No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling

by James Stevenson

A hilarious encore to Don't Make Me Laugh

No laughing or smiling or giggling -- Mr. Frimdimpny doesn't like it. He's the crocodile in charge of this book, and he never laughs. Follow his rules or else!

This humorously subversive picture book invites brave readers to join Freddy Fafnaffer, the pig, in disobeying the bossy Mr. Frindimpny, in three comic acts. The first presents Mr. Freshley Prest Panz, Jr., who is about to receive the prize for best-dressed man in the world. The second act features the World's Tiniest Circus, definitely worth the price of admission. Act three starts with the warning NEVER take a red balloon to a fancy concert -- but someone ignores this advice.

Remember, no laughing!

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads databse.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Frimdimpny is in charge of this book, and he has VERY SPECIFIC rules! DO NOT laugh, smile or giggle as you read this book, or you will have to go BACK to the FRONT of the book.

Go ahead. Try not to do any of the above things as you read the book.

I DOUBLE-DOG DARE you!

Oh, well . . . at least Mr. Frimdimpny follows his own rules.

[Erika Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Book Summary in your own words
This book takes readers on a fun trip through 3 different acts of disobeying the frivolous Mr. Frimdimpny who does not like laughing, smiling, or giggling. Can you make it through to the end without laughing, smiling, or giggling?
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades K-2
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
Character and Values
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who may be having a hard time
5. Small group use (literature circles)
3 small groups- each getting an act to talk about. What values are portrayed? What rules were set? What happened?
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
Students get into 3 groups and act out the acts for the class. Then the class can work together to create a different ending.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content are:
Duck’s Vacation by Gilad Soffer
Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available

[Michelle Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy Bookworm’s Thoughts: This is a cute & funny book. However, IF you went back to the beginning of the book all the time like Mr. Frimdimpny wants you to….. you’d be reading the book FOREVER!!! It is a cute concept though & my daughters enjoyed reading it. Dahlia said that she was going to try to not laugh or giggle or smile and see how many times she had to go back to the beginning! She might be reading it all afternoon!! The illustrations are cute and I think it’s interesting how the two main characters are a pig and a crocodile since you wouldn’t normally see those together in the wild! I think many children would love the book, although I think those at the higher end of the age range would actually “get it” more fully than younger children.

Dahlia Bookworm’s Thoughts: I like that the crocodile said that he was the owner of the book and how he made his own type of rules. I like the pictures. I like how you had to go to the beginning of the book if you did one of the things he told you not to do. I like how the pig heard the crocodile’s secret. I’d recommend it to other kids too because it’s funny. I can easily read it by myself.

Daisy Bookworm’s Thoughts: I like the illustrations. I like the stories in the book. I think it is funny how Mr. Frimdimpny didn’t follow his own rules and neither did the pig. I thought it was funny how he’s only ticklish on his tail. I like the little worm too. I would recommend it to other kids too. I can easily read this book by myself.

[Ms_Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling is a low fantasy story with two personified animals as main characters. Pink pig Freddy Fafnaffer, introduces himself as “the nice one” as he welcomes readers to the book. He then alerts the audience to the presence of Mr. Frimdimpy, a mean green crocodile, who schleps through the pages informing readers that he is the boss of this book and we the reader must do what he says. The story takes place as a series of vignettes designed to tempt the reading into laughing, smiling, or giggling.

The author/illustrator James Stevenson uses watercolor and pen to create and capture the playful expressions of the characters. He uses onomatopoeia and pen to illustrate the “wet slippery footsteps” of Mr. Frimdimpny. Each section of the story is introduced with colorful block letters. The print varies by size, font, bold and regular type. Stevenson also playfully spaces the words on the pages, which when combined with the illustrations, at times gives the appearance of movement.

This story reads like a series of knock-knock jokes. For this reason, I may use it as a read-aloud once, to a class of pre-K or kindergarten students. I would then put it in a borrow bin for students to take home to read with parents, as it seems best suited for a younger audience, in a more familial setting.

[Kelly Triplett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good choice to read at the beginning of the year, perhaps during the first few weeks of school. Its humor may prove to serve as an ice-breaker of sorts. This would probably be best served in upper elementary classes where the students would be more likely to “get” the jokes. It could certainly be used in lower grades; it would probably vary from class to class depending on the comprehension levels of younger students. The book is illustrated by a comic strip artist so the pictures are quite appealing as well.

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that you could really have a lot of fun with this book by getting students to play along. I can't imagine how many times you would have to start the book over before you could get a class to stop "laughing, smiling, or giggling" so that you could move on. It would definitely put a positive emphasis on reading and how students view their story time for the day.

This would be appropriate for grades k-2 on the basis of how silly it can get. I think it has a lot of good implications in the classroom, such as a positive moral tool.

[Kristina Moss]

No Laughing, No Smiling, no Giggling by James Stevenson is such a entertaining and funny book, especially for young readers. In this book, Mr. Frimdimpny doesn't like laughter, smiling or giggling. With knock knock style jokes throughout, Mr. Frimdimpny commands the reader if you engage in any of his dislikes. I would definitely read this book to my younger students such as those in Pre Kindergarten or Kindergarten. I think this would just be a great book for entertaining purposes.

[Maddy Rigsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great book for younger children. This book starts out with the pig character telling of the other character in the book, the alligator. During the book their are multiple times when their is an opportunity for the children to interact with the book. For example their is a point in the book where kids can 'blow the balloon'. The story follows the pig and the alligator through a series of adventures. The theme throughout the whole book is to try to not laugh.

[Missy Kirtley]

I didn't really like this one. It has the feel of "There's a Monster at the End of this Book" with the way it interacts with the reader, but it's got a mixed-up comic book look to it, which I don't think works with my daughter's age range. I brought the book home for my husband to read to my daughter tonight at bedtime, and we'll see how he feels about it.

She liked the pig on the cover.

[Mrs. Gabrielle Zastrow's · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a crocodile and a pig. The crocodile would make up the rules and if you broke them, you would have to start the book all over again. But we didn't... so you really don't have to, but at the end, the crocodile had to go back the start because he laughed from us tickling his tail.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cool book, although a little beyond my 3 y.o. It's a book (or several stories) within a book which are all humorous. The main story about Pfaffnaffer and Mr. Frimdimpny is actually the funniest part, but I'm not sure I know how to engage a toddler in it to its full effect.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one doesn't work entirely well with very obedient, serious children like Malcolm. The plotline relies on children defiantly violating commands like, "Whatever you do, do NOT tickle the Mr. Frimdimple's tail." And Malcolm just nodded and sat there, motionless.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

One character in the book loves fun but the other character has strict rules against smiling and laughing. If you laugh over the course of the book, you're sent back to the beginning. Kids will have a hard time not laughing so the book is easily rereadable.

[Kelsi Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read to kids because it warns them at the beginning of laughing, smiling, and giggling. It's like they are let in on a little secret that the "narrator"; Mr. Fimdimpny doesn't know. If anyone smiles, laughs, or giggles they have to go back to the beginning of the book.

[Cat. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first children's book in which I was so thoroughly confused that I couldn't figure out how to read it. Fortunately, my audience (2-year-old Elias) didn't care as long as made the right sounds and turned the pages in good time.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book is cute. A little over the head of my 3 year old.

[Senica · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE it!! This and the "Don't make me laugh" book are seriously the funniest books I've ever read!

[Deborah Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for teaching recurring ideas, repetition.

[Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is very funny and makes me laugh a lot

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh, tries too hard to be funny and doesn't quite make it.

[Shawn Mcclory · Rating 4 out of 5]

The girls loved this book! They thought it was very funny.

[Sarah Schleicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book to work with a student who was having trouble with expression. It has a lot of text clues for how to read each word, plus it's really funny.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no laughing, no smiling, and no giggling while reading this book or you'll have to go back to the front of the back...which is exactly what you want to do because this book is sooo funny!

[Jennesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually made me laugh out loud! It was a very cute comical book. I could use this on the first day when introducing the rule: follow directions no matter how hard it may be!

[Kid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys thought this was hilarious. I love the characteristic James Stevenson weird factor.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, fun story to ready with a kid. My six year old enjoyed it.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dominating crocodile who tells everyone not to laugh smile or giggle or otherwise you have to go back to the beginning of the book

[Ashley Greenfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good choice to read at the beginning of the year, perhaps during the first few weeks of school. Its humor may prove to serve as an ice-breaker of sorts.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real crowd pleaser. Mr. Frimdimpy is truly a world class humbug. Kids laughed the whole time I read this. Perfect for a young audience.

[Haylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books to read to little ones!