Presents an interview with Dianne Monson, 1994 winner of the International Reading Association's Arbuthnot Award, a woman of many talents and enthusiasms, all of which are apparent in the way she approaches both teaching and children's books. Discusses her career as a reader, a critic, and a teacher of children's literature. (SG)

By highlighting the dreadful and avoiding the droll, nonfiction presents an unbalanced picture of the world and deprives readers of the benefits humor could contribute. Humor is needed in literature because it ventilates or disrupts oppressive conditions, it provides a different lens from which to view reality, and it provides hope, pleasure, and…

Notes that in his 20-year tenure as a picture book artist, Jon Agee, has produced a number of books that greatly vary in appearance. Provides examples of Agee's evolution as an artist while demonstrating his metafictive experimentation with artistic conventions, his play with concepts of reality and impossibility, and his abundant talent for…

Explores children's sense of humor and the various kinds of humor to which they respond. (JM)

Discusses food and food-related images, notions, values, and customs that have a unique and significant role in children's literature. (MKM)

Recalls childhood reading experiences and offers an analysis of the "wit and genius" of "Pilot Officer Prune's Progress." (TB)

Analyzes E. Nesbit's late Victorian time travel novel for children "The House of Arden." Suggests that Nesbit's deflation of the past stems from her radical ideology, and that the comic relief in which each time travel episode culminates reflects her desire not to harrow her child audience. (RS)

Based on the premise that educators are vitally interested in literary moments that engage the reader instantly, this paper discusses books that provide enjoyment for children. After suggesting that the most important "basics" are those that promote an exploration of language through literature, the paper notes the importance of good literature…

Reviews the title book and how its humor still has meaning after 80 years. (CRH)

Reports on a research project in which students read books considered to be funny by media specialists and rated them for their humor. Presents a list of the books read and the ratings provided for each by the students. (FL)

By using a variety of riddle and poetry books, teachers may encourage young readers to appreciate and enjoy the subtleties of language. A list of 30 books involving either riddles or metaphor is provided. (JL)

Discusses the comedy in Eudora Welty's only children's book, "The Shoe Bird," and ways the book may be used in the elementary grades. (SR)

Presents annotations of 26 humorous children's picture books and chapter books. (RS)

The article examines ways to differentiate the material used in a reading program for gifted students (birth to age 9). Suggested books are provided for the following categories that correspond to recognized characteristics of gifted children: vocabulary (quality retellings of folk tales, word play, poetry, satire, and nuances of language);…

Humor in literature and children's responses to humor deserve serious study. Humor in literature may focus on a character's method for coping with a disturbing situation, problems (such as riddles) that engender sudden insights when things fall into place, or ludicrous characters. Incongruity and surprise also play an important part in humor and…