Alfie likes to laugh—mostly at other people’s misfortune. But Alfie’s grandpa isn’t always amused by the same things Alfie is. When Grandpa takes him to the circus, Alfie finds lots of people to laugh at along the way. But wait until Alfie learns that the last laugh is on him. Adrian Johnson’s witty, retro illustrations add to the fun in this hilarious look at schadenfreude—the delight in others’ misfortune.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3–Alfie likes to laugh at other people's misfortune. He especially seems to enjoy laughing at his grandfather, who takes him and his pet rodent, Mr. Swiss, to town one day, where the child finds many things to laugh at, including the mailman getting chased by a dog and a jogger who runs into a tree. At the circus, Grandpa hopes to show Alfie things that are truly funny, but the child does not even chuckle. However, the last laugh is on Alfie; when an elephant falls on him after being frightened by Mr. Swiss, the audience roars. That's not funny!!! he cries. The story ends with the sentence, But actually it was–wouldn't you agree? The German word schadenfreude and the definition (a malicious delight in the bad luck of others) appear on the final spread. The jagged, flat, cartoon illustrations, done in a retro palette (burnt orange, tawny red, matte gray), add comedic effect, as do the scattered text and varied lettering, but the quirky humor (such as the exclamation, Holy emmenthal!) and mature undertones will be lost on the younger crowd.–DeAnn Tabuchi, San Anselmo Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
K-Gr. 2. Even if kids have never heard of schadenfreude, they'll recognize the phenomenon and learn to pronounce the word after reading this parable about an insensitive giggler who ends up on the wrong side of the joke. Alfie is a freckled little blighter who "likes to laugh at other people's misfortune," as when a Buckingham Palace guard trips over Alfie's pet mouse. But when Alfie suffers an undignified accident at the circus, his enraged cry of "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" falls on deaf ears. In the same spirit as his popular What! Cried Granny! (1999), Johnson's wild presentation forestalls literal-minded interpretation, with Rocky and Bullwinkle-style characters and a modish design full of unexpected color combinations, dueling typefaces, and graphic elements borrowed from 1950s Formica patterns. Although the slightly mean-spirited, tit-for-tat conclusion may prevent this from getting serious use in discussions about hurtful laughter, kids will take gleeful pleasure in both Alfie's transgressions and his comeuppance, particularly on first readings, when the slapstick episodes are freshest. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reveiwing "That's Not Funny",
By Lydia Booklover "Booklover" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: That's Not Funny! (Hardcover)
I very much liked the children's picture book,"That's not
funny!" I thought that that that the children listening to the story, or able to read it would understand it, as well as like it. I also liked the illustration's. I read it to the children in my day care class and they wanted me to read it to them again.
2.0 out of 5 stars
It's NOT funny,
By
This review is from: That's Not Funny! (Hardcover)
I read this book to my 6 and 10 year old boys-- they didn't like it at all. I thought it was boring myself, I'll donate this book to the library.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
that's not funny,
By
This review is from: That's Not Funny! (Hardcover)
I purchased That's Not Funny as a gift for my great-niece who is 6 years old. And she absoutely loved it, I was surprised that she could read some of the stories. After I purchased it I thought it was too difficult for that age, but was exciting for her to read, with assistanc from her Mom.
I am very glad that I bought the book for my great-niece and would recommend to all. Very funny stories, as well as lessons for the reader.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Alfie laughs at his grandpa all the time. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Alfie laughs at his grandpa all the time. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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