I was just joking.

My 3-year old son is starting to learn about humor.  Babies laugh when they’re delighted, and toddlers have a wonderful sense of the absurd, but as he grows into childhood, I can see my son’s sense of humor developing into something slightly more sophisticated.  Not too sophisticated yet, though: the other day he asked me, “Do you want to hear a joke?  The elephant drove on the sidewalk!” and then laughed uproariously.  He’s also fond of throwing a fit when he can’t find a favorite toy, and when he sees it (usually sitting right next to him), saying, “Oh yeah, I was just joking.”  Putting his underwear on his head is another favorite.

CLP has a lot of books and DVDs that might tickle you, and are even funnier than putting your underwear on your head.  We have things like:

The Comedian Memoir:  Tina Fey’s Bossypants, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking, and anything by David Sedaris all fall in this category (as well as scads of other great books).  If you like reading autobiographies that will make you laugh so loud you embarrass yourself in public, these are probably for you.

Joke books:  When I was 8 years old or so, my parents made the mistake of getting me a book of knock knock jokes.  I was into that book for like a year before it mysteriously went missing. We’ve got a great selection of joke books, if you’re looking to brush up on your dinosaur/knock knock/animal jokes.

Stand Up Comedy DVDs: Humor, like poetry, is often at its best live.  I was fortunate enough to see George Carlin about a year before his death, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard.  His books are funny, but some things are meant to be out loud.  We’ve got comedy DVDs from lots of great comedians, from Carlin to Jerry Seinfeld to Louis CK.

Sketch Comedy DVDs: Since having kids, I have to admit that I haven’t been able to stay up late enough to catch Saturday Night Live.  Fortunately for me, we’ve got lots of SNL on DVD here at the library.  We also have (among others) Kids in the Hall,  The Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Mr. Show, and my personal favorite, The State.

I’m terrible at remembering jokes, but I always love hearing them.  What’s your favorite joke?

-Irene