Funtime Riddles. (Kids Can Read). Marilyn Helmer. Illustrated by Jane Kurisu. Toronto, ON: Kids Can, 2004. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-55337-580-7 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55337-579-3 (cl.). Subject Heading: Riddles, Juvenile. Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8. Review by Lisa Hanson O’Hara. **** /4
	Recess Riddles. (Kids Can Read). Marilyn Helmer. Illustrated by Jane Kurisu. Toronto, ON: Kids Can, 2004. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-55337-578-5 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55337-577-7 (cl.). Subject Heading: Riddles, Juvenile. Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8. Review by Lisa Hanson O'Hara. **** /4

Author Marilyn Helmer and illustrator Jane Kurisu have created two delightful riddle books for beginning readers. The subject matter is well suited to children this age, and the books are easy enough that beginning readers should be able to work through them. There is one riddle per page, with a full-page color illustration.

What kind of bird hangs around ski resorts? A ski-gull.

     The illustrations are bright and cheerful and enhance the riddling experience. The riddle above, taken from Funtime Riddles, is illustrated with a seagull in a green hat and scarf sporting skis and goggles heading down the slopes with human skiers in the background. One skier is in the midst of a fall with arms and legs splayed and hat falling off.

     Children may not, however, understand the punch line of some of the riddles:

What did the eraser say to the pencil?“Don’t rub me the wrong way!”

     If a child hasn’t heard the expression before, it may be hard to explain the joke. However, in my experience, children enjoy riddle and joke books whether they understand them all or not. And there are plenty that will strike them as funny, including a knock-knock joke or two!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Teacher. Teacher who? Teacher dog not to eat your homework!

Highly Recommended.

Lisa Hanson O’Hara is a librarian and mother of three in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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