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Class Clown
Leonardo has been funny since the day he was born: he was a funny baby, he was a funny toddler, he was a funny first grader. Now he is in grade four; and Mrs. Gomez asks him to stop being funny. He tries his best, but he just has to make a funny face, then tell a funny joke, and then show a funny drawing--with predictable results. And when he finally SERIOUSLY promises faithfully never to be funny again, he makes the teacher laugh so hard she falls down on the floor!
32 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Robert Munsch
280 books1,666 followersRobert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 5, 2018
Leonardo has always been funny, even from the time he was a wee baby. When he gets to school, his teacher, Mrs. Gomez, can see he has become the class clown and refuses to allow him to be funny any longer. Alas, he tries his best, but the funniness inside him bubbles out. He makes a funny face and gets a girl in trouble, he tells a funny joke and a boy cannot stop laughing. By the time he gets the whole class going, Mrs. Gomez has had enough. But Leonardo has one more funny thing to say that gets to Mrs. Gomez. Neo liked this new Robert Munsch story, which he received the other day. He listened intently and could even finish some of the sentences with ease. I foresee lots of fun with this wonderful Canadian author.
April 27, 2023
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age: K - 5
Illustrations: I really liked the pictures they were fun to look at and enhanced the story.
Gist: This story is about a boy that his whole life was told he was funny. So when he goes to school he becomes the class clown. He makes many people in his class laugh until you are rolling on the ground, but every time the teacher gets very mad. Than one day the teacher tells him he need to stop and the boy says ok, the teacher than falls on the ground laughing. This is when the boy decides that he will become a clown.
Curriculum Connection: This is a great way to teach kids that a laugh every once and a while in a classroom is ok, and also about different professions.
Warnings: This book does have a boy that is disobedient to his teacher.
Age: K - 5
Illustrations: I really liked the pictures they were fun to look at and enhanced the story.
Gist: This story is about a boy that his whole life was told he was funny. So when he goes to school he becomes the class clown. He makes many people in his class laugh until you are rolling on the ground, but every time the teacher gets very mad. Than one day the teacher tells him he need to stop and the boy says ok, the teacher than falls on the ground laughing. This is when the boy decides that he will become a clown.
Curriculum Connection: This is a great way to teach kids that a laugh every once and a while in a classroom is ok, and also about different professions.
Warnings: This book does have a boy that is disobedient to his teacher.
December 30, 2018
Leonardo is one funny kid; he's the class clown! His teacher has had enough of his silly antics that she tells him to stop being so amusing--like it's possible to stop being funny.
He does try though, but he can't help it. Leonardo makes every kid in the class laugh.
At least he grows up to become a doctor!
He does try though, but he can't help it. Leonardo makes every kid in the class laugh.
At least he grows up to become a doctor!
April 4, 2025
A cruel irony is that one of the all time funniest children's authors wrote a book about a class clown and the result is only mildly humorous. Not bad, but just undercooked.
I did like the teacher who scolds her children for remembering and thinking though. A glimmer of the old Munsch irreverence shining through!
2.5 stars rounded down.
I did like the teacher who scolds her children for remembering and thinking though. A glimmer of the old Munsch irreverence shining through!
2.5 stars rounded down.
December 17, 2017
it was cool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2018
un de mes préférés
July 11, 2010
This is the story of Leonardo who is the class clown. He has been making people laugh ever since he was a baby. Unfortunately his teacher Mrs. Gomez would like Leonardo to stop being so funny.
I actually found myself giggling anytime Mrs. Gomez would tell Leonardo's class mates not to think in her class, or not to remember anything. It just reminded me so much of what you here parents telling their children when they want them to stop something, but have not really thought out what it is they are saying because they are in the middle of something, or just so frustrated. :0)
Very funny!
I actually found myself giggling anytime Mrs. Gomez would tell Leonardo's class mates not to think in her class, or not to remember anything. It just reminded me so much of what you here parents telling their children when they want them to stop something, but have not really thought out what it is they are saying because they are in the middle of something, or just so frustrated. :0)
Very funny!
November 27, 2012
Class clown discusses they typical student that teachers will find in their classrooms. Leonardo has always been know as the funny boy, but now he is in the fourth grade and his teacher asks him to be serious and pay attention in class. This is very challenging for Leonardo, and he can never seem to be taken seriously. This is a very cute and funny book, that is relatable for most people as well. I also enjoyed the illustrations that took up the entire page and showed a great deal of detail.
February 27, 2025
Leonardo was funny from the time he was a baby. Everybody laughed at him because he was so funny. He got into trouble at school because of making people laugh all the time, and that was when Leonardo decided what he was going to be when he grew up. Great illustrations which also show how he was going to use humour as an adult.
October 6, 2015
Typically, every classroom has a class clown, which would make this book a great read for elementary children. By reading this story, you could talk about the topic of there is a time and place to be funny, and sometimes it is not appropriate. My kindergarteners liked this story a lot!
October 10, 2012
Not as good as his earlier stuff.
November 30, 2015
this one was ok.. not one of my favourites! also not one I ever remember reading as a child. meh
pictures were the best part !
pictures were the best part !
December 31, 2013
Love reading Robert Munsch and this book is no exception.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews