My Dad Thinks He’s Funny

Australian author Germein pokes good-natured fun at the kind of father who always has a corny quip or pun at the ready—much to the chagrin of his son (Jellett provides a four-step diagram of how to perform “the eye roll”). “My dad thinks he’s funny,” says the boy, who shares his spiky ginger hair with his progenitor. “When I tell Dad my foot hurts, he says, ‘No problem. You’ve got another.’ ” And it’s not just on the home front: “When people say, ‘How are you feeling?’ Dad says, ‘With my hands.’ When people say, ‘Would you like sugar?’ Dad says, ‘I’m sweet enough.’ ” Jellett’s mixed-media art includes cut-paper shapes and rough outlines, creating a fresh, extemporaneous style. Readers whose fathers are founts of one-liners will groan with recognition—and dads who don’t have a joke for every occasion will find plenty of ammunition. Ages 5–8. (Apr.)