On Wednesday of this week there is a very happy holiday! March 19, 2025, is national "Let's Laugh Day." I am always looking for a good reason to smile and have something to laugh about. These books will lead you in the right direction to get a smile on your face and bring some laugh-out-loud joy into your heart.
By Hazel Quintanilla
Franklin, TN: Flowerpot Press, 2023. Picture Book.
This book has top secret info on monsters. A reader has to commit to taking a "monsterlovers oath" before reading the book. I loved the monsters in this book. They are listed in alphabetical order, have amazing fact sheets, and hilarious illustrations. I think this book will spark your imagination and keep you laughing. Maybe you'll even want to find and track some of your own monsters!
Written by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Mackenzie Haley
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. Picture Book.
So many terrific books start out with "Once upon a time," and this book is no different! It tells the tale of discovering a haunted house and the terrifying kitten inside. Well, if the cover is any indication, the kitten might be more likely to make you laugh than shudder in terror. I appreciated the humor in this book and also think it could be a good starting point for talking to kids about things that they might worry will be scary, and end up not being that way. I loved the additional animals that work with the kitten, and the vibrant colors the illustrator used.
Written by Mike Allegra
Illustrated by Jenn Harney
Salem, MA: Page Street Kids, 2023. Picture Book.
I laughed and laughed while reading this book! A pirate is looking for a parrot to be his pal. Along comes a penguin instead. Pirate gets frustrated when the penguin doesn't behave the way a parrot does. Imagine that! A series of frustrating encounters lead to further trouble for the potential friendship. Check this book out to read and laugh with someone you love.
By Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser
Toronto: Tundra Book Group, 2023. Picture Book.
For any child or grown-up who has ever looked for shapes in the clouds, Ploof is a great book. The narrative lends itself perfectly to being a fun and interactive read-aloud. I think kids will get a kick out of the transformations Ploof goes through. The limited use of color really draws attention to the ploofy cloud shapes. I also enjoyed the imaginative aspect to this book.
Illustrated by Marc Brown
New York: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2023. Picture Book.
Sometimes the quickest way to get a laugh out of someone, is to tell them a silly joke. That's exactly what Funny tries to do for his friend Hunny, who is feeling a little grumpy. It is rough when even Funny's best jokes don't seem to cheer up Hunny or make him smile. The rhyming words, silly jokes, and unexpected ending will surely make you laugh!
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