Category: Humor

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

10/28/2014

Did you ever wonder where stories come from? Haroun’s father the storyteller says that he has a special tap into the Sea of Stories that he draws his inspiration from. So when he runs out of ideas, Haroun knows where he must go to fix things. After tricking a genie into helping him, Haroun embarks on a quest to save the Sea of Stories from the evil forces seeking to destroy it.

Haroun meets all kinds of fantastic creatures during his adventure from shadow warriors to floating gardeners. The book is full of witty wordplay and memorable lines. If you like classic fantasy adventures stories like The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland you’ll love Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th Grade
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, People of Color

Dodger by Terry Pratchett

10/24/2014

Dodger earned his nickname for his ability to dodge out of danger and he's stayed true to his name. He makes a living by finding coins, jewels, and other debris in the sewers of London. One night as he's coming out of a drain he sees a lady in distress and rushes to her aid. This sets off a chain of events that leads him to meeting Charles Dickens, getting a close shave from Sweeney Todd, and even attending a posh dinner party. But when an international assassin is hired to kill him, will he be able to dodge him too?

This book is chock full of interesting facts about Victorian London from Dickens and Disraeli to toshers and cockney rhyming slang. Dodger somehow finds himself rubbing elbows with a variety of famous and infamous people from the era as he woos a damsel in distress and finds his way out of the gutter.

Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Erica's Picks
7th - 8th
Tags: Adventure, Fast Paced, Historical Fiction, Humor, Retellings

The Gumazing Gum Girl! by Rhode Montijo

10/23/2014

Have you ever had gum stuck in your hair? How did you get it out? Gabby's mother uses peanut butter to do the trick, and warns Gabby to stop her constant chewing. But Gabby can't resist. She blows a giant bubble that touches the telephone wires and zaps her. This turns her into the gumazing gum girl! At first Gabby just wants to get out of the sticky situation, but she soon realizes that being gum girl has its advantages. Will Gabby save the day or will her bubble burst?

This quick read is packed full of laughs and classic superhero tropes. The illustrations are in black, white, and bubblegum-pink and show off gum girl's special powers and crime-fighting action scenes. An excellent early chapter book for fans of superheroes and humor.

The Gumazing Gum Girl! by Rhode Montijo

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd Grade
Tags: Fantasy, Humor, People of Color, School Stories

How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks

10/23/2014

Bogles are good at hiding. The only hint of one might be that children keep disappearing. There are those as don't believe in bogles, but Birdie knows better. She's been a bogler's apprentice for quite some time and she's helped her master to catch many monsters. Bogles love children, so they make excellent bait. All Birdie has to do is stand in a circle of salt and sing. What could be simpler than that? It's a lot better than many of the other jobs orphans take. Except of course that a moment's hesitation or a stumble could mean that her apprenticeship will come to a swift and deadly end.

Birdie is strong-willed and independent as she fights to be recognized for the hero she is despite people constantly underestimating her. The other characters are fun to read about as well from the dodger-like Ned to the impressive Miss Eames. The bogle-catching episodes provide plenty of suspense while the bigger story provides a mystery to be solved. Jinks, as usual, finds ways to slip humor in throughout the story.

How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th Grade
Tags: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris

10/23/2014

Have you ever imagined dressing up in a suit of armor, slaying dragons, and battling giants? If so, you'll love this story about Sir Gawain. The Green Knight shows up at the round table one night and offers anyone the chance to hit him with an axe if he will allow the Green Knight to do the same in one year and one day. Sir Gawain volunteers and beheads the Green Knight, but the Green Knight just picks his own head up and reminds Gawain to meet him again in a year. Should Sir Gawain keep his promise or should he use the year to run as far away as he can? What would you do?

Fans of King Arthur will enjoy this new version of the story told with a lot of humor and heart. There’s a lot of action as Sir Gawain battles his foes, but it also talks about why vows were so important in Sir Gawain's time and why Arthur valued manners in knights as much as their fighting skills. The pictures show the action and provide additional humor. A great book to read aloud or for students looking for an early chapter book to read themselves.

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd Grade
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Humor, Retellings

Snarked by Roger Langridge

10/23/2014

The king has been missing for three months. Trouble is brewing and the king's trusted advisers are scheming villains. When Princess Scarlett discovers their evil plot, she decides to lead a rescue party to find her father. But the only men she can find to help are the infamous tricksters the Walrus and the Carpenter. Will the young queen, two con artists, and her baby brother Rusty be able to survive mad pirates, evil assassins, and a dreaded snark to save the king?

These comics are just plain fun. The nonsense world of Lewis Carroll is expanded in a most delightful way by Langridge. He clearly had as much fun writing and illustrating the comics as I did reading them and it shows in the humorous details and creative panel layouts. You'll get more of the jokes if you have a knowledge of Lewis Carroll, but even if you don't there's still plenty to entertain here. I'd give it to fans of nonsense and humor.

Snarked by Roger Langridge

Erica's Picks
2nd - 8th Grade
Tags: Animals, Comics, Fantasy, Humor, Retellings

Henry and the Incredibly Incorrigible, Inconveniently Intelligent Smart Human by Lynn Messina

10/22/2014

What would the world be like if robots dominated and humans were an often buggy technology? Just ask Henry. He's an average bot going through his difficult 13th upgrade. One day a human goes berserko in his mother's shop and they get an experimental replacement. This new human is unlike any he's seen before. He can complete complex tasks and he even likes to play video games and read comic books! Henry knows that humans aren't like robots, but he can't help feeling like this new human is more than just an appliance. Will Henry be willing to risk it all when his new friend needs him to break into the motherboard?

I absolutely love the humor of this novel and the way it has robots and humans switch places in society provides plenty of opportunity for funny comparisons. Henry is the robot equivalent of a teenager and has a sort of virus that can make processing information at school difficult. The way this is described will ring true with many readers. The description of their adventures as they break into the motherboard reminds me of a video game and gamers are sure to enjoy it.

Henry and the Incredibly Incorrigible, Inconveniently Intelligent Smart Human by Lynn Messina

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th Grade
Tags: Friendship, Humor, School Stories, Science Fiction

The Twelve-Fingered Boy by John Hornor Jacobs

10/8/2014

If you understand the basics of supply and demand, you can make a good life for yourself anywhere. Even in juvenile detention. In prison, supplies of everything are limited and demand is high. But there's one thing in particular the inmates crave: candy. Some like it sweet and some like it sour but everyone likes something. Shreve has the candy market cornered and is set to serve the rest of his sentence in comfort--until he gets a new cellmate. Right away, Shreve can tell there's something off about Jack. Then he finds out that he has twelve fingers and twelve toes. That's only the tip of the bizarre iceberg. Soon Shreve and Jack are on the run and caught in a plot straight from an X-Men comic. The people chasing them want much more than to just throw them back in prison. But how can they hide from someone who can invade people's minds?

The plot is absolutely relentless and Shreve's voice adds humor to the story even in its darker corners. The villains are delightfully sinister and the heroes brave and resourceful. The story isn't entirely black and white though. The plot keeps twisting leaving the motives of even the villains in question. In addition to these acts of mutant violence the story sheds light on some harsh realities of the non-supernatural variety. Jacobs does a great job balancing a fast-paced plot with thought-provoking elements.

The Twelve-Fingered Boy by John Hornor Jacobs

Erica's Picks
8th Grade
Tags: Adventure, Fast-Paced, Friendship, Horror, Humor, Issues Fiction, Supernatural

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

10/8/2014

The daughter of a diplomat and an artist, Delilah grew up traveling the world. She studied archery in France, acrobatics in Indonesia, survival in the jungles of India, and fighting in Japan. She's a member of several royal courts, owns a flying machine, and is a skilled escape artist. She is not someone you want to mess with. So when she winds up in a Turkish prison, she is not concerned. The question on her mind isn't how she will escape or even when she will escape. It's where did the Lieutenant in charge of her interrogation learn how to make such a fine cup of tea?

This comic has everything that I look for in an adventure: a strong lead, witty banter, gorgeous visuals, and tea! Okay, so maybe I don't usually look for the last one in adventure tales, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Delilah is a classic action hero with an improbable laundry list of skills, moral ambiguity, and foolhardy confidence but Cliff twists these elements into something unique.

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th Grade
Tags: Adventure, Comics, Historical Fiction, Humor

Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell

8/21/2014

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live near a monster? Sure it would be scary at times, but admit it: you think it would be pretty cool! Well, it might not be as cool if you live in a town like Stoker-on-Avon. In a world where towns take pride in their local monster and even sell souvenirs with their image, Stoker-on-Avon got the short end of the stick. Their monster hasn't terrorized the town in ages and his sighs can be heard from miles away as he mopes around in his cave. If its citizens want to have any pride in their town or attract tourists, they're going to have to whip their monster into shape!

I love the way this comic turns the idea of a village monster on its head. The way the monsters have been commodified like Disney characters and the excited looks on the villagers' faces when they attack is hilarious! Even more funny is the angsty teenager in a monster's form. Even the body language is perfect as the monster slouches and flops down with his arm draped over his eyes. I'd give this to anyone looking for a humorous fantasy comic.

Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell

Eric'as Pick
4th - 6th grade
Tags: Adventure, Comics, Fantasy, Humor