Families who loved Fooling Around with Words by Ruthven Tremain often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child has recently mastered basic decoding and is starting to realize that language can be a tool for humor and social connection. It is the perfect choice for the kid who wants to be the family entertainer or the student who finds traditional reading drills a bit dry. Rather than a linear narrative, this is a treasury of verbal gymnastics including spoonerisms, rebuses, and knock-knock games. The book focuses on the joy of discovery and the pride that comes with 'getting' a joke. It celebrates creativity and curiosity by inviting the reader to manipulate sounds and letters. For the 5 to 8 year old range, it offers a wonderful confidence boost, as it turns the difficult work of learning to read into a series of successful punchlines and puzzles. It is a vintage gem that remains a powerful way to bond over the silly side of literacy.