Get a laugh with picture books

If you love to laugh as much as I do, you won’t want to miss these hilarious new picture books that just arrived at the Marion County Library.
“Thump, Quack, Moo:  A Whacky Adventure” written by Doreen Cronin presents farm animals like you’ve never seen them before (except in Cronin’s other Duck titles!): the chickens are building a fence around the cornfield, the cows are repainting the barn, Duck is building a ticket booth, and the mice are taking a correspondence course on meteorology all in preparation for the upcoming Corn Maze Festival. 
Farmer Brown is eagerly creating a Statue of Liberty design for his maze, but wily Duck has his own design in mind and night-vision goggles and a glow-in-the-dark ruler to help him achieve it! It’s not until Farmer Brown and Duck share a hot-air balloon ride that they (and the reader) can view the “a-maze-ing” masterpiece that leaves no doubt who’s been tampering with Farmer Brown’s original plans.
Droll watercolors by Betsy Lewin ensure that this is one title kids will never think is too corny!
Many generations of children have grown to love Margaret Wise Brown’s calming classic, “Goodnight Moon.” But silliness abounds in Michael Rex’s playful parody, “Goodnight Goon.” Just as the little bunny in the original says goodnight to everything in his room, in this version a young werewolf says goodnight to everything (and everyone) in his sleeping quarters; however, the rhythmic repetition is juxtaposed with bedtime havoc wreaked by an out-of-control goon loose in the room.
Even though a cold gray tomb has replaced the great green room, clever reminders of the gentle book that inspired this one are ever-present and keep “Goodnight Goon” amusing rather than scary for little listeners.
“He Came with the Couch” is another of the whimsical new picture books at the library. When the silent Muppet-like creature who came with a family’s rummage sale couch refuses to leave despite the family’s attempts to get him out more by taking the couch on many lovely vacation destinations, the parents reluctantly admit that everyone will just have to get used to him, much to their child’s delight. It turns out that this acceptance is very wise because the creature ends up saving the day when the little girl falls from a tree. David Slonim’s oil, pencil, and pen illustrations are warmly humorous (Who knew the Grand Canyon looked like a giant couch?) and are as distinctly original as his story.
And just in time for back to school is Alan Katz’s giggle-inducing collection of lyrics set to familiar songs in “Smelly Locker: Silly Dilly School Songs.” Katz’s crazy compositions about heavy backpacks, hall passes, and oral reports are rendered even more sublimely ridiculous by David Catrow’s subversive Seussian scenes. Kids (and teachers) are probably already singing some version of this verse (set to the tune of “Oh My Darling, Clementine”)

                School’s in session! / What depression!
                Now we’re back, the time just flew!
                Looking forward to vacation
                Is the thing that/ Gets me through!

There are plenty of humorous books at the library to get you through the school year. Come check some out.