Contends there is a disparity between the humorous books children choose to read and the humorous books adults choose for children to read. Finds this merits attention because research has consistently indicated that humor is children's strongest preference for reading material. Identifies and examines humorous books; finds different choices…

A jaded education professor deplores the endless memorization, mindless assignments, and incessant testing going on in high school classrooms, to the exclusion of intellectually and aesthetically challenging pursuits. He refuses to devise another strategic plan, restructuring, or curriculum standard. Schools must strive to enculturate youngsters…

Explores how college students with different risk-taking tendencies responded to different emotional appeals in anti-tobacco advertisements. Finds that rebellious participants who watched realistic fear advertisements reported higher levels of interest than those who watched the vulgar humor advertisements. Explains that impulsive participants…

Explores the factors affecting the outcomes experienced by distressed persons (undergraduate students) when their comfort providers use humor during comforting interactions. Explains that results indicate the skillfulness of the comforting behavior, specific qualities of humor used, and the relationship between interactants predicted behavior.…

Describes six trends and five evaluative criteria of children's nonfiction books and suggests four additional criteria for activity books. Topics discussed include humor, unusual formats, graphics and illustrations, accuracy and authenticity, content and perspective, and organization. Specific titles appropriate for kindergarten through sixth…

The study with 100 families found that parents of highly creative adolescents tended to be very interested in their children's behavior but seldom proscribed rules to govern it. Other results suggested the critical importance of environment, the existence of critical periods, and the importance of humor. (DB)

Advocates that counselors incorporate humor in their work with Native Americans. Discusses psychological theories of humor and explores Native American humor. Examines humor's implications for counseling and suggests specific strategies for the use of humor, such as storytelling, imagination, puppets, clowns, games, word games, and other devices.…

Reviews seven new poetry collections that appeal to young adults and notes the need to incorporate poetry into educational programs. Discusses enrichment, language play, humor, rhyme and rhythm, fantasy, personal concerns, moral issues, cultural perspectives, and traditional values and beliefs. (AEF)

Early education program staff who wish to nurture special qualities of difficult children can identify those qualities; allow for children's expression of feelings; build children's self-esteem; restructure the daily schedule to help children deal with difficult times; and live out a philosophy that respects the uniqueness of each child. (BC)

This exploration of the two leading varieties of nonsense literature defines strict nonsense as that in which the laws of nature are suspended and replaced by new laws which the author decrees, and loose nonsense as usually comic writing about a singular unlikely event. Examples of these two types of verse in children's literature are cited. (22…

Discusses the techniques used by an author and illustrator of children's books in visits to elementary school classrooms. The techniques use humor in the form of words that have great sounds but do not necessarily mean anything to encourage children to write and illustrate their work. (BB)

Finds that New Zealand students sampled were significantly less willing to communicate and experienced greater communication apprehension than U.S. students. Finds significant negative correlations for United States students between communication apprehension and humor variables (liking of humor, sensitivity to humor, and coping humor), whereas…

Differences in comprehension, production, and appreciation of humor were explored among a total of 47 second and fourth graders, of whom 26 fourth graders had learning disabilities or developmental handicaps. Although children without disabilities comprehended cartoons better, no production differences were observed. (Author/DB)

In a tongue-in-cheek fashion, practical and creative suggestions for planning and carrying out a conference on legal scholarship are discussed, including topic selection, financing, choice of speakers, working sessions, logistical planning, and publication of the proceedings. (MSE)

Looks at three books for young adults by Brock Cole: "The Goats" (1987), "Celine" (1989), and "The Facts Speak for Themselves" (1997). Discusses common elements in these stories: young people who rise to the occasion; adults who often do not; characters readers can empathize with; an honest treatment of sexuality; and a wonderful use of humor. (SR)