
Dobler: Humorous children's books can brighten a day

The cold, long days of January become a little brighter with laughter and a smile. These humorous books will bring a little brightness to what might be a dreary winter day.

 

“The Birthday Queen” by Audrey and Don Wood, 2013, The Sky Blue Press, ages 4-8.


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From clowns, to cake, to party decorations, the Birthday Queen works tirelessly to make sure everything is perfect. This simple text is contrasted by brightly colored, full-page illustrations. The husband and wife team of Don and Audrey Wood are known for their whimsical writing style and beautifully painted illustrations. Readers may be familiar with some of their other works, “The Napping House,” a Caldecott Honor book, and “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub.” Visit their website at http://www.audreywood.com.

“Bugs in My Hair” by David Shannon, 2013, The Sky Blue Press, ages 4-8.

“Bugs in My Hair” turns the topic of head lice on its head. Instead of being one of shame and humiliation, David Shannon uses humor to share information about battle-tested anti-lice weapons. Readers may recognize Shannon’s other works, including the “No! David” series and “A Bad Case of Stripes.” His outlandish sense of humor and exaggerated head lice illustrations make for great fun in his newest book.

“Spike: Ugliest Dog in the Universe” by Debra Frasier, 2013, Beach Lane Books, ages 5-8.

Spike may be the ugliest dog in town, maybe even the universe, but he describes himself as good-hearted, loyal and smart. These traits are put to the test when his owner leaves town without him, and Spike is only a few dog biscuits away from the dog pound. Spike soon finds himself taking advice from Angeline the cat. No more chasing, no more slobbering, stay clean and quiet, and maybe a human family will come to love him. Through this process, Spike helps a friend and becomes an unlikely hero. Debra Frazier’s unique illustrations are collage style, created with found objects, including denim and other fabric textures, making the reader want to reach out and touch the details.

“Battle Bunny” by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrations by Matthew Myers, 2013, Simon & Schuster, ages 5-9.

Jon Scieszka is known for his zany sense of humor, as seen in “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” and “The Stinky Cheese Man.” This time his wackiness has reached new heights. “Battle Bunny” had its beginnings as a simple children’s book about a bunny’s birthday, until a young boy, Alex, uses his pencil to make the book his own. Scratches, doodles and conversation are added to the pages to liven up the story. Bunny becomes a bad guy, raging through the forest to promote his evil plan, and Alex draws himself into the story as the hero. Lots of action, clever vocabulary, and detailed sketches by Alex will encourage readers to take a closer look. Adults may need to remind children that taking such liberties with the pencil in a book isn’t always a good idea, although it seems to have worked out for Scieszka, as he has another hit!

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