From: Lee Wardlaw Jaffurs <lwardlaw>
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 12:22:32 -0700

It seems to me, as a parent and former classroom volunteer whose job was to read aloud for half-an-hour once a week, that kids (and many adults) most often find funny those words or behaviors or ideas that are frowned upon or even forbidden in polite, obedient company>

I agree with Peggy, and think this is why many children find my novel 101 WAYS TO BUG YOUR PARENTS so hilarious (and why the book has won so many state reader's choice awards). They especially love the list of 'ways' at the back of the book, compiled by the protagonist and a real class of 3rd graders in my hometown. Young readers laugh because these things are forbidden, and they laugh because they recognize themselves and their own
(mostly) unintentional actions - - and their parents' reactions.

Almost all the parents who've written letters to me about this book have been positive; they, too, find it hilarious, and can read the pro-parent theme between the lines. But there have been a handful of parents who believe the book is subversive and very UNfunny. It was almost banned in a couple of school districts in Oklahoma and Texas. Humor does that to people, I guess. It reminds me of the book/movie THE NAME OF THE ROSE, where murders are committed in a monastery during the dark ages to keep Aristotle's lost book on humor from coming to light.

An aside: of the hundreds upon hundreds of an letters I've received from kids about this book, not one child has said to me: "Thanks, Ms. Wardlaw, for giving me all these great suggestions for bugging my parents. I can't wait to try them out." Instead, kids talk about their favorite funny scenes, characters, conversations, etc. Parents don't give kids enough credit, do they?

Lee Wardlaw lwardlaw at gte.net www.leewardlaw.com
Received on Fri 03 May 2002 02:22:32 PM CDT