Knock, Knock!

by Sophie Blackall (Illustrator), Saxton Freymann (Illustrator), Judy Schachner (Illustrator)

The knock-knock joke: a kid classic. So many funny, punny punchlines. It was just screaming for its own book. To do this classic joke justice, we decided to gather fourteen of the best-known and most talented children's book artists to illustrate their favorite punchlines. The results are wacky, zany, and absolutely hilarious.

If you knock on Tomie dePaola's door, beware! Is that a girl or a gorilla? Who's knocking at Saxton Freymann's door? Just a couple of talking lettuces. Talking lettuces?! One impatient cow can hardly wait to get through Laurie Keller's door, and David Small has a surprise waiting for his intruding vampire.

In this collection, you'll recognize some of your favorite jokes and be surprised by new ones. But one thing is certain: Each time there's a knock, you'll want to answer the door!

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice quick trip to a much more innocent time in my life: a 'smile-when-you-are-down' book that helped me out this week.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love knock-knock jokes and I love children's picture book art, so I thought this was a match made in heaven for me, but ... it wasn't. It was just a bunch of knock-knock jokes. Yeah, I should have expected that! I guess loving knock-knock jokes is all about expecting the unexpected. But this was exactly what one should expect.

Muth's "joke" was the most disappointing of all - it wasn't a joke at all, just a chimpanzee opening a door and welcoming you in - as if jokes are not sufficiently "zen" for him? I don't know. Great art, as always.

There were a few I hadn't seen before (or, didn't remember). "Esther" ("Easter bunny!" followed by "Anna" (another Easter bunny) and "Stella" (still another) and "Yetta" (yet another!) and then "Esther" again (Easter's over) and "Boo" (boo-hoo ... don't cry, Easter will be back next year) was my favorite.


This is highly recommended, if you're just looking to share a few knock-knock jokes. But don't expect more than that.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that makes my kids (4 and 7) laugh on the first read-through and inspires a half-hour of knock-knock improv afterward gets 5 stars from me, any day.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids are completely into jokes these days, especially knock-knock jokes. They still don't quite "get" what makes jokes funny (although with me for a mother, they may never...), but that doesn't stop them from laughing their heads off when one of them tells (or makes up a joke). This collection was neat because each joke was illustrated by a different artist, mostly well-known children's illustrators. The jokes ranged in both their level (some I could explain to the kids, some I didn't bother to) and their humor (although, again, that could be me), and I think the illustration quality varied, too, but overall, it was a great collection. It certainly merited lots of individual paging through by the three jokesters-in-training.

5/28/14 We checked this one out again this week, and it's amazing how the kids are starting to get (and remember) the jokes better--and the six year old was reading some of them himself! Definitely a popular favorite here.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for a read aloud or a shared reading because of the repetition. Young learners can follow along with ease. The illustrations also help with this - some students may be able to guess what the joke is based on the picture alone. For example, the first joke is "knock, knock, who's there? Lettuce, lettuce who?" This would allow for the introduction of a new reading strategy- using pictures to figure out the word. You can choose to introduce some of these jokes or all of them, but it might be fun to do joke of the day, or have students bring in their own jokes similar to those in the story with illustrations. Peers can read there jokes, and use their new reading strategy- looking at the pictures, to support reading. This could be a fun part of the every day routine.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorites are Judy Schachner's and Saxton Freymann's. Though they were all pretty funny.

I never remember punch lines to jokes. But the pics are the best part of this book, anyway!


I think we have ... something very similar at school ... about Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road with lots of authors/illustrators answers. Will need to get this one to go along with it. How did I miss it?

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Knock Knock joke book I have seen in a while. Funny and great illustrations. There is a collection of some of the most popular artist's work in this book. It is fun to go back through it just to match faces with the work, as there is a little quote from each illustrator at the end of the book.

[Amy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jokes by fourteen wacky & talented artists.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concept. This joke book could be used as a springboard for an illustrator/author study.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

the four year old i read it to thought it okay, he didn't understand many of them. but a6 year old will loveit

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of silly, lame and funny Knock! Knock! jokes. This is a fun one to share with pre-schoolers and primary students because they are so into this form of humour.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really love funny jokes!

[Magpie67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and silly! We love knock knock jokes in our house.

[Bacon Meh · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The jokes are painfully lame, but everything else is amazing.

I very much appreciate that a good chunk of the illustrators said they would like some sort of food to come a-knockin'.

[Amanda Blau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for sharing in snippets in storytimes or with Kindergarten and First Grade.

[TJE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this book because the idea is great. Only enjoyed Freyman's joke and picture for her age. Ice cream (Yumi Heo) and 3 Little Pigs(Brett Helquist) were of interest for her age but all other jokes fell flat (even for older kids). Wouldn't recommend and won't be checking out again later.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page after page, you never know what to expect, each joke is a surprise and delight. This is a fun collection of knock-knock jokes by various artists and authors. Would be an excellent addition to any children's library!

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were good, some were great, some were meh. Berry's a little too young for this one; she mostly just enjoyed knocking on the book.

[Rada · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 9 year old is particularly fond of jokes

[Erica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute

[Christine Kallner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this while browsing the jokes and riddles section of the children's books at my library, looking for something to fulfill that category for the 2017 Picture Book Challenge. As an adult reader, I didn't find it all that funny, but I think it would work very well for the intended audience. I still very much appreciate the variety in artwork and styles and love the concept behind this collection.

[Mrs. Brandt]

Each joke is expertly brought to life by one of 14 well known illustrators. I distributed other books by these 14 illustrators to the students and asked them to compare and contrast the different styles. The challenge to the students was then to match the illustrator to the joke, based on the characteristics of the style

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knock knock jokes written and illustrated by some beloved children's authors/illustrators. Kindergarten and first grade students enjoyed identifying the art styles of some illustrators we have studied, though some jokes were definitely stronger than others. Also included brief bios from each of the contributors. A fun read-aloud for young elementary students.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess I didn't really expect the jokes to be funny to me . . . but I'd forgotten how truly groan-worthy knock knock jokes by their very nature are. Unavoidable! But, also, the kids didn't laugh. They just didn't laugh. They did not get the jokes, and they didn't think they were funny. A few of the illustrations were cute, but man, what a downer.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I say it all the time - I hate jokes. And only one or two of these elicited even a slight chuckle. But, I did enjoy the collection of illustrators and the chance to see their interpretations of some classic and not so classic knock knock jokes.

[Holly]

My child thought this book was great. We read it enough times he actually understood the repetition of "Knock Knock" and he would respond, "Who's there?" The collaboration of illustrators on this book is enough to take a peek. And some of the jokes aren't half bad either.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has given some form for my preschooler's jokes. She still tries her own, but they make more sense now! Fun preschool senses of humor.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun Knock Knock book because it is illustrated by several great illustrators.

[Francie]

Amelie and her big sibs love knock-knock jokes! Hope to find this at the library for the summer reading program!