Story Time with Sara: Don’t Make Me Laugh by James Stevenson

Don’t Make Me Laugh 
written by James Stevenson
published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2003

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book: Well . . . I admit I was the one who picked this one out. It looked like it was going to be a lot of fun (it reminded me of The Book With No Pictures). It turns out Don’t Make Me Laugh is TONS of fun for a 3-year-old but more akin to Chinese Water Torture for adults.

The book consists of a preface followed by 3 very short “funny” stories.

In the preface, an Alligator explains that there is no laughing or smiling allowed while reading this book (this is the part I read in the library when I thought it would be fun . . .). The part I DID NOT read was that if you smiled or laughed during the book you had to go back to the beginning . . . Yeah. I knew as soon as I read that sentence I should have just skipped it (the 3-year-old wouldn’t have known), but alas, I read it out loud and this turned into the LONGEST FREAKING BOOK EEEEEEVVVVVEEEEERRRR!

Of course, the first thing a 3-year-old does when you tell him not to smile or laugh is smile and laugh . . . “The rules say we go back to the beginning now, Mommy!” NOT COOL, Stevenson. NOT. COOL.

The three “funny” stories weren’t that bad, but as I hate this book with the fiery passion of a thousand volcanoes, I can’t give you an unbiased opinion. The 3-year-old thinks they’re HILARIOUS (Seriously. The caps are necessary to express the emotion I’m feeling).

This book earned a special trip back to the library just to get it out of the house. It wouldn’t be that bad if you just skipped the part about going back to the beginning every time you laugh (that will teach me not to pre-read the ENTIRE book before taking it home). The only reason I gave it more than one star is that my son really REALLY enjoys it (either that or he is a master bedtime procrastinating manipulator).  Most likely it’s both. 🙂

 

Would I recommend it: Only to people whom I truly despise and want to make suffer.

About the book – from Goodreads:

Do you feel like laughing?
Then you’d better not read this book!
There is no laughing allowed!
Do you hear?
NO LAUGHING!