Last night at the library, I was asked to recommend a funny book for a fifth grader. I immediately thought of two authors that crack me up every single time I read them — Barbara Robinson and Jean Shepherd. These two women have written the Holy Trinity of funny kids books and I *highly* recommend them to kids and adults alike….
A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd.
Yep. The one and the same as the ubiquitous movie that is shown 24 hours a day from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The adventures of Ralphie, Flick, and the Old Man are absolutely hilarious. Fans of the movie will find the book very similar, and anyone who grew up in the 1950s or 1960s will appreciate the “historical” references. I am especially fond of the Old Man and his forays into the basement to deal with the “clanky old son of bitch” furnace that never stayed lit, or the pack of neighborhood dogs that ate the Christmas ham.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
The Herdmans are one of the funniest (and saddest) literary families ever. We all know or knew a family like the Herdmans, where it seemed like there were a million kids in the family, and they all ran wild. The Herdmans joined the cast of the local Christmas pageant just so they can get free donuts, but end up learning a little bit about themselves and what Christmas is all about.
AND…..
The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson
The Herdmans are back, but this year they’ve ruined Halloween. The town cancels Halloween because the Herdmans routinely ruin it by setting fires and stealing everyone’s candy. The school faculty attempt to salvage some of the fun by putting on a Halloween party & haunted house, but the Herdmans crash…with unexpected results.
Three of my all-time favorites. Share ’em with your kids or read ’em to yourself. Either way, you will laugh until ya can’t laugh no more….
It's All About the Book 