Just Joking: a very funny collection from National Geographic Kids (ages 7 - 11)

What kid doesn't love a good knock-knock joke? I mean, you get to read it over and over again to your friends, family, brothers and sisters - anyone who will listen! I have seen kids pour over joke books, reading them again and again. Our students are LOVING this new collection from National Geographic Kids. It's full of hilarious animal photographs, bright colors and jokes they're telling all their friends.

Just Joking
300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles
Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2012
ages 7 - 11
available at your favorite bookstore and on Amazon

With bright photographs of animals and a jazzy design, this book is sure to appeal to kids. Based on the “Just Joking” department in the National Geographic Kids Magazine, this collection include knock knock jokes, tongue twisters and riddles.

A bright purple box has a picture of two banana peels with the joke, “How are two banana peels like shoes? ... They’re a pair of slippers.” A huge grizzly bear asks, “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Tank. Tank who? You’re welcome!” But the most popular feature for our students are all the knock-knock jokes that use kids names:

"Knock, knock. Who's there? Ben. Ben who? Ben knocking on the door all afternoon!"
"Knock, knock. Who's there? Annie. Annie who? Annie body home?"
"Knock, knock. Who's there? Isabel. Isabel who? Isabel working? I've been ringing it for hours."

Watch this video to get a sense of the goofy humor and bright colors throughout:



The jokes do not relate to the animal photographs, so this collection is better for 2nd and 3rd graders who do not need picture support to get the jokes. Animal facts are sprinkled throughout in a much smaller font, and do relate to the animal photographs. Since the animal photographs are part of the book’s draw, this is a nice addition. The librarian in me was very happy that there's a thorough index sorted according to type of joke - what a great way to get kids to use an index!

Our kids love using the National Geographic Kids website. They're going to be thrilled to learn that there's a whole section for jokes. This well-developed site appeals to kids on many levels, with its easy to use navigation, bright colors and interactive design. Under section “Just Joking”, readers can choose an animal to tell them the jokes. A screen opens with a bright color of that animal, and one joke written in large, creative font. Readers have to click for the answer, and then can click an easy to see “next” button. The jokes are fairly random and don't relate to the animal, but they're good for a few laughs. Here's a screenshot:

Do you have a favorite joke book you like to share with your kids? We'd love to hear about great ones to add to our library collection.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, National Geographic. We have also bought a copy for our home collection (great to bring out to dinner and distract the kids!). If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books