Guys Read Funny Business edited by Jon Scieszka
Walden Pond Press 2010
ISBN 978-0-06-19674-2
pp. 268
Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process, and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.” – E. B. White
Guys Read Funny business is a compilation of ten humorous short stories featuring young male protagonists edited by Jon Scieszka,"A former teacher, Scieszka — the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, appointed this year by the Library of Congress " (NY Times — http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/books/review/VonDrasek-t.html). In his introduction he explains the importance of humor – “…humor is seriously on of the best kids of reading…Your brain is doing some great work when it’s laughing.”
Enjoy this youtube video of many of the participating authors - setting up "the joke" - I dare you not to chuckle.
Enjoy this youtube video of many of the participating authors - setting up "the joke" - I dare you not to chuckle.
These stories ran the gamut of wise-guy types to science fiction to the outrageous. The stories were all fun with likeable heroes and obnoxious villains. Some of the parents, too, were larger than life. They reminded me of the classic short stories the Wayside School by Louis Sachar. I feel like these stories would fall into the same wonderful read aloud tradition that the Wayside School adventures. I was drawn to this collection due to the many popular young adult authors that came together in this book - specifically Eoin Colfer, Jack Gantos and Jeff Kinney. I am sure several of these names will grab young readers attention. My favorite story was written by Eoin Colfer named Artemis Begins (a play on his popular Artemis Fowl series). I laughed out loud at the pranks by the four brothers described in this short story and winced at the reactions they elicited from their poor mother.
Jon Scieszka has a great site that gives tons of suggestions for boys to read in all different genres - highly suggest this site for any educator or parent of boys. He suggests books by categorizing them in such fun ways as "at least one explosion" - take time to check in out here http://www.guysread.com/
Other short stories to enjoy if Guys Read Funny Business was a good choice for you:
Other short stories to enjoy if Guys Read Funny Business was a good choice for you:
Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up by Jon Scieszka
NY Times review here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/books/review/VonDrasek-t.html
Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen edited by James Howe
Described as a "must read" for middle school students. See a full review here. http://www.amazon.com/review/RPBAXVTLKSOC0/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#RPBAXVTLKSOC0Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Stories by Jane Yolen
Get an overview of this short story collection on the author's official site here.