An interview and book spotlight in partnership with Carole P. Roman
The Children’s Book Review
Joke books are a staple of the children’s literature genre, but not all joke books are as socially responsible as Giggles Galore. Alongside the jokes (which are hilariously silly), the volume contains a build-your-own joke activity for readers to practice their comedic skills. From well-worn classics to some brand-new giggles, you can find some humor for any situation in this collection.
In this conversation, award-winning author Carole P. Roman shares where she sources her jokes, the importance of using humor kindly and responsibly, and how Giggles Galore offers ways to practice social skills and develop friendships. Read on!
There are so many jokes and joke books out there, including your bestselling Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids—was it challenging to find a new and unique approach?
No, there are a million jokes out there. We are a funny species.
Where do you source your jokes from and how many of the jokes did you write yourself?
Jokes are everywhere. I have a funny family and we are constantly sending each other jokes and humorous stories. My dad used humor to diffuse all sorts of situations. Considering he was a survivor, it’s interesting how much he used a joke to lighten the mood. I contributed many of the jokes, but they were old chestnuts from my youth. I collect jokes from social media, the internet, and my family wherever I can.
Were there any jokes you left out? If so, why?
Some jokes don’t age well. Also, many jokes are inappropriate for today. I had to consider each joke and think whether it was insensitive to people’s feelings about their culture, gender, and other aspects of life. Like everything in life, jokes and people’s feelings about them have evolved with the times.
We love the story at the end about using humor kindly and responsibly. Why did you think this was important to include?
Jokes can be great entertainment, but sometimes they can wound people when taken too far. Take tickling. I watch little kids tickle each other and find I have to stop it before tears show up. Someone always takes it too far. It’s the same with jokes. What seems funny to one person may strike a chord with someone else. You have to be able to read the room.
The book is described in its summary as “the perfect way to practice social skills and develop friendships.” Can you tell us a little bit about how you envision that working? How can readers use the book in this way?
I have a day job. I am the CEO of a large ground transportation company. We use humor to break the ice in meetings. It makes people comfortable and more open to what you are saying. A good joke can make bridges and open lines of communication. Laughter should be used to unite. It humanizes a tense situation. When children learn jokes, they are also discovering facial expressions, different ways to communicate, and sometimes even get a person’s attention.
The sections – food, cats and dogs, and so on – are far from exhaustive – will there be a follow-up volume?
I always have another book in me.
What advice do you have for readers who might like to be comedians?
Practice in front of a mirror. Record it on your phone and watch the delivery, then try it on an audience. My brother did stand up back in the eighties. He worked with Seinfeld, Richard Jenni, and Larry David at Catch a Rising Star in New York City. He is now CFO at one of my companies. He went to college, and even though he wanted to be a comedian, he took accounting, just in case it didn’t work out.
Do you think there are different types of humor?
If so, what is your favorite type of joke and why? I love anything that will catch me unawares and laugh out loud. Last night, I was watching the new Nick Cage movie and laughed many times. It made me forget about everything that I was worried about during the day at work. I get daily cartoons that brighten my day. I love when a person makes you think about something absurd that will change your perspective and bring a smile to your face.
What other joke books can you recommend to readers who love Giggles Galore?
My other joke books: The Big Book of Silly Jokes 1 and 2. However, I think both my Grady Whill and Oh Susannah books are filled with humor. I do love reading Bad Guys and Captain Underpants with my grandkids as well.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the duck wouldn’t do it.
About the Book
Giggles Galore: Jokes, Riddles, and Fun Facts for Kids of all Ages
Written by Carole P. Roman
Illustrated by Leen Roslan
Ages 5+ 168 Pages
Publisher: Chelshire, Inc. | ISBN-13: 9781950080038
Publisher’s Book Summary: What’s more fun than a rainy afternoon?
A rainy afternoon with Giggles Galore!
Treat yourself and your child to this fun-filled book of jokes, riddles, and exciting bits of information.
Entertain your friends and family with a wide variety of jokes that include funny foods, animal antics, jolly jungles, farcical farms, dizzy dinosaurs, hilarious holidays, and a host of humor from all over our wacky world.
Fun facts are sprinkled throughout the book and give a welcome relief from all the giggles.
There’s even a section where budding comedians can learn to create new jokes.
Lastly, join Carole P. Roman’s beloved character, Susanna Maya Logan, for a short story about why we must use humor wisely, or it may not be considered funny by everyone.
A great tool to help a reluctant reader, Giggles Galore is the perfect way to practice social skills and develop friendships.
Buy the Book
About the Author
Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children’s books. Whether it’s pirates, princesses, spies, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children of all ages.
Her best-selling book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! has reached number one on Amazon in March of 2020 and has remained in the top 200 books since then.
She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren.
Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman.
Roman is the CEO of a global transportation company, as well as a practicing medium.
She also writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and has created an anthology of the mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors.
Writing is her passion and one of her favorite pastimes. Roman reinvents herself frequently, and her family calls her the ‘mother of reinvention.’ She resides on Long Island, near her children and grandchildren.
For more information, visit http://www.caroleproman.com/.
This interview—Carole P. Roman Discusses Giggles Galore: Jokes, Riddles, and Fun Facts for Kids of all Ages—was conducted between Carole P. Roman and Dr. Jen Harrison. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Carole P. Roman, Fact Books, Humorous Books, Interactive Books, and Joke Books.
309 Comments
zay loves jokes……… she loves to go on you tube and find jokes she would enjoy this book a lot
My nephew would enjoy this book
My grandchildren would love this book.
This book sounds like it’s a hoot!
love the cover some fun artwork
The author delivers a lot of fun on the pages of this book.
I would love to win because the book sounds very engaging, and of course amazon gift cards are fantastic.
I would love to win because it sounds so good!
I WOULD LOVE IT IF TWITTER LET ME ENTER
My child would crazy love this book!
My oldest Granddaughter is just learning about jokes. I think she’d like this book.
Sounds like a fun book and my grandchildren would love it! They tell me a new joke every time they come see me.
I have two great-grandsons who love to read and laugh and make others laugh. I just bought Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids for them and I know they’d love this one too!
My 10 year old grandson loves to read and he loves jokes and fun facts. He is always telling us jokes and would love this book.
I think I would enjoy reading this book to my family.
I’d love to win this because laughter is the best medicine and my sons have a wonderful sense of humor
My daughter loves to read jokes, riddles, fun facts books and I love to shop on Amazon.
My nephews would like this they love to tell jokes .
Great books for kids to learn and enjoy!
The book looks so cute
looks adorable
zay loves funny stuff she has so many jokes that her pappy has told her
i babysitt a lot of kids n they love when i read to them or they get to read to me.
We’d sure like to add this fun book to our reading list.
I’d like to win this because there are several kids in the family who are just the right age to enjoy this book. Joke books and books of facts were something that I always enjoyed as a child.
A funny book for my grandson.
nice interview
I would love to win this for my niece because she loves to laugh!
I would love to win because my 6 year old has been requesting a joke book. This one sounds perfect for him!
I know an adult kid who might enjoy this
Cute book, great illustrations.
I would love to win this for my granddaughter. Every night I have to call her with a joke and it all started with one cute I joke I did as a surprise but now it is a nightly thing so she would love this.
My grandson would love this book.
I’m hoping I win this contest. I love to read books with my son and godaughters, this one looks very enjoyable. Thanks for this opportunity.
thank you for the daily chance
Thanks to my beloved and old, beautiful, and informative web resource about children’s books.
My grandchildren would be so entertained! I hope to win this for them.
My grandson would enjoy this book.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
I would love to win because my grandchildren would love this book. It sounds like so much fun!
I would like to give this to my grandchild, he likes to be read stories.
My kids love joke books! This would be great for them!
I would like to give this to my nephews!
Sounds like a fun read for the nephews- who doesn’t like a good joke
I’d like to win this for my great-nephew. Bless his heart, social skills is a character builder he needs! He loves to tell jokes, and seldom are they funny.
I would love to win this giveaway for my daughter for her birthday. She would really get a kick out the book and it would cheer her up.
zay loves books likes this and with this card I could get her more
My niece would like this book.
Thanks for the contest.
my grands would love the joke book and with the amazon card i will get them christmas gifts
We love Carole Roman’s books, and we always love buying more books!
good morning all grabbing my daily entry 🙂
A perfect book for my grandson.
I want to win for my grandshildren
I would love to win this giveaway for my daughter’s birthday that’s coming up.
I’d like to win this because a child is starting first grade and another is a reluctant reader, so I think a book like this would make reading fun for them. They’re close to the same age, so they could share it.
this would be a fun book for zay
I loved books as a child and want to pass that love along
A fun book
I want to win b/c I like jokes
This is a book I would love to have as I grew up in a few bad foster homes that was years ago and there were no giggles so now that I am a lot older I realize that giggling and telling jokes go right together and help shape you as a better and happier person!
artwork is cute as well
The reason that I’d like to win is that children in the family would really enjoy this. I think this would encourage reluctant readers to try reading. They could read just a few jokes or a few facts, rather than feeling overwhelmed by a long chapter book.
Sounds like a hoot! We sure need more laughing in today’s world! Thank you for the opportunity!
Sounds like a fun book
Looks like a great book