Funny books

I love this gorgeous picturebook! It celebrates the joy of reading whilst at the same time encouraging diversity and individuality.

In common with children everywhere, when Doodle Cat finds himself at a loose end he is immediately extremely bored and initially has a hard time entertaining himself. In an attention-seeking ploy, he finds something to occupy him, but will it really be useful to alleviate his boredom? After some amusing trial and error, Doodle Cat realizes what he can do, and do well, using his new discovery.

Emily Gravett is an old hat at the picturebook game except that, unlike the stylish characters in this book strive to be, she really is always fresh and fun. She’s above fashion, too, because her books bear her trademark sense of individuality, playfulness, and that quintessential twist.

‘Magical’, ‘giggle-inducing’ and ‘charming’ are a few words that came to mind when I read Class Six and the Eel of Fortune by Sally Prue. This book encompasses all the fun of a classroom with a magical twist and a hint of mischief all wrapped into one. It is all about helping Class Six’s favourite magical teacher make the school fête happen while trying to hide it all from Mrs Knowall, the cranky school inspector.

That it is printed on a Risograph, an eco-friedly, low tech printing system using soy ink which produces books in which the images are all slightly different, is a great reason to rush out and purchase Hic?, produced by that splendidly innovative Indian publisher, Tara Books. But of course, it is the delightful images, allied to an entertaining saga of a little girl who seeks a cure for her hiccups, that is the first reason for anyone who cares about good books to add this to their collection.

This funny and thought-provoking book is the latest offering from Barrington Stoke’s super-readable teen series. It is a great book for all readers. It focuses on friendship and family. It also looks at the all too common problems of poverty and bullying through the eyes of the geeky and highly likeable protagonist Cal, who volunteers at his local food bank, where Jacob, a troubled new student at Cal’s school, gets help. While Cal respects Jacob’s shameful secret, Jacob himself is defensive and angry.

This delightfully Gallic offering from Gecko Press explores cause and effect to hilarious ends. We are presented with wonderfully naïve, expressive before-and-after shots of sixteen scenes. The action itself happens off-stage, which is a fantastic prompt for children to engage their imaginations and develop the world of the book beyond the page.

Jon Burgerman is best known for his doodle-based urban art which spans a multitude of disciplines including canvases, large-scale murals, sculpture, toys, apparel, design, print and even people – as permanent tattoos and slightly less permanent (and hugely less mum/life-partner worrying) drawings. His doodles are unique, colourful, kid-friendly and instantly recognisable, so it’s no surprise that he has turned his talents to children’s books.

Impeccably researched, concise and laugh-out-loud funny, this unique biography uses beautiful graphics and brightly coloured charts to illustrate Austen’s life, talent and enduring legacy. Learn about the etiquette of a Regency ball, see the hierarchy of servants in a middle-class home, and compare the degree to which each Austen heroine was ‘marrying up’ financially.

It’s My Pond is the latest book from French author and illustrator Claire Garralon and has been translated into English by Sarah Ardizonne for Book Island, who specialise in translated picturebooks. In it, yellow duck stumbles upon a nice pond and claims it as her own. She is joined by white duck who also thinks the pond is quite lovely and suggests they split it in two. Then red duck wants a piece and then green duck too, and very soon the nice little pond is split into tiny bits and pieces.