Funny Business

What makes funny FUNNY? An esteemed anthologist interviews thirteen favorite children's authors and asks them to share their trade secrets. DO YOU EVER MAKE YOURSELF LAUGH WHILE YOU ARE WRITING? "A joke isn't a joke if you need to explain it," notes Leonard S. Marcus. "Even so, the hidden clockwork of comedy . . . has long been considered one of the great riddles of life." There are many kinds of humor, but capturing their essence on paper is a remarkably difficult (and often undervalued) skill. So how do authors create books that not only stand the tests of time but also make us laugh? In thirteen fascinating interviews, well-loved writers of humorous books for children discuss an array of topics, from their sources of inspiration to the ways they began writing, from their revision processes to childhood anecdotes to the value they place on comedy in their work and lives. Beautifully designed and thoughtfully edited, this collection is bound to tickle the fancy of children and adults alike.

Leonard S. Marcus is one of the world’s most respected writers about children’s literature. His essays, interviews, and reviews appear in the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW and many other publications, and he has a regular column for PARENTING magazine. Among his numerous books are THE WAND IN THE WORD: CONVERSATIONS WITH WRITERS OF FANTASY and MINDERS OF MAKE-BELIEVE: IDEALISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE SHAPING OF AMERICAN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE. He lives in Brooklyn.