Getting the Last Laugh! Poppleton Every Day by Cynthia Rylant

Poppleton Pig lives a varied life.

One night he's happily roasting marshmallows before a roaring fire with his mouse friend Hudson, when his friend suggests they go outside for some stargazing. The hugeness of the sky and multitude of stars make Poppleton feel seasick. But his little rodent buddy has a solution. He cuts a tiny hole in Poppleton's blanket and has him look through it at one star at a time. Problem solved.

Another day has Poppleton deciding that he's outgrown his childhood bed, so he betakes himself to the Big Bed Store to find a grown-up bed. The saleslady shows Poppleton her very biggest bed to try out. Poppleton tries it many ways--on his back, on his side, with one leg dangling off, both legs dangling, with his bottom in the air.

"How many ways do you sleep?" she asks, glancing at her watch."About twenty," says Poppleton.

He asks for a book and tries out the bed for reading. The saleslady inquires if he likes the bed. But Poppleton has another request.

"Do you have any crackers?"

The bed and crackers go well together and the saleslady moves in to make the sale, glancing pointedly at her watch.

""Do you want to buy the bed?"

"I don't know yet," said Poppleton. "Do you have a TV?"

The saleslady produces a TV and he tries it out on the bed. The saleslady nervously checks her watch. But Poppleton has another request.

"Do you have any bluebirds? I always wake up to bluebirds." Poppleton inquires.

Will the dutiful saleslady nail the sale?

On another day Poppleton is invited to go for a sail with his friend Fillmore. Poppleton is a bit wary, but Fillmore tells him to relax. Poppleton tries, but the the boat suddenly begins to lean very far over to the right. Poppleton is not feeling relaxed. The the sailboat begins to bounce up and down wildly over the waves.

"I am NOT relaxed!" Poppleton reports.

Poppleton is not a bit relaxed when the boat flips over either. Poppleton and Fillmore hit the briny and have to swim to the overturned sailboat. Poppleton is ...

Definitely Not Relaxed!

But finally back on shore, Fillmore pooh poohs Poppleton's fears and suggests he focus on the fun. Poppleton replies that not all of their sail was fun, especially the part in the water with the shark.

"SHARK????" Fillmore runs screaming down the road.

"RELAX!" Poppleton calls after him.

Celebrated author Cynthia Rylant is the perfect master of drollery, and nowhere is that quality more evident than in her Poppleton Every Day: An Acorn Book (Scholastic Books, 2020), illustrated with his usual attention-to-detail aplomb by the award-winning artist Mark Teague. The unflappable (even when not relaxed) Poppleton at his most droll never fails to amuse, and this one offers young readers a Level 2 beginning reader "chapter book" to read alone as well. Other definitely droll beginning reader stories are Rylant's Henry And Mudge First Book and Mr. Putter and Tabby Box Set of 6 ; Level 2 Readers.