Verdi Wild Things Are: Knock, Knock! Jokes by 14 Wacky, Talented Artists

What happens when a publisher gets fourteen wild and crazy artists together to illustrate their favorite knock-knock jokes? In this case it's a very funny book that kids and parents can enjoy together.

Following up on their 2006 Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?, featuring a collection of accomplished illustrators illustrating original answers to that famous riddle, Dial Books has brought the same strategy to the design of this very individualized knock knock joke book, featuring famous and award-winning illustrators such as Tomie dePaola, Dan Yaccarino, Henry Cole, Chris Raschka, and ten more artists. Each presents his or her choice of joke on two pages, from the "Knock Knock" to "XXX Who?" lines on the right-hand page, to the punch line following the page turn on the left-hand page. The first joke, by Saxton Freeman, opens with two, VERY realistic heads of lettuce:

KNOCK KNOCK!

WHO'S THERE?

LETTUCE!

LETTUCE WHO? (Turn page.)

LETTUCE IN!

Henry Cole's Easter knock-knock is a one of those multiple knock jewels, featuring this sequence of answers: Esther/Esther Bunny; Anna/Anna 'nother Esther Bunny; Stella/ Stella 'nother Esther Bunny; Yetta/Yetta 'nother Esther Bunny; Esther /Esther Over. All bunnies gone! Boo/Don't cry! Esther Bunny Be Back Next Year!! (Find a partner and work this one out among yourselves!)

Or send off today your own bright and beautifully illustrated copy of Knock, Knock and maybe you'll enjoy what Tomie dePaola wants to find knocking at his door.

Knock, Knock!

Who's THERE?

SAM and JANET!

Sam and Janet WHO?

*SAM AND JANET EVENING!...

*Think of the romantic song from South Pacific sung from across a crowded room!

If that musical allusion is too sophisticated, try Chris Raschka's dream knocker which every kid will get:

Knock, Knock!

Who's THERE?

JUAN!

Juan WHO?

JUAN FISHTWOFISHREDFISHBLUEFISH!