Silly Book Entertains Children, Asking Them Not to Laugh

If You Laugh, I'm Starting This Book Over

Little Brown and Company, New York, 2022

Written by Chris Harris, Illustrated by Serge Bloch

“If You Laugh, I’m Starting This Book Over” is designed to entertain young children. Over and over, the narrator demands that the listener not laugh. Meanwhile, the book does everything it can – silly names, goofy ideas, and crazy images – to get children to giggle.

The book would work best if the reader hams it up with silly voices and animated language. The reader should try to make the child laugh while begging him/her not to laugh. Thus, this is an interactive book between the reader and child. It could be a nice bonding experience.

“If You Laugh” is a meta book reminiscent of “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” 1997, by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith and “The Book with No Pictures,” 2014, by B.J. Novak.

The illustrations by Serge Bloch are as zany as the text. And the type is funny, too, with lots of capital letters, different sizes and colors, and exclamation points.  

Before reading this book aloud, the reader should read it over. This will give the reader time to learn the material and give a better performance.

About the Author

Chris Harris is the author of the New York Times bestseller “I’m Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-ups,” illustrated by Lane Smith, and “The Alphabet’s Alphabet,” illustrated by Dan Santat. He is also a screenwriter and executive producer for comedy TV shows. He lives in Los Angeles.

About the Illustrator

Serge Bloch is the author and artist of “Reach for the Stars: and Other Advice for Life’s Journey;” “You Are What You Eat: and Other Mealtime Hazards,” and “3,2,1 … Draw! Reimagine Your World with 50 Drawing Activities.” He is a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner and has illustrated many other books for children. He lives in Paris.

Picture book introduces kids to Hindu holiday Diwali

Diwali in My New Home

Written by Shachi Kaushik and illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon

Beaming Books, 2022

Priya has moved to America from India. Today is Diwali, a favorite Hindu holiday. She is excited as she thinks about the celebration.

But she is saddened to look out the window and see no decorations. She remembers how her school in India celebrated the holiday. The halls were decorated. Everyone wore traditional outfits, made cards, and sang songs. Here, no one seems to know about the holiday.

She goes home and smells cardamom, an Indian spice, and warm ghee, butter. Her mother is baking.

“It smells like Diwali,” she says.

She helps her mother clean house. She remembers her grandmother saying, “Goddess Lakshmi always visits a clean and decorated house.”

She sits on the front steps making a flower as a rangoli with colorful sand. A rangoli is supposed to bring luck and happiness.

Neighbors come by and compliment her work. They also comment on the delicious aromas coming from the house.

Later, Priya and her father decorate the house with lights. Again, neighbors come by and ask if they are decorating early for Christmas. Priya explains it is for Diwali, the festival of lights. Papa invites them to come back later to celebrate with them.

Priya and her parents change into traditional costumes. They say prayers, and light clay lamps, the diyas, and incense sticks in front of figurines of Hindu deities.

The neighbors come and celebrate with them. Priya is happy again, and thinks, “It feels like Diwali.”

The children play with sparklers outdoors. Fireworks are Priya’s favorite part of the celebration.

“This Diwali isn’t the same as in India,” Priya thinks, “but it’s Diwali in my new home.”

At the back of the book, there are two pages giving information about the Diwali holiday. There is also a glossary defining words used in the book.

The illustrations by Aishwarya Tandon are colorful and bright. They will draw children into the story.

“Diwali in My New Home,” introduces American children to the popular Hindu holiday Diwali. Diwali happens in October or November on the night of a full moon. It is celebrated on the third day of the five-day festival.

On this day, Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman came back to his kingdom Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair.  

In America, Indian organizations host events for Diwali. Most cities have these events.

About the Author

Shachi Kaushik is a children’s media enthusiast, writer, and storyteller. Raised in India, she currently lives in Vancouver with her husband. This is her debut picture book.  

About the Illustrator

Aishwarya Tandon is an illustrator and cartoonist. She holds a bachelor of science and an honors degree in animation and multimedia from the Birla Institute of Technology. Aishwarya lives in India.