvenile literature. Wit and humor, Juvenile. Riddles, Juvenile. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4

excerpt:

While jokes based on wordplay can get lost in translation, some jokes really are universal. Jokes that don’t rely on language at all can be particularly appealing to people all over the world. Sometimes, humor is rooted in the traditions of a country and can teach you a lot about the world around you. (From Around the World in Jokes, Riddles, and Games.)

Books about figures of speech can be a bit dry, to put it kindly, but not this series. “No Kidding!” is clever, humorous and informative. Information about similes, metaphors, homonyms, homophones, and many more ‘boring’ topics becomes engaging when presented through jokes, riddles and games.

      The four books in this new series all cover much of the same material but from four different themes: animals, cultures, monsters, and sports. Since each book includes some unique content, you may decide that you need all four of these books, or you may decide to choose one to add to your collection.

      Although the books in this series each have a different author, they all follow a traditional organization for non-fiction books for young readers: table of contents, glossary, index and additional information sources, such as print, non-print, and even museums, including the Ontario Science Centre.

      As you would expect, even the chapter titles demonstrate a sense of humour. For example: “Are You Kitten Me?”, “You are so Punny!”, “Muahahaha”, “Outta Left Field”. Jokes and riddles are copiously scattered throughout each book so that students will be continually engaged. Be prepared to have to laugh (out-loud) as young readers share a joke or riddle with you from these books.

      For those of us not naturally included to be laugh-out-loud funny, one chapter in each book gives tips and instructions on “Your Guide to Funny”.

Learning to be funny is like learning to cook or ride a bike. With the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be well on your way to being the funniest person this side of the tennis court! We’ll show you how… (From Sports Jokes, Riddles, and Games.)

     Animal Jokes, Riddles, and Games explains how anthropomorphism can be funny. Photos of elephants, penguins, hamsters, fish, turtles and even gummy bears illustrate topics such as caricature, idioms, metaphors, parody, farce, antonyms, and sketch comedy.

      Around the World in Jokes, Riddles, and Games begins by pointing out that the “language of laughter is universal”. But sometimes “jokes are written or told with the purpose of laughing at other people, instead of with them. This can be really hurtful”.

      Monster and Creepy-Crawly Jokes, Riddles, and Games looks at the macabre, bloopers, malapropisms, onomatopoeia, and pranks. It also discusses laughter and health. “Today, gelotologists, or scientists who study laughter, believe that laughing is important to our social bonds.”

      Sports Jokes, Riddles, and Games uses references to sports, athletes, teams, and coaches to illustrate many figures of speech. Yogi Berra, a baseball superstar from the 1940s and 1950s, is quoted for his malapropisms. For example, “You can observe a lot just by watching”. Hint: Read and practice some of the tips and suggestions in the “Your Guide to Funny” sections so you can be ready to add some humour to your presentation when you are highlighting these books to your students. Jokes, riddles, and games might be a fun theme to share around February when the days can get a bit dreary.

      If you need an excuse to buy these books remember, “Laughter is the best medicine”.

Highly Recommended.

Suzanne Pierson is a retired teacher-librarian currently instructing Librarianship courses at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON.

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