Humor & Comedy - Exodus Books

Store Location

You know a book's funny if you're reading it alone and laughing hysterically. Of course, the really great comic masterpieces are also deep reflections on humanity and life and death (like Huckleberry Finn or All Creatures Great and Small or Calvin & Hobbes). Frequently, though, you just need to guffaw, and the literary quality of the piece isn't quite as important as the laugh-factor.

Not that you want to read swill. Cheap laughs might be funny on the surface, but the jokes that actually say something are generally funnier than the ones that simply point and snicker. It's easy to think we're superior because we get the joke, but in reality a lot of modern comedy is no more than the absence of reverence. Real comedy is simply an incongruous presentation of a familiar idea that amuses with its absurdity while offering a new view.

Before you dismiss the need for humor on religious grounds (suggesting that Jesus is the Man of Sorrows, and so must we be in order to be like Him), remember that the "laughter is good medicine" image comes from the Bible (Proverbs 17:22), and that as the Creator of everything God invented laughter. He invented jokes. As the perfect man, Jesus probably told the best jokes ever.

We have a few of them—a rich person will enter heaven as easily as a camel getting through the eye of a needle, or the one about the Pharisee and the plebe who go into the temple at the same time to pray. Jesus clearly saw the absurdity of life (in both of the cases mentioned, the absurdity of human pride), and used it to direct people to the Author of Meaning.

Basically, laughter is really good and you should try it sometime. If you're a little rusty and need a boost, read a funny book: maybe the heartwarming but hysterical adventures of the Gilbreth clan in Cheaper by the Dozen, or the pure zaniness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, or the heartwarming zaniness of Jeeves and Wooster. Whatever you do, smile more, frown less, and for goodness' sake take laughter seriously.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

Did you find this review helpful?

Parent Categories

Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Humor & Comedy

64 Items found Print

Active Filters:

4th grade (Ages 9-10),

Used Books & Materials

	Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson from HarperCollins Humor for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Boy Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl UK Edition from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Boy Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl 2016 Edition from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Cheaper By the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey from HarperCollins Family Stories for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.40 (6 in stock)
	Clementine by Sara Pennypacker & Marla Frazee from Hyperion Books for Children for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Doctor Dolittle: The Complete Collection Volume 1 by Hugh Lofting from Aladdin Paperbacks Animal Fantasy for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling from Morrow Junior Books in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Ersatz Elevator Series of Unfortunate Events #6 by Lemony Snicket from HarperCollins Morbid Humor for 4th-8th grade in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Esio Trot by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake 2016 ed. from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Flora & Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo Reprint from Scholastic Book Services for 3rd-6th grade 2014 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Franklin Endicott and the Third Key Tales from Deckawoo Drive Book 6 by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen from Candlewick Press for 1st-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $5.94 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Gift of the Magi & Other Short Stories Dover Thrift Editions by O. Henry from Dover Publications for 4th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 $2.00 (4 in stock)
	Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, illustrated by Kevin King from Simon and Schuster for 4th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Giggle Box Funny Stories for Boys and Girls by Phyllis R. Fenner, illustrated by William Steig 1963 Printing from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl from Puffin Books for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Good American Witch by Peggy Bacon from E.M. Hale and Company for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $52.00 (1 in stock)
	Gopher, Tanker, and the Admiral by Shirley Climo, illustrated by Eileen McKeating from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $20.00 (1 in stock)
	Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald from Dial Press for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Great Brain - boxed set Great Brain #1-5 by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer from Dell Yearling Humorous Fiction for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $38.40 (1 in stock)
	Hank the Cowdog #01 Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog Hank the Cowdog #1 by John R. Erickson from Maverick Books for 2nd-5th grade in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK) $5.94 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Happy Yellow Car by Polly Horvath for 3rd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Harriet Spies Again by Helen Ericson (based on Louise Fitzhugh) Reprint from Yearling for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald 52nd Printing from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary from HarperTrophy for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Henry's Quest by Graham Oakley from Atheneum for 1st-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $48.00 (1 in stock)
	Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck First Edition from Dial Books for Young Readers for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.20 (1 in stock)
	Holes with Bonus Material Holes Series #1 by Louis Sachar 10th Anniversary Edition from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 4th-6th grade 1999 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.60 (1 in stock)
	Hoot by Carl Hiaasen from Yearling for 4th-6th grade 2003 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors by Terry Deary & Neil Tonge, illustrated by Martin Brown from Scholastic Inc. for 4th grade in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians by Terry Deary, illustrated by Martin Brown from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Great Britain / England (Location: HISMC-BRIT) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	How to Train Your Dad by Gary Paulsen from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-8th grade in Humor & Comedy (Location: FIC-COM) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Incredible Detectives by Don & Joan Caufield, illustrated by Kiyo Komoda from Harper & Row for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Loony Limericks from Alabama to Wyoming by Jack Stokes from Doubleday & Company for 3rd-6th grade in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Mishmash by Molly Cone, illustrated by Leonard Shortall 3rd printing from Houghton Mifflin for 2nd-5th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater from Scholastic Inc. Humorous Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1939 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Mr. Revere and I by Robert Lawson from Little, Brown & Company Humor/historical fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye from Puffin Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-6th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $6.79 $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Pippi Goes on Board Pippi Longstocking #2 by Astrid Lindgren from Viking Press Humor for 2nd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Pippi Longstocking Pippi Longstocking #1 by Astrid Lindgren from Puffin Books Humor for 2nd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.00 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Pippi Longstocking Pippi Longstocking #1 by Astrid Lindgren from Scholastic Inc. Humor for 2nd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $1.60 (4 in stock)
	Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Ramona the Brave Ramona Quimby Books by Beverly Cleary Reprint from HarperCollins Humorous Stories for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Ramona the Pest Ramona Collection Book 2 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $2.40 (2 in stock)
	Ramona the Pest Ramona Collection Book 2 by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling 1974 printing from William Morrow & Company for 2nd-4th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $16.00 (1 in stock)
	Real Thief by William Steig from Houghton Mifflin for 3rd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Rotten Romans Horrible Histories by Terry Deary from Scholastic Press for 3rd-6th grade in Ancient Rome (Location: HISW-ANRO) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Sir Charlie Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World by Paul Fleishman from Greenwillow Books for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Snowbound with Betsy by Carolyn Haywood 6th printing, 1969 from Yearling for 2nd-5th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $100.00 (1 in stock)
	Stand Up, Mr. Dickens A Dickens Anthology by Charles Dickens, edited and abridged by Edward Blishen, illustrated by Jill Bennett from Houghton Mifflin for 4th-8th grade in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Stanley's Christmas Adventure by Jeff Brown 1^st edition from HarperCollins for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting from Yearling Animal Fantasy for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker & Marla Frazee from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Tarantula in My Purse by Jean Craighead George from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell from Amulet Books for 3rd-6th grade in Humor & Comedy (Location: FIC-COM) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	While Mrs. Coverlet Was Away by Mary Nash from Little, Brown & Company for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1987 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	William Shakespeare's Star Wars Part the Fifth The Empire Striketh Back William Shakespeare Star Wars #5 by Ian Doescher First Edition from Quirk Books for 4th-10th grade in Science Fiction (Location: FIC-SCI) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by James Lynch from The Folio Society Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $20.00 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows The Scribner Library Books for Young Readers by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard 1961 renewed copyright from Charles Scribner's Sons Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck 1^st edition from Sun Dial Press for 4th-9th grade 2001 Newbery Award Winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.60 (2 in stock)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect