This month’s picture book favorites are meant to provide you with a dose of laughter therapy. With so many of life’s simple pleasures having been put on pause, I challenge you to be deliberate in finding healthy ways to cope with the stress and isolation that we’re all having to endure. Since humor can help improve one’s sense of well-being, I’ve chosen to read and share some books this month that I hope will make you smile, and laugh. Enjoy!

“How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps” written by Nicola Winstanley and illustrated by John Martz (Copyright 2019, Tundra Books imprint of Penguin Random House) is a comical look at the complicated relationship between (most) cats and water. The story is told through an unseen narrator, who is trying to explain the bathing process to a little girl, while her cat, Mr. Flea, is observing and reacting to the instructions. My suggestion is to read the book all the way through, then go back and have the pictures tell the story a second time. The illustrations, created in drawn ink and colored digitally, had me laughing a second time as I watched the five “easy” steps being reduced to one simple solution at the end of the book.

“The Backup Bunny” written by Abigail Rayner and illustrated by Greg Stones (Copyright 2018, NorthSouth Books, Inc.) is a funny story about the adventures of a toy bunny named Fluffy, who is kept hidden in Mom’s sock drawer just in case her forgetful son, Max, happens to lose his favorite stuffed rabbit. The colorful, expressive illustrations will have you laughing as Fluffy is called on to save the day, again and again.

“The Day the Crayons Quit” written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Copyright 2013, Philomel Books imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group) is the award-winning story of a boy named Duncan whose crayons left him a pile of complaint letters about the way he had been treating them. Illustrated with art created in crayon, each two-page spread contains a letter and picture that will have you laughing your way through this fun-filled book.  In the end, Duncan takes their complaints to heart as he pictures a way to make them all happy.

This month’s blog post is dedicated to my dear friend, Tina Wright, who recently passed away. She was one of my favorite people on the planet, and a wonderful friend, who made everyone she met feel special and loved.

If you have a favorite picture book that makes you laugh, I’d love to hear about it.

Happy Reading 😊