Friday, November 30, 2012

The Most Interesting Thing: Make 'em Laugh


"Do you think that all children's books ought to have funny bits in them?" Miss Honey asked.
"I do," Matilda said. "Children are not so serious as grown-ups and they love to laugh."
--From Roald Dahl's Matilda
Do you agree with Miss Honey and Matilda? Should all children's books include some humor? Roald Dahl is a favorite author of mine, mainly because of the outrageous humor in his stories. I don't know about you, but I can definitely use a few "funny bits" in the books I'm reading right now. 

What are your favorite funny books?

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12 comments:

  1. BrookeNovember 30, 2012 at 8:30 AM

    I think *all* books should have "funny bits" in them. Comic relief. Even those classic tragic plays like Antigone have characters or scenes that let the reader breathe a little. That relief is important, no matter what type of story it is (plus, I as a reader love it when the author adds in joke. Humor can't hurt!).

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  2. UnknownNovember 30, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    I enjoy subtle humor in books, the kind that makes me snicker. I agree with Matilda, all children's books should have humor in them, even if it's just a giggle here and there. I love Diary of a Worm, Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing, The Junie B. Jones books, anything with Ramona in it by Beverly Cleary, and a recent read called Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. Good to see you back. :)

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  3. Jennifer R. HubbardNovember 30, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    I include some humor in mine, even if they are largely dark and serious, because I find that life is like that. We laugh even at funerals, even through our tears. We need that.

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  4. Barbara Davis-PylesDecember 2, 2012 at 10:49 AM

    Life is full of funny bits, so books should have them, too... even those far-too-serious grown-up ones that annoy the heck out of me.

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  5. Charlie N. HolmbergDecember 3, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    I do agree--I don't think kids want or need solid drama or the like. Kids laugh what, 47 times more than adults do or some other statistic?

    Much luck with your move to AZ! Why the switch?

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  6. MarciaDecember 7, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    Angelina, you do know you won a critique at my blog, don't you? Just want to make sure you know!

    ReplyDelete
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