Collection: Humor

Here is the perfect gift for all insomniacs: a feast of intriguing puzzles, rhymes, limericks, and other entertainments devised by the author of Alice in Wonderland to help pass what he called "the wakeful hours."

"The dilemma my friends suppose me to be in," said Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, "has, for its two horns, the endurance of a sleepless night, and the adoption of some recipe for inducing sleep." In this delightful book, therefore, are collected a splendid variety of the things he devised to help rid himself of insomnia.

They range from simple number problems and calming calculations to a number of whimsical activites: composing rhymes at midnight, conjuring up ghosts, planning dreams, devising shadow shows, and writing in the dark by means of Nyctograph. Take Carroll's advice and the "wakeful hours" can be turned to your advantage.

An encyclopedia of mind-bogglingly random facts that will lodge in your brain and refuse to leave.

Heard about the lizard that shoots blood from its eyes? Or the ancient Romans who used pee as mouthwash? Did you know that going on a roller coaster can cure kidney stones?

In this compendium of obscure facts readers will be treated to baffling knowledge they would never learn at school. Broken into chapters including geography, space, and history, a team of experts has scoured the world to find the silliest and most pointless facts that it has to offer.

Accompanied by hilarious illustrations, kids will meet the prehistoric camel with no humps, the tortoises that went to the Moon (and came back again), and dancing cave people. They will learn crucial life skills like how to walk on custard and how to unboil an egg by spinning it 5,000 times a minute. And they will read the heartwarming story of a court jester called Roland the Farter - can you guess what his special skill was?

(SPOILER: the information in this book isn't really useless. It will inspire, shock, and amuse the reader - and maybe spark an interest that will last a lifetime. It just won't help you with any exams!)

In our latest paperback volume of The Complete Peanuts, love takes many shapes and shades. Charlie Brown's infatuation with the Little Red-Haired Girl is rekindled; Linus fails to impress Lydia; Sally hoorays for Hollywood; Marcie pines for the World War I Flying Ace, who becomes lost in his cups (of root beer); Peppermint Patty and Marcie battle for Charlie Brown's affection; and Snoopy is absolutely obsessed... with cookies. Throughout, Schulz makes Peanut's balancing act of heartbreak and wry humor feel effortless -- in these his strips of the '90s, his cartooning has never looked more confident, and his sense of humor is unrestrained.

The Complete Peanuts is the publishing project that launched a renaissance in comic strip publishing and the only place Charles M. Schulz's classic has ever been collected in its entirety. Featuring impeccable production values, each volume of this series features two successive years of newspaper strips (dailies and Sundays), plus bonus material such as celebrity introductions, interviews, and a brief biography of Schulz himself.

The arrival of the greatest single panel cartoonist since Charles Addams

One swing trapeze artist prepares to receive a newborn child from another all the while shrieking "Support the head!" A hopeful, naked Adam reaches high for the largest leaf while a frustrated Eve hands him a smaller, more-appropriately sized leaf. A dejected squid stands in a doorway, shock and dismay on his face, as a ruined surprise party lies in wait before him--guests, presents, and birthday cake covered in a blast of ink in mid-"Sur..." as loose balloons butt against the ceiling.

Once in generation, a distinctly new perspective emerges from the pages of The New Yorker. In our times, that perspective belongs to Ed Steed. Steeped in the classic formalist tradition of the single-panel gag, Steed possesses a shocking and macabre talent for drawings guaranteed to make even the most composed of casual readers laugh out loud. At times reminiscent of Charles Addams, George Booth, William Steig, Saul Steinberg, and Edward Gorey, the artist defies the blasé, urbanite's worldview of the magazine in which his comics appear.

If anyone has described a New Yorker cartoon to you at a cocktail party recently it is almost certainly a "Steed." Forces of Nature is the first of what promises to be many award-winning collections by this young man with an old cartooning soul.

Get ready to laugh nonstop with hundreds of classic knock-knock jokes, silly one-liners, and hilarious puns sure to tickle your funny bone.

From silly wordplay to treacherous tongue twisters, this humongous book has something for every kind of jokester. Never get tired of the same old jokes again. Jam packed with thousands of the funniest jokes, these goofy gags will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter.

Including:

• Where did Sir Lancelot go to pay his parking tickets? Knight court.
• What does the Abominable Snowman get if he stays out in the sun too long? Freezer burn.
• Why did the pirate join a health club? He wanted to be in ship shape.
• What's a Scarecrow's favorite fruit? Strawberries!

Kid-friendly content makes this a must-have for your family's bookshelf. So, what are you waiting for? Start laughing with The Most Ginormous Joke Book in the Universe!

"James Whiteside is an electrifying performer, an incredible athlete, and an artist, through and through. To know James is to love him; with Center Center, you are about to fall in love." --Jennifer Garner

"A frank examination and celebration of queerness."
--Good Morning America

A daring, joyous, and inspiring memoir-in-essays from the American Ballet Theatre principal dancer-slash-drag queen-slash-pop star who's redefining what it means to be a man in ballet

There's a mark on every stage around the world that signifies the center of its depth and width, called "center center." James Whiteside has dreamed of standing on that very mark as a principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre ever since he was a twelve-year-old blown away by watching the company's spring gala. The GLAMOUR. The VIRTUOSITY. The RIPPED MEN IN TIGHTS!

In this absurd and absurdist collection of essays, Whiteside tells us the story of how he got to be a primo ballerino--stopping along the way to muse about the tragically fated childhood pets who taught him how to feel, reminisce on ill-advised partying at summer dance camps, and imagine fantastical run-ins with Jesus on Grindr. Also in these pages are tales of the two alter egos he created to subvert the strict classical rigor of ballet: JbDubs, an out-and-proud pop musician, and Ühu Betch, an over-the-top drag queen named after Yoohoo chocolate milk.

Center Center is an exuberant behind-the-scenes tour of Whiteside's triple life, both on- and offstage--a raunchy, curious, and unapologetic celebration of queerness, self-expression, friendship, sex, creativity, and pushing boundaries that will entertain you, shock you*, inspire you, embolden you . . . and maybe even make you cry.

*THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN.

In honor of Donald Duck's 90th anniversary, join us in tracing his comics career from 1934 to the present! Carl Barks' "Lost in the Andes" and Don Rosa's "Return to Plain Awful" take the Ducks to the legendary land of square eggs--while Romano Scarpa's "Legend of Donald Hood" pits Donald against Scrooge in a feature-length Sherwood Forest spoof! Marco Rota's "Life and Times of Donald Duck" traces our hero from birth--as a wild duck in a nest?!--while William Van Horn's "The Black Moon" finds outer-space peril threatening Duckburg! From Daisy to Gladstone to Gyro and the Beagle Boys, the gang's all here... for an unprecedented look at everybody's favorite duck!

A charmingly corny book of Star Wars-inspired dad jokes, perfect for geeky fathers, pun lovers, and sci-fi fans of any age.

What kind of stories do Wookiee parents tell at bedtime? Hairy tales.

Why do the warriors of Mandalore leave their helmets on? It's Mandator-ian.

A Jedi Master fights with a lightsaber, but a Jedi father wields the most powerful weapon of all: comedy. Fight the Sith with the knee-slapping, groan-inducing power of these Star Wars-inspired dad jokes or join the dark side and terrorize your family and friends with an army of bad puns. The perfect balance of hokey and wholesome, Star Wars: Dad Jokes is sure to slip through any defenses and have even the most serious of Padawans rolling their eyes.

As Master Yoda might say: Laugh, you must!

(c) & (TM) 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd.

FAMILY FUN: Star Wars is nothing if not a family drama--after all, it boasts one of the most famous dads in movie history. This wholesome, light-hearted book taps into the same family-friendly appeal as Jeffrey Brown's Vader and Son series, with jokes that will delight parents and Star Wars fans of all ages.

UNIVERSAL HUMOR: Like your old man's trusty baseball cap, dad jokes never go out of style. Jokes and puns continue to be a universal crowd-pleaser. This unique blend of corny and groan-inducing humor is guaranteed to make anyone laugh or, at the very least, shake their head in intergalactic wonder.

STAR WARS GIFTS: Star Wars is the fandom that never sleeps. With frequent releases on Disney+ and a full calendar of social media holidays, including the annual "May the 4th Be With You" and "I am Your Father's Day" celebrations, you don't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to find the perfect gifting moment for a Star Wars fan in your life.

Perfect for:

• Fans of Star Wars movies, books, and gifts
• Jokesters and pun lovers
• Father's Day gifts for dads, granddads, uncles, and parental figures
• Baby shower or new baby gift

A smart, funny crash course in the horror movie canon, from Psycho to Hereditary, for people who love getting the reference but hate being scared.

You don't have to miss out just because you don't like to be frightened! Stop trying to read nonsensical Wikipedia plot summaries (we know you're doing it), and let an expert tell you everything you need to know about the most influential horror films of the past 60 years--without a single jump scare or a drop of gore.

With a rundown of the history and significance of horror cinema, explanations of common tropes, and detailed entries on 25 important movies ranging from Night of the Living Dead to The Blair Witch Project to Get Out, Horror for Weenies will turn even the scarediest of cats into a confident connoisseur.

Each entry includes:

• A detailed plot summary, with enough jokes that it won't freak you out
• Smart, illuminating analysis of the film's themes and cultural significance
• Descriptions of iconic scenes you definitely do not want to look at
• Talking points for impressing even the biggest scary-movie buffs

Never get left out of a conversation again!

Curious, cute, and seriously quirky, cats are a conundrum wrapped in fur. Do you want to learn more about your feline friends?

Often a confusing mixture of affectionate and aloof, spending much of the day snoozing yet being right there where a can of food is opened, cats are the definition of unknowable--or are they? Some things you may not have known about your cat:

• Cats have a reputation as discerning eaters but they actually have very few taste buds and no sweet tooth at all
• Cats can be either left or right-pawed
• From mimicking your voice in their meows to being the ultimate masters of self-care, cats know exactly how to get what they want

This beautiful and fun cat book presents 59 little-known facts to help you better understand your mysterious feline companion. It's the purrfect gift for the cat lover in your life.

Celebrate everyone's favorite award-winning comedy series with this mini replica of Monica's peephole frame that plays iconic quotes from Friends at the push of a button.

• Specifications: 2-3/4 x 3-1/4 inch replica of the iconic Friends yellow peephole frame from Monica's apartment with full-color images to switch in and out
• With Sound: Plays 10 iconic quotes from Monica, Joey, Chandler, Rachel, Phoebe, and Ross at the push of a button
• Book Included: 48-page mini book with favorite quotes from the show and full-color photos
• Perfect Gift: A must-have gift item for fans of Friends
• Portable: Small size adds fun to any desktop surface
• Officially Licensed: Authentic collectible

Requires two AAA batteries (not included).

A witty and winsome new way of looking at the complex relationship between cats and people: through the eyes of one erudite and attentive Italian gatto.

We live on a planet infested with humans. They are a pernicious species, yet undeniably clever and capable--even if the reasons behind their actions are often incomprehensible to us felines.

But while it is true that there have never been so many primates on Earth, in reality, they are quite simple to teach using well-practiced domestication techniques, such as loud vocalizations, strategic nighttime alarms, and selective displays of affection.

And if you choose your specimen carefully, you'll find that it can be completely tamed, and you'll end up with the best, most faithful companion you could possibly wish for.

Andrea Ferolla's elegant illustrations make this helpful guide a feast of fancies for the eyes--the perfect gift for the cat lover in your life.

Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor

Tell exciting tales around the campfire--for kids 6 to 9

Camping with your family can be a blast. You can build campfires together. You can roast marshmallows. And best of all, you can tell stories. This camping book for kids is filled with amazing tales children will love sharing. From a mysterious fog to two heads in a suitcase, these stories are sure to excite and delight!

• A terrific range of tales--Discover 16 stories divided into four categories: spooky, funny, mysterious, and strange. Whether kids want to scream with laughter or fear, there's something for everyone.
• The perfect length--These stories are purposely crafted to be quick and engaging, guaranteeing they'll capture every child's attention. Plus, they make for great reading practice!
• Enhance the experience--Kids can easily augment their trip with awesome storytelling tips, suggestions for games to play, and ideas on how they can help out around the campsite.

Ensure your kids have a memorable campout with this excellent collection of campfire stories.

Charlie Brown comes to life like never before in this giftable pop-up book featuring the first-ever Peanuts comic strip in Here Comes Charlie Brown!

Charles M. Schulz introduced readers to "Good Ol' Charlie Brown" on October 2, 1950, with the publication of the very first Peanuts comic strip--considered the most iconic comic of all time. It is also a perfect haiku of art, text, and paranoia, with a variation of the Browning sonnet "How Do I Love Thee?" thrown in for literary measure. Everything that is great about Schulz and Peanuts is established right out of the gate in these four perfect panels, which have influenced every comic strip that has followed.

With this innovative, palm-sized pop-up book, cartoonist and comics historian Gene Kannenberg Jr. brings that very first comic strip to life for a whole new generation, as well as for longtime fans of the classic and beloved brand.

Pusheen by the Numbers offers artists of every age the chance to paint and display their favorite lazy, lovable feline no matter where or when inspiration strikes.

• Specifications: Includes everything you need to create three 3-1/8" X 2-1/4" mini masterpieces including: 1 mini paintbrush, 8 paint pots, 3 pre-printed canvases, 1 easel, and a fold-out sheet with numbered sections and easy-to-follow instructions
• Book Included: 16-page mini book with painting tips and instructions
• A Perfect Gift: A fun, crafty, and creative gift for Pusheen fans of all ages
• Portable: Small size allows for fun anytime, anywhere
• Officially Licensed: An authentic Pusheen product

What's black and white and read all over? Why, The Totally Ninja Raccoon Joke Book, of course! Kids love jokes! They'll love this goofy joke book filled with hundreds of funny jokes and illustrations. Kids will be laughing and sharing these jokes with everyone. Great for early and reluctant readers. Be warned! These jokes are totally ninja and totally silly.

The Totally Ninja Raccoons is a series of early chapter readers specifically for reluctant readers. The target audience is second through fourth grade. Short chapters, humor, adventure, and one picture per chapter keep kids feeling a sense of engagement and accomplishment as they plow through these stories and ask for more!