It's We Recommend, in which we use our superpowers to find readers the perfect book. Got a kid who needs a recommendation? Write us at thediamondinthewindow (at) gmail (dot) com with the age, reading tastes, favorite books, and any other relevant (or irrelevant) information, and we'll give it a shot. And really? All the good suggestions are in the comments.
There is a clear subsection of you for whom this will, as they say, resonate. Because the truth is, some people just love funny. Last year on Thanksgiving when we went around the table saying what we were thankful for, Diana said "Comedy!" Read on:
My 9 yr old son read his first book independently yesterday, Captain Underpants #3. It was lovely to see him in bed with the flashlight resting on his shoulder, reading away, just as he has seen me do every day of his life. He was pretty pleased with himself getting to chapter 9 the first night and then finishing it the 2nd night. His only complaint was that his hands got tired holding the book!
Prior to this almost all of his reading has been online, so as a book-o-holic, it has rather warmed my heart to see him enjoying an actual so much - carrying it around, telling his friends he is reading it, and showing me his favorite bits.
But while we have lots of books piled all over just waiting for the right moment, he has told me he is only interested in reading really funny books and I am struggling a bit to think of more titles. With me doing the reading he has enjoyed diverse stories like The Moffats, Mrs Pepperpot, Ronia The Robber's Daughter, Winnie The Pooh, Artemis Fowl, etc, but for himself he is asking for serious humor only.
I have The Giggler Treatment, that's a direction I think he might like to go. And I will look into Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He also loves physical humor like the "Make Them Laugh" scene from Singing in the Rain. He likes silly, funny, and of course, the more references to nether regions the better for this 9 yr old!
We have Calvin and Hobbs, but from his obvious delight in finishing 9 chapters in one go, I am thinking he is wanting chapter books just now.
OK: the real sense of a kid behind this one just kills me. Of COURSE he wants something funny! But what shall we do? I mean, there are a whole lot of books that speak to just this type of person, a few of which have found their way to our bookshelves. Diary of a Wimpy Kid? YES. We also have Just Annoying, and who can forget, The Day My Butt Went Psycho? I mean, soon enough this young gentleman will be watching Monty Python on Netflix (if we're any guide), but what book to recommend?
You'll see, of course, that I had no choice but to go straight to Diana. Her pick? This.
I asked her if she was sure it was funny. And? She's sure.
But one is not enough! I ask you, picture this kid with the tired hands gleefully reading Captain Underpants, and see that you have a noble calling to fulfill! Find some funny, Captain-Underpants-like books for this guy, and put them in the comments!
