I am a fan of funny books. I am really a fan of funny books that are appealing to the whole family. I came across these little books a few years ago and I read them to my kids. I had never heard of them before but once I started reading them, I was glad we had added them to our little home library! We laughed and laughed the whole time we read them. We would quote lines from them to each other at random times and laugh some more. The best part is they still pop up everywhere around our house because my kids still think they are funny and read them. I found one the other day that my daughter had been reading (again), so I thought I’d share here since we think they are that good around our house. 🙂
The books are called McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm and Here Comes McBroom by Sid Fleishman. These are short, tiny little books (63 and 79 pages) so they aren’t going to be a big time commitment if you decided to read them in your family as well. If you would like your kids to read them on their own, the back of the book says the age level is 7 or 8 and up. (Just know you are missing out on the fun if you do that.) The back of the book also says they are a 2nd grade reading level. Who decided that? I don’t’ know. Is it true? I don’t know. I finished 2nd grade a few years ago and I still read and enjoyed them. Also, I think my daughter was 6 when I read them to her, and she loved them. Which is why she still pulls them out and reads them at 10.
Both books have three short Tall Tales about Josh McBroom and his family. What I do know is be sure and start with McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm. This book tells the tale of how Josh McBroom and his family end up with a farm of eighty acres stacked on top of each other. Ah, you’re curious now aren’t you! Here Comes McBroom is equally as funny as McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm. You probably could read it first if you really wanted to, but it might make more sense if you read it second. Here is the description on the back of the book and bookstores near you (such as Amazon) if you want to find out more.
When Josh McBroom learns that the eighty acres of Iowa farmland he’s purchased are all stacked up on top of each other at the bottom of a muddy little pond, he thinks he’s been bamboozled. But McBroom knows he’s got the better of the bargain when the pond dries up to reveal an acre of soil so rich that seeds spring up into full-grown plants in no time and even nickels grow into quarters.
Nickles grow into quarters? Uh Huh. But you have to read the books yourself to find out more. Bonus, your kids will enjoy the books even more the more animated you are as you read them. (Lingering habit of mine from my professional teaching days…)
If you are looking for some funny books that your whole family just might enjoy, check these out!
Happy reading!