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Tickle Your Funny Bone - English Titles
Poor Andrew can’t eat his breakfast! He has a loose tooth and it really hurts. When Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko team up to tackle this typical childhood dilemma, the result is guaranteed to be hilarious. Based on a story that Munsch frequently recounts to live audiences, this boisterous tale rolls along with the refrain "Ooh, ooh, ooh! It’s a loose tooth! I know what to do!" But it seems nobody really does know what to do. Mom can’t pull it out with her fingers and Dad can’t budge it with his big pair of pliers. Neither the dentist nor the tooth fairy is any more successful, even though they resort to some rather unorthodox tooth extraction procedures. Finally, Andrew’s best friend Louis takes matters into his own hands, comes up with an ingenious solution, and saves the day!
This enchanting book of verse describes the world from a dog’s point of view. There are funny poems: "My grievance is so very small / I’m tempted to forget it. / But when it’s you who threw the ball / Why must I go and get it?" and short poems: "Other dogs will sit and stay. / Beagles like to run away." Forty poems in all (to be savored silently or aloud, one-at-a-time or in a single sitting) beg to be read, remembered and repeated. Funny, light-hearted illustrations, which capture the sheer joy of being a dog and reflect the good-natured playfulness of the poetry, brighten every page.
What do the captain of the hockey team, the animal rights activist, the science teacher, the aspiring screenwriter, and the young scientist have in common? Answer: a chicken. That’s right, a chicken! Well, not just any chicken. Henrietta is her name. It starts out to be just another predictable year for the grade-seven class at South Middle School. That is, until Henrietta, a science experiment gone awry, turns the whole town upside down. With feathers flying everywhere, attempts are made to save her from a pre-destined fate of becoming Kentucky Fried at the science fair. This is a story with true Canadian flavour, about a small town, hockey, friendships, and a chicken that doesn’t skate.
Coriander "Feet" Corbishly isn’t losing her mind. The dog with strange, colourful diamond-shaped markings on his back really is communicating with Feet - and her three best friends, Harry, Viv, and Neville are taking part in the conversation too! These four high-spirited budding screenwriters befriend a telepathic canine named Duke. Sent by the Pacific Rim Time Agency, Duke has traveled in his specially designed doghouse back in time from the year 2195, only to become stranded in Feet’s backyard. Zany adventures abound as the teens attempt to return Duke to the future. There’s a bungled dog-napping, Feet’s trip to the era of Captain Vancouver’s explorations on the West Coast, and hilarious encounters with the eccentric Professor Purzelbaum. Bowering’s writing style will challenge young readers. His witty dialogue and fast-paced plot, full of twists and turns, are sure to capture and sustain their attention throughout the novel.
The lovable crew of characters from Peek-a-boo at the Zoo return for another comical adventure. After a mischievous monkey picks the lock of the zoo gate, ten colourful cartoon animals wander downtown and find themselves lost. What do they do? Where do they go? To the Downtown Lost and Found, of course.This short story, designed for new readers, uses lyrical, repetitive text to encourage word recognition. Delightful in their simplicity of design, Bianchi’s illustrations will ensure readers will want to read this book again and again.
Harry is a decorator of very special, one-of-a-kind cakes. For his young friend, Ben, he creates caramel trains chugging down chocolate tracks and a mocha cowboy spinning a butterscotch lasso. Unfortunately, the bakery is sold to people who don’t appreciate Harry’s artistry and he is out of a job. Harry’s comical attempts at other activities, including a day on the golf course, where he manages to hit everything but the golf ball, are less-than-successful. Defeated, Harry slumps down into a chair in front of the television. Ben misses Harry’s smiles and laughter - until the day when Ben receives some clay. But he has difficulty sculpting it. Could Harry help him? Skeptical at first, Harry squeezes, then turns the lump of clay into a rose. Harry’s smiles return. He begins to create special sculptures, each one different. Illustrator Werner Zimmermann’s cakes are so realistic you’ll want to lick the icing. The range of emotions in the faces involves you. For anyone who has ever decorated cakes, sculpted with clay, or had a sad friend, this story will touch you.
Why do all the cows at China Plate Farm have such grand names, while Edmund the pig is simply "Edmund"? When his best friend Hillary the hen explains how names like "Early-morning-clouds" and "Steeple-above-the-trees" are given to each cow, Edmund decides to adopt a fancy name for himself. The other farm animals, however, are simply too preoccupied with the impending arrival of a new calf to pay much attention to Edmund and his antics. Edmund feels ignored and disappointed, but his spirits are soon bolstered when the animals call on him to name the little calf. Edmund’s suggestion receives unanimous approval among the animals and, with his self-confidence restored, Edmund is once again content to be himself. This is a warm and charming farmyard tale filled with whimsical illustrations that will delight both the young and the young at heart!
Elliot moose woke up and was ready for adventure. Today he and his best friend Socks are going exploring, and he is ready! But then the unexpected happens, Elliot has an accident. Elliot tries to be brave while all his friends attempt to help him out, but no one can fix his leg. Finally, Socks has an idea - it’s Beaverton beaver to the rescue. At last Elliot is able to turn cartwheels again and is ready once more for adventure. This is a delightful story about friends helping each other. Beautifully written and illustrated, little ones will be able to empathize with Elliot as he tries to cope with one of life’s setbacks.
Emma has grown from a fluffy chick into a feathery white hen! And to her amazement she can lay eggs. But when she sees the farmer’s wife scramble her perfect eggs she becomes one confused chicken! " ‘TOK!’ said Emma ‘Is that how they want my eggs? Then that’s how I’ll make them!’ " So she tries scrambling, boiling, painting and hiding her eggs, but nobody is pleased. " ‘No, no, no, no Emma’ cried the farmer, when he saw it. ‘That’s not what we do with eggs!’ " Emma has had enough, if they don’t like her eggs, then she won’t give them any more. A wonderful story for little ones who are eager to please, but are just learning the rules of the wide world around them.
A new sheep arrives in the farmyard, all alone, and he is very different - his wool is red! This tale of Erik, an Icelandic sheep, begins with a little girl reading him stories about his homeland and the exciting history of the Vikings and their battles. Erik’s imagination is sparked, and he tells his fellow sheep all about his past, both real and imagined. Despite the fact that his stories give the other sheep indigestion, Eric keeps telling them over and over again. Through a run-in with a bucket, he learns a valuable lesson about how to deal with his peers. He also discovers that a good storyteller cannot be kept down! Beautiful watercolours by Linda Hendry illustrate the story.
The story begins with Sam Foster, a grade-six student who is on his way to his mother’s bulk-food store, the Bulging Bin, to do his chores. As he rushes to the store he realizes his pants are driving him crazy. What is wrong with them? Well, finding out what the problem is causes a hilarious chain reaction of events that introduces us to the main characters of the story: J. Earl Goodenough, a TV news personality; Ms. Broom, Sam’s teacher; and Darryl, his friend. After the embarrassment of the pants fiasco, Sam decides to work on a new Sam Foster. He begins to deliver the town’s newspaper, the Hope Springs Eternal, which, once again, involves him with J. Earl. Sam finds himself caught between neighbors feuding over a tree. Between that, trying to impress his teacher, delivering the newspapers, and working on the new improved Sam, he keeps himself busy. Throw in the annual "Hope Springs a Leak" river race, held in icy-cold early spring, a summer House and Garden Tour, a rude lawn-ornament, and a few budding romances, and Sam matures amidst hilarity and high jinks.
Lionel loves ice cream. Every day he faithfully buys it from the ice-cream wagon and dreams about the day when he will have the best job in the world - a job as a king. One day, Lionel sees a television advertisement for King School and, after much persuasion, convinces his parents to enroll him. Follow Lionel on his hilarious adventures as he studies hard at King School. He excels in subjects such as how to sit up straight on a throne, how to avoid tripping over red carpets, and how to keep a crown on straight. Diploma in hand, Lionel optimistically sets out to apply for king jobs. Potential ice-cream kings, young and old, will appreciate this parable of life, playfully illustrated and humorously told.
What fifth grader doesn’t dream of a secret life of mystery, adventure and excitement, or at least one that doesn’t involve parents and school! In her first novel, Marthe Jocelyn has successfully captured a kid’s view of an adventure through the busy streets of New York City! Fifth grader Billie Stoner lives with her mom (the school librarian) and her little sister (a tattletale). She longs for an adventure she can call her own. It all begins one day when Billie finds a lost cosmetics bag in Central Park. At home Billie secretly applies the make-up - it makes her disappear! Now Billie has all the privacy she wants, but how will she become visible again? With the help of her best friend Hubert, Billie sets off on a wild search for the owner of the cosmetics bag, and hopefully the antidote for the invisible make-up. This is a funny and amazing adventure story successfully told through the eyes of a smart fifth-grader!
A collection of funny stories, riddles and poetry thoughtfully selected by Claire Mackay. The main purpose of this collection is to make the reader laugh, giggle and feel good - and you won’t be disappointed. As Claire Mackay writes, "laughter is a gift of nature" and "those who can make us laugh are [truly] gifted". She has carefully put together a humorous collection of stories drawn from great authors such as Brian Doyle, W.O. Mitchell, L.M. Montgomery and Tim Wynne-Jones. All are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone!
Little Toby wants BIG hair in a BIG way! She wants to have the longest hair in the world. Toby faces many adventures as she lets her hair grow right down to her knees. Even though babies grab onto her hair, candy gets stuck in it, and the barber offers to cut it, Toby persists and lets her hair grow curly and twisty and bouncy and BIG! But then one day Toby and her BIG hair create a BIG mess and everyone is upset. Eventually Toby and her mother learn that people will love you however you look, with long hair or short. Beautiful three-dimensional illustrations made from Fimo, a modeling compound, fill these pages with colour, and will delight little ones as they search for surprises hidden in Toby’s BIG hair!
Matthew is back for another midnight adventure. His mission?: to save the city from a mysteriously-caused flood. Surely the flood couldn’t have anything to do with his super hero getting caught in the basement drain, or could it? Join Matthew and the midnight plumber as they use their super-hero plumber powers to put an end to the plight of the townspeople. With the help of geese police and midnight pirates, Matthew and the midnight plumber save the Comic Book Library. Then, after a long evening bailing and draining, they enjoy a break at the secret plumbers’ spa. Morgan and Martchenko make magic once more.
A little ogre named Gronny goes exploring and, far from home, discovers children throwing and catching a baseball; he, in turn, catches something so strange, so indescribable, so... scary that it turns his ogre world upside down! The lumpy, bumpy and fun illustrations will appeal to many young readers.
Opening Tricks is comprised of 13 short stories for young adults, submitted for Thistledown Press’ third national competition. A thoughtful mix of highly imaginative, sometimes humorous stories, it captures the world as young people see it: strange, threatening, confusing, and funny. Eric Nicol’s "First Date" takes a humorous look at the often painful experience of teen dating. Mort thinks he has a date with the school’s most popular girl. Alas, when he discovers that he’s only her escort, his evening at the school dance takes an unexpected turn. The flying toasters just won’t go away in "Flying Toasters" by Sharon Steward. Chaos abounds as the small appliances circle around the heads of everyone right up to the prime minister. Jacqueline Pearce’s "The Trickster" delves into teen gangs and intimidation. Josh, on an errand for his mother, finds himself confronted by bullies while carrying a preserved coyote in a box. His quick thinking and imagination give him courage, and he scares off his aggressors. The stories are all connected by the threads of family, maturity and self-discovery. The variety of styles and subject matter make for a delightful sampling of short stories.
Pirate Pearl, she’s quite a girl. She’ll steal from one, just for fun, then give it all away. Join the fearless heroine as she swashbuckles her way into the hearts of pirates and princes alike. Phoebe Gilman has created another precious tale with an assertive female character. The story has numerous twists and surprises to keep all enthralled. The pictures are so alive and entwined with the story that you will imagine words that no one says, from the facial expressions alone.
Nadine is a cow unlike all others. She likes to take walks by herself in the fields, while singing and looking at the clouds. The other cows have nicknamed her Queen Nadine because she prefers to wander around instead of gossiping and wasting her time with the rest of the herd. One day, near a stream, Nadine finds a unique stone that looks like a pure white egg. The other cows maliciously say that she should take care of it. Their mockery does not prevent Nadine from taking care of, and singing to, this special stone. One day a truck comes to load up all the cows. Before she realizes what is happening, Nadine finds herself on a new farm, very far from her cherished stone. But then a miracle happens. In this funny story, where a cow dares to be different from the others, Maryann Kovalaski depicts a cheerful Nadine that accepts life as it is, in all its simplicity. This fable on happiness will surely make you smile.
About 30 simple experiments fill the book Science Fun, Hands-on Science with Dr. Zed. Clear illustrations and text explain, educate and amuse. Most of the ingredients and utensils required for the experiments are found in the home or classroom. Young children may need assistance, but older ones can easily complete the experiments on their own. Preschool children will enjoy making fingerprints on paper using lipstick and then examining the shapes found. Was theirs an arch, loop or whorl pattern? Older children will be able to follow independently the instructions for creating a tornado in a jar and to read the accompanying scientific explanation. An index, explanations, and the scientific concept involved in each experiment are included in the book. Useful for parents and educators. A worthwhile book with fun and sometimes funny experiments to try.
A young boy’s frantic mother orders him to get a mouse out of their house. Just as he is preparing to squash the trembling mouse, the charming but terrified rodent buys time with her quick mind. She requests three last wishes: a glass of pop, a piece of cheese, and a chance to tell the story of her life. In her entertaining rhyming style, the Maritime poet Sheree Fitch regales us with the tale of a well-traveled mouse - an entrancing storyteller - and the boy who is drawn into her captivating world. Leslie Watt’s beautiful and vivid painting enhances this superb, funny book.
When Mike’s beloved dog Paddy was killed, he didn’t think he would ever want another pet, could ever love another pet. No other pet could replace Paddy: it just wasn’t possible. That’s why, when Hannah, the girl-next-door, found a baby raccoon in a ditch and asked Mike to help take care of it, he was less than enthusiastic. He didn’t want anything to do with some pesky raccoon, or that strange girl with the crazy hair, Hannah. Mike’s mother has other ideas, and commits Mike to the cause. Soon both Babe the Raccoon and Hannah are driving Mike crazy. He doesn’t intend on ever liking either of them and wishes they would just go away. Babe is full of mischief - so full of mischief and fun that Mike forgets he doesn’t want to like Babe... or Hannah. Babe becomes a very special pet and Hannah becomes a very good friend. However, as Babe grows into an adult raccoon, it becomes apparent to everyone that Babe is still a wild animal and belongs in the forest. Mike learns that although saying good-bye is difficult, sometimes it’s the right thing to do.
Have you ever wanted to take a chance, throw caution to the wind and see what happens? The rather staid Shaw family does just that after Gramps dies unexpectedly and everyone experiences a "headshift". Steph, Matt and their parents decide that life really is too short to be squandered away by following the same dull, boring routine day after day, week after week. They sell their house, their furniture and virtually all their possessions. Everyone gets a passport, money belt and a sensible backpack. The plan is basically not to have a plan. Each person writes on a small strip of paper one thing they’d really love to do. The slips are folded and the contents remain secret, as only one wish is revealed and fulfilled at a time. Lots of laughter, good times, and even a few tears ensue as the Shaws cross a continent and an ocean on a journey destined to change their lives forever. This is a fun read, both humorous and thought-provoking.   
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