Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Knock knock. Who's there? Boo. Boo hoo? Don't cry.

We've all heard jokes and riddles like these a million times. We've pestered our families and friends with them. Why? They crack us up! Nothing feels better than a good laugh.

Years ago, when I was a kid, I remember begging my mom to buy us Dixie riddle cups. We would drink Kool-Aid out of those paper cups and drive my poor mother crazy asking her the riddles printed on the side. Times haven't changed much --- and, well, neither have the riddles. Take a look at our round-up of giggle-inducing books and give them a try. You'll have a laugh riot memorizing the jokes and riddles here or making up some of your own. Let the good times roll!

 -------- Shannon Maughan

TOO HOT TO HOOT
by Marvin Terban
illustrated by Giulio Maestro
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 089919320X
Ages 8-up

Many of you already know that a palindrome is a word, phrase or sentence that reads exactly the same forward and backward, like the title of this book. In TOO HOT TO HOOT, you'll find riddles that include palindromes --- and they become progressively trickier to figure out as you turn the pages.

JOKELOPEDIA
by Ilana Weitzman, Eva Blank, Rosanne Green and Mike Wright
Workman
ISBN: 0761112146
Ages 7-12
256 pages

For the true joke lover, this book has it all --- thousands of new and classic jokes from knock-knocks to light bulb jokes to chicekn-crossing-the-road jokes. And it even contains profiles of famous comedians like Lucille Ball and Jim Carrey, suggestions for playing practical jokes, and tips on how to tell a joke properly. A gold mine of laughs!

BUNNICULA'S LONG-LASTING LAUGH-ALOUDS
by James Howe and Louis Phillips
illustrated by Alan Daniel
Little Simon
ISBN: 0689816650
Ages 7-10
48 pages

If you love James Howe's stories about Bunnicula the vampire rabbit and his pals, you'll get a real kick out of these goofy jokes and riddles all about the Bunnicula characters.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?: And Other Riddles Old and New
by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
Beech Tree
ISBN: 0688122043
Ages 6-up
64 pages

You know 'em, you love 'em, you want to learn them. Here are some of the zaniest jokes around, both familiar and brand new.

THE RUGRATS' JOKE BOOK
by David Lewman
Simon Spotlight
ISBN: 0689820372
Ages 5-up
48 pages

Find out what makes Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica and Phil and Lil really laugh in these zany jokes from the popular Nickelodeon show.

CHICKIE RIDDLES
by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg
illustrated by Thor Wickstrom
Puffin Easy-to-Read
ISBN: 0141304308
Ages 6-9
48 pages

"Which side of the chicken has the most feathers?" "The outside." Hee hee. These and other chicken-themed riddles will crack you up.

BEST JOKE BOOK EVER
by Charles Keller
illustrated by Jeff Sinclair
Sterling
ISBN: 0806998709
Ages 8-up
96 pages

You'll never be at a loss for laughs with this collection of more than 600 jokes, accompanied by zany cartoons.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK: How to Make Up Jokes and Riddles With Wordplay
by Marvin Terban
illustrated by John O'Brien
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0395581133
Ages 7-up
64 pages

Let your imagination fly and make up clever --- and very funny --- jokes and riddles of your own. Get the lowdown on puns, homonyms and punchlines.

JUST GIGGLES
Pleasant Company
ISBN: 1562477293
Ages 8-up
32 pages

This tiny book is filled with more than 70 jokes and riddles from American Girl magazine. Perfect for sharing with your friends.

KEEP 'EM LAUGHING
by Louis Phillips
illustrated by Michael Chesworth
Viking
ISBN: 0670860093
Ages 8-up

Knock-knocks, jokes, puns, cartoons, and scenes to act out in front of a group can all be found in this jolly, jam-packed volume.

OUT TO LUNCH
by David Price
illustrated by Chuck Slack
Scholastic
ISBN: 0590054112
Ages 8-up
64 pages

You won't lose your lunch, but you just might look at it in a whole new light once you read all these tasty tummy-ticklers.

REALLY, REALLY BAD SUMMER JOKES
by Rick Walton
illustrated by Jack Desrochers
Candlewick
ISBN: 0763606820
Ages 8-up
32 pages

Some jokes are just so bad you can't help laughing. You've probably heard lots of these jokes about baseball and the beach, so if they don't make you giggle, they might make you groan.

THE ULTIMATE DISNEY JOKE BOOK
by Chip Lovitt
Disney Press
ISBN: 0786840226
Ages 7-up
64 pages

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Simba --- all your favorite Disney characters star in these 250 knee-slappers.

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