My book of knock knocks illustrated by Christina Bollenbach

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Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742831640.
Knock, Knock. Who's there? Boo! Boo who? Don't cry it's only a knock, knock joke.
Who hasn't enjoyed the traditional jokes and made up their own as a child or adult to keep children amused. The repetitive and interactive style of the jokes is usually a winner with young and old.
Christina Bollenbach has taken a selection of jokes to illustrate using a variety of stylised animals and birds as the main characters. The bright colours add to the excitement and humour which radiates from the book whilst the design of the text encourages the reader to recognise the two voices in the joke. Ensuring that the reader has to turn the page for the punch line gives them the opportunity to create their own ending and interact with the text.
Whilst this book is designed to appeal to the younger reader, like all joke books it will be located in the 823 section of the library opening up the literature section to more borrowers.
As a teacher this book will give me the opportunity to investigate direct speech by using knock, knock jokes, adding interest to and enlivening any grammar lesson. There is also scope to investigate spelling and sound patterns which some jokes, like the old favourite Teresa Green, rely on to be effective.
So, in conclusion,
Knock, knock. Who's there? Ike! Ike who? Ike-an't stop laughing!
... or telling knock, knock jokes now!
Sue Keane

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