If You Laugh, I’m Starting This Book Over

Rules are a good way to start off. Then everyone knows what is expected. The rules for the readers are pretty simple: don’t look at the book, do look at the listener, and get the listener to look at you. The narrator then identifies the reader as a kid and announces it has a very serious big thing to say and demands there will be no laughing. If there is any laughing, everything needs to be started all over again. And it goes on and on and on about no laughing. The narrator introduces himself (Chicken McStinkbreath Eyeball) and introduces the reader (Captain Funnyhair Shozzdripple). And on and on.

Author Chris Harris has written a book that will have kids scratching their heads trying to figure out what is coming. The point seems to be that no one is allowed to laugh, while the text is trying to make listeners laugh. The illustrations are filled with silly details and goofy pictures all designed to get kids to giggle. This book might be successful in getting kids to laugh, but once they have heard this book, it will quickly lose its magic. There is little re-readability.