Don't Laugh, Joe!

by Keiko Kasza

Joe, a playful young possum, cannot get rid of the giggles, but when a grouchy bear comes out of the woods, Joe has to shake the giggles and play dead like a good little possum in a dangerous predicament.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Friendship, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 1997

About the author

Keiko was born on a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. She came to the United States in 1973 to continue her education, and in 1976 she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from California State University at Northridge.
While working as a graphic designer, Keiko read Leo Lionni’s masterful work, Frederick, and she became interested in picture books. She began experimenting with picture books in her free time. Her first book was published in 1981 in Japan and thereafter she continued to publish in her native language. The Wolf’s Chicken Stew, a 1987 ALA notable book and the winner of the 1989 Kentucky Bluegrass Award, was her first work to be published in the United States. She has now published 22 books and her work is translated into 16 languages.

Keiko compares the process of creating a book to acting on stage under the lights: “I become the character that I’m working on at that moment. I pretend that I’m a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I’m acting, I’m a child myself.” Her ambition is not to create a hundred books but to create one really good book that will be kept on the bookshelves for generations (although a hundred good books would be even better, of course!)

Keiko Kasza lives in Bloomington, Indiana with her husband, a professor of Japanese politics at Indiana University, and they have two sons.

Reviews

[Amar Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to Des and Asha at Angi's place. I feel Joe should have continued to play dead even when the bear said he just wanted to laugh. It could have been a trap!! If I were a bear that would be an easy way to eat some possum

[J.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bello

[Dani Gustavsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, we learn when we can mess around and when we should take things seriously. In the book Don’t Laugh, Joe!, Joe’s mother tries to teach him how to protect himself from enemies. Joe and his mother are both possums, who have to be aware of their surroundings at all times. While reading this book I observed how they made real life scenarios for children to relate to. While Joe’s trying to learn how to protect himself, he always seems to giggle and make a joke out of it. One connection I thought of was when I was training to become a camp counselor. I was told many times how children go up to different adults (after one says no) in hopes of getting something they want. I didn’t truly believe this and brushed it off until it happened to me one day. I was very embarrassed when I realized I didn’t take the advice seriously. One question I had while reading the book was, is this book showing kids that if you complete a task you always get a reward? At the end of the book, Mother Possum gives Joe a pie to congratulate him for playing dead. Will children also expect this rewards after tasks? I was surprised on the ending of the book. A bear came which caused joe and his mother to pretend to be dead. Instead of wanting to hurt them, the bear just wanted Joe to make him smile. I believe this book is a very good learning lesson to young children. It gives them the opportunity to learn about the dangers of the world without the content being too scary.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it! It wasn't the best but it was still good!

[Adric Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ame este cuento infantil... Tanto sus ilustraciones como su narrativa. lo recomiendo ❤️

[sabioandmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother Possum taught Joe how to save himself from their enemies by playing dead. It was a crucial trick for a possum. When they were practicing, Joe wasn't able to hold his laugh, his scream, his giggle, and his wiggle. But, a dead possum not laugh, scream, giggle, or even wiggle!

While Joe's friends were entertained to watch Joe practicing, Mother Possum was worried, wondering how Joe would handle a real dangerous situation. Meanwhile, a bear lurked as they practiced outdoor.

Sabio and Mom really enjoy reading this book and the 2 other books by Keizo Kasza that sabioandmom has. The story is funny and warm, also not superficial. The illustrations are classic so they are very familiar and easy to enjoy

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very cute and has an engaging, lighthearted tone. The animals get together and have fun, enjoying playing dead. This would be a great book to talk about all the interesting things opossums do and their role in nature.

[Eréndira Arana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una historia simple, bonita y muy entretenida. Habla de manera tierna sobre una mamá zarigüeya preocupada por enseñarle cosas de zarigüeya a su hijo, quien es tan risueño y alegre que logra contagiar de felicidad a cualquiera.

[Naomi Booker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solo diré... iugh, ¡torta de insectos!
Jaja no es cierto, esta bueno, no comprendo del todo la moraleja porque visualizó la historia de forma literal, pero fue una historia agradable y entretenida,aunque no movió mis emociones, solo me pareció tierna y agradable.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe the Possum can't stop laughing when he's playing dead. Then a real test crops up and he learns the value in laughing as well. Nice, easy-to-appreciate story. Well done.

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Rated by my son***

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little possum has a case of the giggles, but his mama wants to teach him how to play dead.

[Unicornio espacial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi libro favorito

[Aseret Aldrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

No te rías, Pepe me hizo reír muchísimo a mi. Que importante lección de vida da este pequeño cuento. Muy recomendable para pasar un rato agradable disfrutando de la lectura.

[Valen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amo a esta mujeeeeeeeer 😭😭
Sus cuentos son todo lo que esta bieeen

[Kade Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todos somos Pepe cuando fingimos estar dormidos (en el caso de Pepe muerto)

[Gabriela Prudencio Claros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro muy divertido e ingenioso!
Nos encanta leerlo

[Ally Copper · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don't Laugh, Joe" by Keiko Kasza features two possums, Joe and his mother. Joe's mother tries to teach Joe how to play dead, but Joe has a tendency to giggle a lot so his dead routine is not very convincing. His mother is worried about his safety. She need not fret, however, because when Joe is confronted by a real bear, he plays dead so well that the bear believes it and actually starts to cry. You see, the bear did not intend to eat Joe. He just wanted to meet giggly Joe possum in the hopes that Joe would make the bear less grumpy. This picture book displays a loving mother-son relationship with sweet illustrations of mother possum trying to teach Joe an important life lesson. Her concern and Joe's mirth are expressed clearly on their faces. The story also is suspenseful as readers wonder if the bear really will eat Joe. In the end, it's just a cute story about the importance of laughter to get you through the day. It would be best for children in 1st through 3rd grade.

[Manette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a recent addition to my kids book shelf, for my grandchildren. My two youngest ages 3 and 5 absolutely love this book and ask for it to be read again and again. It is a delightful story about a giggly possum who is so full of joy he struggles to play dead.

My two probably enjoy it so much because I partially dramatize portions as I read it. When mother possum sniffs Joe, I sniff the grandchildren until they giggle like Joe. When mother possum pokes Joe, I gently poke the grandchildren until they squirm or say stop and so on.

The first time through we talked about how real possums "play dead" to protect themselves from their enemies (predators). In that regard, I appreciated the natural educational moment that this story offers to parents, grandparents, care givers and teachers.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe the possum must learn how to play dead to keep safe from danger. Every time his mother practices with him, though, Joe can't help but laugh. What will he do if real danger comes along? Well, as Joe and his mother are outside practicing one day, a big scary bear comes along and pokes, sniffs and shakes Joe around. Like a good possum, Joe doesn't move.

The bear begins to cry and now Joe and his mother "wake-up" to see what the problem is. The bear is tired of being grumpy and thought that little Joe would be able to make him laugh. The bear thought he'd killed Joe! So Joe takes to opportunity to teach the bear how to laugh. Besides, lots of things are funny!

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and unique story about a little possum who is too giggly to play dead. Even with the hope of bug pie, this little guy just can't stop laughing. Of course, when a real bear comes along, he manages to stifle the giggles - a little. A fun little twist ending finishes this story off nicely.

Traditional-looking drawings compliment the plot-driven text nicely.

Lots of text in this story and the somewhat confusing concept of "playing dead" make this story better for elementary schoolers than preschoolers.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom Possum teaches her son how to play dead. She sniffs, pokes, and shakes him, which I did with my son while reading the story. Finally a bear comes along and Joe successfully plays dead, but the bear is disappointed because he wanted Joe to make him laugh. So Joe wakes up to have fun with the bear.

The story a little weird (and kind of confusing that the bear doesn't eat Joe) but it is cute. Probably not for really young kids who don't understand "playing dead."

[Terry]

We liked it as much as our toddler. It is a fun read and well paced, with lots of opportunities to bring the story to life, whether you play Joe, Mother Possum or the Grumpy Old Bear. See more in the full review on the Reading Tub website.

[Kristy Schwertfeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah! So cute This book is about a possum who needs to learn to play dead incase of danger but he is always laughing. So his mom keeps practicing with him but no luck he keeps laughing. Then real danger comes and luckily he can play dead. But there is a twist ending. This was a cute book and it will make the students laugh. This book would be great for a read aloud.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Joe is told not to laugh because a tactic that possums use when danger is near is to play dead. However, Joe can't "play dead correctly" because he is always laughing. However, there ends up being a spin on it that I didn't see coming! Definitely a book that I would have in the classroom simply because this really is one of my favorites.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother Possum is determined to teach her little son Joe how to play dead in order to evade predators. Only problem is Joe keeps laughing when he's suppose to be playing dead. A fearsome bear approaches and Joe is forced to play dead, but the results are not what is expected.

Illustrations are pretty good.

[Renate]

Joe is a possum and his mother is desperately trying to teach him to play dead to protect himself from enemies. However, he laughs whenever he tries to do it. Then one day a bear comes along and we find out what Joe will do. This is a slightly odd topic for a book- playing dead so you're not eaten- but it works and there's a nice twist at the end. It would promote print motivation.

[Andrea Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for children in grades k-2. I like this book because it can give children a little taste of what a possum life and what they have to do to survive. It is also a funny book and students will like it. The genre is modern fantasy.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samuel (4) thought this was a hoot! He couldn't talk Joey (2) into playing dead, though.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children's books ever.