You Must Be Joking, Two!: Even Cooler Jokes, Plus 11 1/2 Tips for Laughing Yourself into Your Own Stand-Up Comedy Routine

“What’s smarter than a talking bird?” A spelling bee. “How did the convict use his computer to escape from prison?” He hit the escape key. “What does Harry Potter use to correct his magic?” The spell-checker. This follow-up to the popular You Must Be Joking contains a fresh assortment of jokes, riddles, and knock-knocks. There's also hilariously fractured song, movie, and book titles arranged by such topics as “Laptop Laughs,” “Screams of Laughter,” and “Fiddle with Riddles.” But these jokes aren't just for reading: author/illustrator Paul Brewer includes 11-1/2 tips that show future comedians how to prepare and perform their own stand-up routines. In addition to memorizing jokes from books, he encourages young comics to make up their own. He also suggests they watch old movies and television shows to study the comic styles of greats like Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, and Lucille Ball. This blend of practical advice — “Use crazy cartoon voices, facial expressions, hand gestures, and walks” — witty artwork, and plenty of jokes is a must-have for budding comics or any young reader who enjoys a good laugh.

“What’s smarter than a talking bird?” A spelling bee. “How did the convict use his computer to escape from prison?” He hit the escape key. “What does Harry Potter use to correct his magic?” The spell-checker. This follow-up to the popular You Must Be Joking contains a fresh assortment of jokes, riddles, and knock-knocks. There's also hilariously fractured song, movie, and book titles arranged by such topics as “Laptop Laughs,” “Screams of Laughter,” and “Fiddle with Riddles.” But these jokes aren't just for reading: author/illustrator Paul Brewer includes 11-1/2 tips that show future comedians how to prepare and perform their own stand-up routines. In addition to memorizing jokes from books, he encourages young comics to make up their own. He also suggests they watch old movies and television shows to study the comic styles of greats like Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, and Lucille Ball. This blend of practical advice — “Use crazy cartoon voices, facial expressions, hand gestures, and walks” — witty artwork, and plenty of jokes is a must-have for budding comics or any young reader who enjoys a good laugh.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5- What child doesn't love a knock-knock joke? Tell one to a group and the audience will respond with more. Share some of the jokes from this collection and your patrons will be clamoring to check out this sequel. The book follows the same format as the earlier title (Cricket, 2003) with all-new material under 15 thematic headings. Riddles at the end of each chapter encourage original answers, which is one thrust of the book-getting kids to make up their own jokes. An introduction plus the "11 ½ Tips" will inspire readers to look at everyday events with an eye for humor and offer some suggestions on keeping children's attention, jokes to avoid, stage fright, and more. Black-and-white drawings introduce each chapter and spot art is sprinkled throughout the book. Most collections should make room for this one.-Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI