“Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch”

Everybody likes to laugh. Laughter makes us feel good, can lighten a heavy load and laughing together makes us feel closer to one another.

In addition to that, it's a scientific fact laughter is also very good for our physical and mental health.

Today's reviewed books are certain to make children (and adults) have a good chuckle. As an added bonus, funny books will also help convince youths that reading is fun.

What a great way to spend time together.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“Timmy Failure No. 1: Mistakes Were Made” written and illustrated by Stephan Pastis, Candlewick, 294 pages; read aloud: age 8 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Timmy Failure is the founder, president and CEO of his detective agency. His partner is a 1,500-pound polar bear named Total.During a momentary loss of focus and concentration, Timmy agrees to include Total's name to the agency, making the company name Total Failure, Inc.He knows it wasn't his best idea, but he refuses to talk about it. Instead, Timmy is determined to make Total Failure, Inc. the most successful detective agency in the world.Of course, Timmy is up against some obstacles, which include a competing detective agency owned by the “Center of Evil in the Universe,” continuous botched plans to find his mother's Segway (which Timmy wasn't supposed to touch), his friend's daisy disguise being reduced to resemble a mutant bunny, all while attempts to find the missing vehicle.Will Timmy be able to solve the cases of the missing Segway, the missing candy and the toilet paper crime?If this book doesn't make readers double over with laughter then nothing will. Loaded with illustrations that are equally as hilarious as the story, this one is a guaranteed winner.

Library: South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St., SaxonburgLibrary Director: Erin WincekChoices this week: “We're Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen; “Too Many Frogs” by Sandy Asher; “Time Warp Trio: The Good, the Bad and the Goofy” by Jon Scieszka

The following books are available at bookstores.“EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm [with a Little Help from a Hen]” by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Matthew Myers, Candlewick, 2014, 32 pages, $17 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 to 8; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Old MacDonald had a yard (not a farm), and he was tired of mowing the grass.Wanting a built-in mower, he got a goat and shortly after, a chicken. But the chicken wasn't just a chicken; she was the smartest Little Red Hen on Earth. She assured him that he'd never have to mow the grass again if he just followed her instructions.Mac did just that until his backyard was a giant mud pit that smelled bad.Little Red Hen insisted that Mac and the hen build a worm hotel and, “In no time flat, those squirmy eaters turned out compost, sweet and sweeter.”But that's not all; read the book to find out how Old MacDonald finally got his farm!This funny story provides a back story to the classic “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and tosses in another classic character, the Little Red Hen.Written in rhyme and perfectly complemented by comical illustrations, this very funny story on ecology is a brilliant gem.“Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch” by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Schwartz & Wade, 2014, 52 pages, $18 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 to 9; read yourself: age 8 to 9.Widow Tulip Jones had inherited $35 million and a ranch in Texas. She moved to Texas immediately, taking her three servants and 12 pet tortoises. They tilled the land which had such excellent soil everything grew bigger and better than anywhere else, including Tulip's tortoises.Word got around fast about the wealthy widow, and soon 1,000 suitors lined up at her ranch hoping to marry Tulip.Some were ranchers, some were cowboys and some were bad guys. None of them interested Tulip, but she didn't know how to get rid of them.Then, she came up with a plan.Hilarious at every turn, this highly imaginative, original tall tale from Anne Isaacs is matched by the comical illustrations by Kevin Hawkes, combining to make this selection first-rate.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at www.greatestbooksforkids.com or kendal@sunlink.net.

‘EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm’