Published: 2022
Series: N/A
Author: Chris Harris
Illustrator: Serge Bloch
Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Children’s Fiction, Storytime, Juvenile Literature
Audience (Grade Levels): Elementary Level; PreK-3rd Grade
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: If you laugh I’m starting this book over
Triggers / Content Warnings: None (Expect high energy and uncontrollable classroom giggling).
Review By: Megan Powell
Publisher’s Summary:
Guaranteed to be a major hit at storytime, this hilarious interactive picture book is perfect for fans of The Book With No Pictures, The Serious Goose and Press Here.
Okay, kid… I have a BIG THING that I really want to tell you. But it’s VERY SERIOUS. So please, NO LAUGHING while I read you this book. Because…IF YOU LAUGH, I’M STARTING THIS BOOK OVER!
In this riotous read-aloud from the bestselling author of I’m Just No Good at Rhyming and The Alphabet’s Alphabet, the reader insists that listeners MUST. NOT. LAUGH—but the demand NOT to laugh leads to the absolutely irresistible temptation to do just that! Chock full of silly narrative twists, giggle-worthy character names, and ridiculously goofy illustrations by Serge Bloch, this interactive romp is sure to become a new storytime essential, whether you make it to the end or not!
Review:
My initial thought reading this was that this book has wonderful illustrations. It definitely draws in the reader and the students who will be engaged listeners. It gives the listeners instructions to follow along with the book. It asks the students to say and do different things throughout the book. It’s almost like the writer is directly talking to each and every student. I like it because it’s very personalized- for example, the author states, “You are kid right? I hope so, it would be weird if I were reading this book to a 56-year-old Dentist.” The author makes it very easy for the listeners to relate to this book. This book continues to make sure that the students do not laugh. Which makes it even more funny and makes it so the students want to laugh. Again, the illustrations are amazing. Another example of how they engage the students is, they ask the students to speak in a squeaky voices in response to a question asked throughout the book. The illustrator shows a visual of using ketchup as shampoo to be funny, this is a prime example of some of the silly things throughout this book. Throughout the whole book, the author is doing silly things to get the students to laugh. I would highly recommend this fun book to any classroom at the elementary school level. Younger students will definitely find this to be more funny and you may get more of a reaction out of them.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA (English Language Arts): An exceptional tool for introducing point of view, unreliable narrators, and the concept of direct address in writing. It can also be utilized to teach punctuation cues, showing students how text size and exclamation marks signal vocal expression.
- Art & Visual Literacy: Perfect for studying minimalist cartooning. Students can analyze how Serge Bloch uses simple lines and mixed-media accents (like the ketchup-shampoo sequence) to convey maximum physical comedy and emotional expression.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Connects brilliantly to self-regulation, body awareness, and impulse control. It lets kids practice trying to control their physical impulses (laughing) within a safe, joyful environment.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: Perfect for an interactive school library workshop or classroom extension. Following a group read-aloud, lead a “Don’t Make Me Smile” Writing Activity. Have students partner up to write and illustrate a single page containing the silliest joke, drawing, or custom rule they can invent. The goal is to see if their partner can read their page out loud without breaking into a smile.
- Diversity & Representation: The book champions equity and inclusion by creating a universally accessible comedic format that strips away cultural barriers. Because the storytelling relies on shared physical humor, interactive gestures, and collective facial expressions, it allows neurodivergent students, English Language Learners, and children of all developmental backgrounds to participate equally in the collective joy of the narrative without feeling alienated by dense prose.
