Historical February 1984 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Some books can make a smile last from Christmas till early spring. Grown-ups have to read you picture books because the words are usually too hard if you’re 3, 4, or 5 years old. ‘They’ll love every minute of it if the books are Graham Oakley’s Church Mice books. You may not understand everything, but you will definitely giggle as the mice open a restaurant, tie a burglar’s bootlaces together, lead a protest march for rodent rights. and engage in other comical, very British adventures with their friend, Sampson, the church cat. William Steig’s books will make you all laugh. too.
In The Amazing Bone, Pearl, the pig, is rescued from the fox’s oven by a magic talking bone. Read the book to find out what the words, “yibbam sibibble” mean to a fox. Never overlook the poetry shelf.
No discussion of funny books would be complete without Shel Silverstein.
In Where the Sidewalk Ends, he gives instructions for bathing an armadillo and describes what happens when spaghetti, rather than confetti, is thrown at a party. Read about the boy who has a “crying and spying young sister for sale,” and about the notebook salad and big slice of soup you’d be eating “if the world was crazy.” Laughable Limericks is an old collection of limericks on many subjects by many different authors.
Reading them may teach you new words, inspire you to write some of your own limericks, and most of all, will cheer you up. Remember: “No matter how grouchy. you’re feeling, You’ll find the smile more or less healing.
It grows in a wreath All around the front teeth – Thus preserving the face from congealing.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1984_02.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
