My Dad Thinks He's Funny

K-Gr 2—Any child whose father responds to questions or requests with a silly quip will identify with this young narrator. Repeating the refrain "My dad thinks he's funny," the boy gives abundant examples. "When I say, 'Dad, I don't know how,' he says, 'I know How. He's What's brother.'" "And when I tell Dad I think there's something in my eye, he says, 'Yeah, an eyeball.'" And he's not the only one who is the butt of dad's jokes. The boy tells readers, "When people say, 'Would you like sugar?' Dad says, 'I'm sweet enough,'" and when Mom says, "I'm just going to jump in the shower,' Dad says, 'That sounds dangerous.'" Many of the illustrations, rendered in mixed media, include childlike outline drawings and are filled with visual jokes as well. One shows a greatly enlarged dad viewed from below intent on making "a special announcement," and his son racing to leave the room "before it really starts to smell." Another depicts a toilet in the center of a maze accompanying dad's "Don't get lost!" in response to his son's statement, "I'm going to the bathroom." If the jokes get too corny for them, readers can always perfect the eye roll, shown here in four easy steps. A fun book for kids and parents to share and groan over together.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT