Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Baltimore, MD

Underwear Do's and Don'ts (Boardbook) by Todd Parr

If you're a kid (or an immature adult), underwear are going to make you laugh.  No doubt about it.  And this book, with its cutesy illustrations of police officers and boxer shorts, will be sure to have you and the little ones in stitches.  A great read-aloud for a toddler, even if he's not yet familiar with the concept of underwear.

The Stupids Have a Ball by Harry G. Allard and James Marshall

This was one of my childhood favorites, and since I haven't matured much since I was, like, seven, I still think it's hilarious.  Okay, so it's a little insulting to call people stupid, but it is the family's surname, after all, and anyway, how can you not love a baby with his toes in a punch bowl?  Rich with ridiculous details (don't miss the numerous background jokes), this book will make you feel so much better about that botched birthday party you threw last year.  Terrific. 

Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee

Jon Agee is one of our favorite children's authors, and each of his books is truly a treasure.  What puts Milo's Hat Trick at the top of our list, however--aside from the fact that it was the first of Agee's books that we discovered--is the peculiarly sweet friendship between the hapless magician and his trick-performing bear.  Clever and delightfully illustrated, this book is always a hit at our house.

Lisa in the Jungle by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

One of a number of Gaspard and Lisa books, and translated from French, Lisa in the Jungle is the story of a little girl who decides to deceive her friends about what she did over summer vacation.  Some readers may take issue with Lisa's little lie, but the story is so preposterous, and so beautifully rendered, that it's hard to think any less of the book (or of Lisa).  And besides, why not use Lisa's dishonesty as a launching point for a discussion about honesty?  Because real kids don't always tell the truth, right?  Go ahead and take advantage of this teachable moment, while laughing along the way.

Cowboy & Octopus by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Make a cowboy and an octopus the stars of your storybook, and you're guaranteed to get some guffaws.  Some of the jokes--including Octopus's humorously misunderstood knock-knock--may be lost on your toddler, but kids of any age will giggle at Octopus's surprising Halloween costume choice.  The quirky vignettes, combined with the comic book-style illustrations, make for a funny, out-of-the-ordinary read.  

Now how about you?  What are some of the funniest titles on your children's bookshelf?