Something Funny Happened at the Library: How to Create Humorous Programs for Children and Young Adults

176 Pages·2002·0.48 MB·English

by  Rob Reid

S o m e t h i n g Fu n n y
Happened at the Library
H C H
OW TO REATE UMOROUS
P C
ROGRAMS FOR HILDREN
Y A
AND OUNG DULTS
Rob Reid
Something Funny
Happened at the Library
H C H
OW TO REATE UMOROUS
P C
ROGRAMS FOR HILDREN
Y A
AND OUNG DULTS
Rob Reid
American Library Association
Chicago
2003
While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in
this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reli-
ability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any
person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication.
Project editor, Eloise L. Kinney
Composition by ALA Editions in Tekton and Berkeley using QuarkXPress 4.1 on a PC
platform
Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in 10-point coated
cover stock by Victor Graphics
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. (cid:2)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reid, Rob
Something funny happened at the library : how to create humorous programs
for children and young adults / by Rob Reid.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8389-0836-5
1. Children’s libraries––Activity programs. 2. Young adults’ libraries––Activity
programs. 3. Storytelling. I. Title.
Z718.1.R34 2002
027.62(cid:3)5––dc21 2002008970
Copyright © 2003 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those
which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
Printed in the United States of America.
07 06 05 04 03 5 4 3 2 1
Dedicated to Jayne––
Who, upon hearing that I had
the basic “stuff” in the computer
and now needed to find
a voice for the book, replied,
“How about Donald Duck’s?”

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
INTRODUCTION ix
1 Tricks of the Trade 1
2 Humor Programs for Preschoolers
and Primary School-Age Children 7
Bad Hair Day 7
Crazy Critters: Animals That Don't Want
to Behave Like Animals 12
Picky Eaters 16
With an Oink-Oink Here and an Oink-Oink There:
Piggy Stories 22
3 Humor Programs for Intermediate
School-Age Children 29
Traditional Story Program Format 29
School Daze 30
Special Events 33
Boo Ha-Ha! 34
Theme Parties 37
Wayside School Party 37
Captain Underpants Party 39
The Time Warp Trio Party 41
v
vi Contents
4 Humor Programs for Middle-School
and High-School Students 43
Storytelling and Writing Programs 43
Liars’ Club 44
Spoonerisms 45
Finish the Story 51
Reading Program 52
Comedy Club 52
5 Reader's Theater 55
The Web Files 56
6 Lively Library Tours and School Visits 60
Tour Script 60
School Visits 62
7 Raps and Closings 69
8 The Funniest Books in Your Library 79
Picture Books 79
Fractured Fairy Tales 94
Easy Readers 110
Juvenile Fiction Chapter Books 114
Poetry Collections 122
Anthologies and Folklore Collections 128
The Funniest Children's Authors and Illustrators 130
9 Two Last Treats 136
Unattended Br . . . Uh, Children 136
Story Hour for the Unaware 137
INDEX 139
Acknowledgments
T
hanks to Woody Allen, Dave Barry, John Belushi, Robert Benchley, Bob
and Ray, Carol Burnett, Cheers, Michael Feldman, Jeff Foxworthy, Firesign
Theatre, Garrison Keillor, Gary Larson, Laurel and Hardy, David Letterman,
Mad magazine, the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, Mystery Science Theatre
3000, The Onion, Helen and Eldo Reid, Charles Schulz, Second City, the
Smothers Brothers, James Thurber, Bill Waterson, Robin Williams, and
Steven Wright for shaping my humor.
Thanks to Laura, Julia, Alice, and Sam.
And thanks to the thousands of kids throughout the years for laughing.
PERMISSIONS
The author gratefully acknowledges permission to use the following:
“Answering Machine Messages” by Ann Shuda; “Hippo Hop Hokey Pokey”
by Kati Tvruska; “The Stinky Cheese Man Song” by Krista Falteisek; The Web
Filesby Margie Palatini.
vii

Introduction
“Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”
—Attributed to many sources
M
y job is to make kids laugh.
As a teacher, storyteller, writer, actor, neighbor, and father, I try to make
kids laugh to get their attention. I try to make them laugh to make them feel
good about themselves. I try to make them laugh because it’s the best way I
know to make a connection with folks who are many years younger than I.
As a librarian, I try to make kids laugh for all these reasons, but also to
ensure that they’ll make a positive connection with the library—hopefully,
one they’ll have all their lives.
There are many research studies that show the benefits of humor in our
busy lives. This is not one of them. This guide, which is aimed at both the
experienced humorist and the many folks who tell me they’re not naturally
funny, is designed to share my favorite humor strategies and resources. It
focuses on three aspects of humor for youth services librarians: tricks of the
trade, programming models, and select bibliographies of humor books.
C’mon. Let’s dive right into the good stuff. And if things go accordingly,
you’ll have the library director, city hall, the county board, and other area res-
idents talking about all that loud laughter in the library.
ix