The Ha Ha Bonk Book

by Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg

Gathers riddles, jokes and humorous poems about animals, school, sports, and brothers and sisters

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Comedy, Juvenile

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Janet Ahlberg (1944-1994) was a British children's book illustrator, and the co-creator, together with her husband Allan Ahlberg, of the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born as Janet Hall in Yorkshire in 1944, she studied at Sunderland Technical College, where she met Ahlberg. The two married in 1969, and began to work together, publishing their first co-venture - The Old Joke Book - in 1976. She won the 1978 Kate Greenaway Medal from the British Library Association - an award recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject - for Each Peach Pear Plum.

Janet Ahlberg died of breast cancer in 1994, at the age of fifty, having produced many beloved and bestselling books. Her daughter with Allan Ahlberg - Jessica Ahlberg - is also a children's book creator.

Reviews

[Hallie Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way it has jokes for lots of different people.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little book of jokes and I can't believe I've not picked it up before. You're able to read it within 30 minutes but what is so apparent is Allan Ahlberg's great sense of humour and love of poetry. Although many of the jokes are not poetic in their telling there is an overall rhythm to the layout and presentation all interwoven by Janet's wonderful illustrations. It also has one of the best introductions to a book ever. This is a book that would become tattered and battered on any class bookshelf more than any other book and could be deliciously enjoyed between a parent and young reader.

[Pauline Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in the loft recently while trawling through the endless boxes of books to find some for the charity shop. This was my kids' absolutely favourite book, and it's still funny. It's just a collection of (clean) playground jokes, the groan-worthy ones: 'What's small, green and goes camping? A boy sprout'. That type of thing. Brilliant for kids AND adults.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 'Ha Ha Bonk Book' by the great Ahlberg couple, Janet and Allan Ahlberg, is the definition of an innovative and fun book for children. The wonderful little illustrations that are to be found on all of the pages (including the first and last pages) not only complement the collection of jokes that are to be found in this book, they almost tell a story of their own.

Highly recommended for children. It's almost impossible to think of a child who wouldn't enjoy this book. This is a book which should be constantly republished in its original form as without its illustrations, for example, it would lose some of its charm.

[Kate Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my go-to joke book as a child and I still remember many of the jokes but had to buy a new copy for my daughter as my original had fallen apart with re-reading over the years! Now I'm getting my old favourites fired right back at me! Where was grandma when the lights went out? In the dark of course! The jokes are short, quick to read and most importantly funny, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Typical querky Ahlberg illustrations throughout and split into nice chapters so when you want jokes to tell your mum, teacher and even yourself you know just the place to go!

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book of jokes, very few of them are offensive and most of them make you crack a grin- at least a bit. The pictures are enjoyable and the intro to each section is a bit of welcome madness (the jokes to tell yourself in particular which says if you are busy come back later).

It won't change the world in any way and there are hundreds of joke books for kids but it's good. I'm not sorry i read it. The promotion of other books by the same authors is pretty cute too

[Debbie Messenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book always takes me back to my childhood.

[Tommy Krauze · Rating 5 out of 5]

HA HA BONK DEEZ NUTS

[Kerry Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just found this book in my loft and using the scan device, I found it was on here! I used to read these jokes over and over when I was a child, I would continuously tell them on to family and friends. Great little book which brings back happy memories!

[Alison Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite joke book as a kid!

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great laugh

[Katy W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just the sort of jokes to appeal to young children.