Don't Make Me Laugh

A cursory glance at James Stevenson and a person might make the mistake of considering him the poor man's Quentin Blake. The style is similar, if unique in its own particular way. The subject matter rather than accompanying Roald Dahl's books instead are best found alongside poet Jack Prelutsky's titles. On closer examination, however, it becomes clear that Stevenson is his own beast. Unlike many illustrators of children's books, Mr. Stevenson keeps mostly to himself and doesn't go in for a lot of Internet interviews. His work has continued steadily over the years, showing up alongside such impressive names as Dr. Seuss, Charlotte Zolotow, and the aforementioned Prelutsky. He's written cartoons for the New Yorker and if you saw one of his pictures you'd instantly recognize it from one source or another. During the New York City transit strike of December 2005 I was working at a library close to my home when a fellow librarian asked if I was familiar with, "Don't Make Me Laugh". I confessed that though I'd seen it time and time again (and was familiar with its sequel, "No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling"), I hadn't actually read it, per say. The other librarian replied that she'd just had a patron raving over the book. They called it the funniest thing they'd ever seen. A title that their kids ask for over and over again. A book so amusing that it rivaled (GASP!) "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus". I was intrigued and took the title home immediately. And while I do not think this makes a serious pass at the pigeon's throne, I can say that with this book Stevenson breaks down a fourth wall or two and engages kids in a truly interactive experience. Right from the start you meet Mr. Frimdimpny. Though it is unclear if he is a crocodile or an alligator, one fact cannot be ignored. Mr. Frimdimpny is in charge of this book and there are certain rules that must be obeyed. There shall be no laughing, no smiling, and if either of these rules are broken then the reader must go to the front of the book. "It's that way", says Mr. Frimdimpny with a flourish of his hand. One last rule is proclaimed: "Don't do anything you are told not to do" (which may take some parsing on the kids' parts). We then get treated to various funny little stories. Two teddy bears get one another to smile (and are thrown swiftly to the front of the book by the ever vigilant Frimdimpny). Pierre the waiter confides in the reader that he is ticklish and marks the spot accordingly (leading to some predictable results involving a large platter of colorful food). Fendently the elephant has a cold that is brought on by the reader's breathing. Finally we meet a dapper hippo in, oh joy, a fancy glass store who dances when the reader starts to hum, whistle, or sing. By the book's end Mr. Frimdimpny is suspicious. He does a test to see if the kids are smiling but, in the course of it, finds the reader's face to be SO funny that we end with a smiling Frimdimpny ma

My 6 year old daughter has taken this book out 3 times [so far] since discovering it in her school library. Not only has it encouraged her to read, she and her friend acted it out as a play, with props and all!She thinks it is the most hilarious book she has ever read!

All of the second graders at William Halley Elementary in Fairfax Station, Virginia enjoyed this book when it was read aloud during a recent library visit. When asked to review the title for other children, their comments ranged from, "This is a really, really funny book!" to "I liked the rules for reading the best!" to "Tell the author to write another book like this one!" The seven and eight year old students loved being ordered to return to the front of the book whenever they laughed at the characters' antics; they appreciated being participants in the stories, not just readers. The students enthusiastically recommend this title, and give the book a Halley Hornet rating of 10 out of a possible 10.