Bennett Cerf's Book of Laughs

by Bennett Cerf, Carl Rose (Illustrator)

The adventures of a little boy named Marvin. He visits a farm, plays with a friend, goes to school, interacts with various friends and family members.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Picture Books

65 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 1959

About the author

Bennett Alfred Cerf (May 25, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American writer, owner of The Modern Library publishing house, and co-founder of the American publishing firm Random House.

Cerf was also known for his compilations of jokes and stories, and for his regular appearances on the panel game show What's My Line?

Reviews

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bennett Cerf knew how to create winners. This is another of the large lot that covers so many mediums. The jokes are solid, as few as there are.

The gem are the illustrations by Carl Rose. These are skillfully crafted and are outstanding in the sequential storytelling.
Page 19 finds the child featured speaking to a teacher. The teacher falls back at the punch line. Rose's drafting of the teacher figure falling back includes a hand few drawing today could usher forth. The folds drawn, the figure stance are excellent.
Page 55 has an elephant in pajamas that is extraordinary in construction of the creature to fitting the pajamas on the beast.

As much as this is an excellent joke book for young people, it is also a portfolio of the best in storytelling and artwork.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of 10 points.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 year olds thought this was really funny.

[Paul Hoehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Cero paved the way for Mr. Lobel

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son found one of his dad's very old books on the shelf. He was busting up over these really cheesy stories. He was definitely the right audience for this book.

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an old book which I read when I was a child learning to read. I picked it up today and my thoughts were the same, this book is not funny. Just kind of ridiculous. Illustrations were good. The humor not so much.

[Amblerj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly jokes and puns that made my sister and me giggle like crazy when we were in elementary school in the late 60s. Shared with my own daughter when she was little, and will share with my grandson soon.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my grandfather's book. Simple jokes that still make me laugh

[Vickey Volk · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can a kid's book be all dad jokes?

[Justin Castillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. clever. That elephant in pajamas joke came from Groucho Marx. I wonder how many kids would say this stuff now and call out the images for being old-fashioned.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This got a few chuckles out of me.

[Erik Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an age appropriate book for a kindergartener. He understood and appreciated the simple paronomasia throughout. I had the book club edition published in 1953, I believe. Illustrations were classic and simple along with the jokes, which were about a page each. My two-year old started singing about half way through indicating boredom with it. My six year old had to interrupt after each one to explain what happened and why it was funny.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of these jokes were not good. Even the ones that were okay, were barely so. Perhaps it is because it is dated, but I just think the humor isn't quite right.

One tie-in I saw was with Fred Gwynne's idiom books. There's a few here that would work well when I teach that skill.

[Zaire Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this to my 6 year old son he looked puzzled. The next day I heard him reading it to himself and laughing so hard. I read this book as a child and loved it. Glad to share it with him.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the actual book - I believe the one we had at our house as children was called "Bennet Cerf's Book of Laughs."

[Seung Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read it to my five year old after getting it through interlibrary loan. There were some okay jokes, but for the most part not that good. My kid did not laugh or smile that much.

[Jen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the two children’s books at my grandparents house. My grandpa read it to me so often that he could “read” it from memory. Both of them have been gone for many years, and some days I just miss them terribly, so I will pick up this book and read it. I still think it is pretty funny! My grandpa taught me a sense of humor will get you through much in this life and so many other lessons for life.