Writing funny picture books for a young audience may seem easy. However, pacing and comic timing take real skill, as does sticking the landing. Here are four hilarious new books that amuse, delight, and tickle the good ole funny bone.
How to Count to 1, illustrated by Matt Hunt, written by Caspar Salmon, published by Nosy Crow, ISBN: 9798887770246.
Applaud author Salmon right now for serving up a clever spoof of counting books that actually works AS a counting book. It’s an amusing anti-counting book if you will. Basically the book asks readers to count the ONE object or figure on the page with a certain discernable difference. A worm in disguise for example appears among many other disguise-less worms. You note that one worm wears a disguise, but then go ahead and count the other worms. It’s human nature, even when the book tells you on one spread NOT to count ALL the ducks. Hunt’s cheerfully silly illustrations embrace the text’s growing absurdity with plucky ease. This will work, ahem, one on one, but also with large groups who will unite and giggle at the book’s charming silliness.
Mr. S, illustrated and written by Monica Arnaldo, published by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of HarperCollins), ISBN: 9780063003958.
Actually the less I say about the actual story and the way the wacky misunderstandings and subsequent events play out, the better. Let’s just say that Arnaldo has created one of the funniest, most satisfyingly goofy books of the year. On the first day of school, a group of students think that the sandwich sitting on the teacher’s desk IS their new teacher. And believe me, hilarity ensues. I love books that take a comical situation and fly with it, finding jokes within jokes, and then keep surprising you with new details. Arnaldo does this and more with this delightful back to school romp that would pair beautifully with Ryan T. Higgins’ We Don’t Eat Our Classmates. Just watch what’s going on in the background; there’s a whole slapstick-packed adventure happening. A gem.
Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock, pictures by Erika Kinkz, written by Jesús Trejo, published by Minerva, ISBN: 9781662651045.
Comedian Trejo makes a triumphant picture book debut with this hilarious and yet ultimately sweet story about a son bonding with his landscaper dad on one eventful work day. As they set off to work, the loving father puts little Jesús in charge of the “magical” water-jug, telling his boy that when the water runs out, it will be time to head home. Fun chaos follows as our exuberant hero starts finding, uh, many uses for the water. Kinkz’s adorable, jittery illustrations possess a genuine kids-like view of the world, bursting with a kinetic energy that happily engages. The book has a real narrative arc with a surprising emotional pull and payoff. Emerging from the humorous situation are messages (not heavy handed) about taking pride in one’s work, and a reminder about conserving water. Pair this with John Parra’s equally empowering (if more serious) Growing an Artist.
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish, illustrated and written by Chloe Savage, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 9781536228519.
This might sound strange but I love this book’s physical dimensions (8.56 x 0.38 x 12.06). The volume’s tallness serves this epic deadpan adventure about a ship embarking on a quest up north. The reader sees the deepness of the ocean. The jagged tops of the icebergs reach to the starry heavens. The book’s funny recurring joke involves the resilient scientist and her crew not spotting the massive jellyfish casually swimming (or peeking at them) nearby. Kids looking at books love seeing things the characters cannot spot or find. And it’s an absolutely beautiful book, too, creating a genuine (if stylized) sense of place. Some of the spreads showing cross-sections of the large boat remind one of Wes Anderson movies. The jellyfish’s body floats and glides across the page. It’s all very funny, leading to a terrific and satisfying finale.
Mr. Brian's Picture Book Picks 