Dee Anderson
Reading is Funny!
Motivating Kids to Read with Riddles
Dee Anderson
American Library Association
Chicago 2009
Reading is Funny!
Motivating Kids to Read with Riddles
Dee Anderson, who earned her MLS from the University of Iowa, has worked in public and
school libraries since high school and has enjoyed reading and riddles for as long as she can
remember. Teacher requests prompted her to start a riddle file years ago. Anderson has implemented
activities in this book with children in libraries, after-school programs, and enrichment
classes for the gifted. She has also presented at workshops and conferences for teachers and parents.
She wrote Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays (American Library Association, 1997) and provided
children’s activities for four publications of the Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation. Since
2000 a local newspaper has run her monthly column on children’s books and reading. Anderson
currently works at the Rock Island Primary Academy in Rock Island, Illinois.
While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the
publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and
does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors
or omissions in this publication.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for
Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anderson, Dee.
Reading is funny! : motivating kids to read with riddles / Dee Anderson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0957-7 (alk. paper)
1. School libraries—Activity programs—United States. 2. Riddles, Juvenile. 3. Humor in education.
4. Reading promotion—United States. I. Title.
Z675.S3A53 2009
027.80973—dc22 2008000980
Copyright © 2009 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be
granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0957-7
Printed in the United States of America
13 12 11 10 09 5 4 3 2 1
For Karen A. and Emily Young,
who inspired this riddle:
Why are good friends like lobsters?
They come through in a “pinch.”
Thanks for coming through in a pinch.
Your assistance was invaluable.
And for my family,
Richard L. and Jewel H. Anderson
and Susan L. Granet.
Thanks for giving me a sense
of humor in the first place.
Without that, this book
wouldn’t exist.

v
Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
PART ONE Ways to Share Riddles with Children
1 Bulletin Boards That Promote Reading 11
For All Boards 11
Bulletin Boards for Any Time 12
Seasonal Bulletin Boards 14
Interactive Bulletin Boards 15
2 E ncouraging Children to Share Riddles 19
Daily Announcements 19
Illustrated Riddles 20
“Mini Ha-Ha’s” 20
Riddle Jar 22
Ways to Use Children’s Riddles 23
3 Games to Play with Riddles 25
Quiet Games 25
Active Games 28
Games That Teach Library Skills 31
4 Using Riddles for Public Relations 35
Distribute Bookmarks through Places Families Visit 35
Informational Booths at Community Events 36
5 S haring Riddles through Puppets 39
Make Puppets with Children 39
Ask Riddles with Puppets 40
Present Skits with Puppets 40
vi Contents
6 D o It Yourself! How to Make Up Riddles and Keep a Riddle File 43
Creating Spin-offs 43
Making Up New Riddles 44
Making Up Riddles with Children 46
Keeping a Riddle File 47
PART TWO T he Riddles
7 L augh Lines: Riddles about Literacy 51
Authors 51
Books 53
Computer Searches 57
Illustrators 58
Libraries 58
Magazines 59
Newspapers 59
Poetry 60
Reading 60
8 L aughing at “Our-shelves”: Riddles about Specific Books 63
Any Book about an Invisible Character 63
Any Book That’s Also a Movie 63
Any Giant Story 63
Any Spy Story 64
Dr. Seuss Books 64
Easies 67
Fairy Tales and Folktales 73
Fiction 79
Mystery Series 85
Nonfiction 86
Nursery Rhymes 87
9 T he Loony Library: Riddles for Loony Library
Bulletin Boards and Games 91
10 Merry Menagerie: Riddles about Animals and Zoos 97
Generic Animal Riddles 97
Birds 98
Creepy Crawlies 98
Contents vii
Dinosaurs and Pterodactyls 101
Dragons 102
Pets 102
Wild Animals 107
Zoos 117
11 “‘Hoppy’ Birthday!” Riddles about Birthdays 119
Birthdays in General 119
Birthday Cards and Greetings 119
Planning the Party 120
Before the Party 120
Party Games 121
Entertainment 121
Drinks 122
Cake 122
Ice Cream 123
Other Kinds of Refreshments 124
Presents 124
After the Party 125
12 Frightfully Funny: Riddles about Creepy Creatures 126
Ghosts 126
Mummies 127
Vampires 128
Werewolves 128
Witches 129
13 “‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” Riddles about Holidays and Seasons 130
New Year’s Day 130
Chinese New Year 130
Groundhog Day 131
Valentine’s Day 131
Leap Day 132
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday 132
St. Patrick’s Day 132
Spring 133
April Fools’ Day 133
Easter 134
National Library Week 135
D.E.A.R. Day 135
viii Contents
Children’s Book Week 135
Summer 135
Fourth of July 136
Harry Potter’s Birthday 137
Library Card Sign-up Month 137
Fall 137
Halloween 138
Thanksgiving 138
Hanukkah 139
Winter 139
Christmas 140
Kwanzaa 142
New Year’s Eve 142
14 Fun(ny) and Games: Riddles about Sports 143
Any Sport 143
Baseball 144
Basketball 145
Boxing 145
Car Racing and Demolition Derby 146
Dogsled Racing 146
Football 146
Gymnastics 147
Ice Hockey and Skating 147
In-line Skating 147
Martial Arts 147
Skateboarding 148
Snowboarding 148
Soccer 148
Swimming 148
15 T alking Turnips: Riddles for Talking Turnip Bulletin Boards,
Games, and Story 149
Animals 149
Around the House 150
Cars 151
Clothes 151
Food and Drinks 152
Sports 152
Contents ix
16 O dds and Ends: Riddles about Popular Subjects 154
Ballet 154
Circuses 154
Eggs 155
Pirates 157
Rain 157
Snow 158
Space 159
Superheroes 161
Appendix A Folktale and Puppet Skits 163
Appendix B R ecommended Riddle Books 175
Appendix C R eproducibles and Samples 181
Index 211
Appendix C is also available on the book’s website:
www.ala.org/editions/extras/Anderson09577.

xi
Acknowledgments
Special “tanks” to Jewel H. Anderson (aka Mom) for instilling in me
a love of reading; to all the teachers who taught me how to read and
write; to the staffs of the Moline (Illinois) Public Library and the
Rock Island (Illinois) Public Library for helping me obtain the many books
I previewed for the bibliography; and to the staff of ALA Editions.
The following people have encouraged my endeavors, provided muchneeded
technical support, or shared riddles, ideas, or information adapted
for this book. I’ve appreciated the way they’ve made my life richer: Joan
Allee, Caroline Feller Bauer, Mary Bowker, Mike Breidenstein, Lisa Broadbent,
Brenda Carmen, Jeremy Conaway, Ann Cottay, Janet DeDecker,
Debra J. Depaepe, Laura Hall, Angela Hunt, Janet Olson Johnson, Josh
Johnson, Eloise L. Kinney, Mary Kmoch, Bonnie Lawhorn, Kris Gayman
Leinicke, Mike MacKenna, Tera McCormick-Skinner, Laura Pelehach,
Dee Robbins, Marcus Robinson, Sheila Sheer, Theresa Shores, Sue Spurgetis,
Ellen M. Stahl, Malia Sullivan, Alice Traylor, Megan Trinrud, Mabe
Wassell, Jan Welch, Danielle Wild, Kathy Woodward, Emily Young, and
Karen A. Young.
I’d also like to “tank” everyone who has shared riddles with me over the
years or laughed at ones I’ve told. I’m also grateful to the authors of all the
riddle books I’ve read.
What did the army general say when the Pentagon
gave him new armored vehicles?
“‘Tanks.’”

1
Introduction
Eight Reasons to Share Riddles with Children
Why should librarians, teachers, and other adults who work with children
share riddles with them? There are eight great reasons to share riddles with
children.
1. To Tickle Their Funny Bones
The ability to laugh brightens our days and helps us keep going, because
laughter almost immediately relaxes the brain, relieves stress, and releases
endorphins that make us feel good. Recently, a crying child cheered up when
I read him riddles. When the teacher in charge of our school’s malfunctioning
photocopiers sent everyone an e-mail about their proper use, I replied
with riddles about Xerox machines. Immediately she responded: “Thanks. I
needed some comic relief.”
Because a sense of humor makes life more bearable, shouldn’t we help
the children in our lives develop this valuable coping skill?
2. To Tickle Their Brains
Riddles aren’t just good for laughs, however. They provide excellent mental
exercise as well. By the age of six or seven, children have developed what
Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget called “concrete operational thinking.”
Because playing with different meanings of words is fun, riddles motivate
kids to work out their new intellectual skill.
Riddles are a wonderful (and fun) way for children to understand that
words can have more than one meaning. I think it teaches them to
be more flexible with the language and to try and think about those
multiple-meaning words in a different context. Riddles are also a good
Why do skeletons read riddle books?
to tickle their funny bones
2 Introduction
way to teach inference, using clues to determine a specific answer.
(Malia Sullivan, speech language therapist)
Riddles increase background knowledge, enhance deductive and inductive
thinking skills, and improve visual imaging needed for better reading
skills. Most importantly, short readings for short attention spans
tickle the brain’s development and galvanize a love of reading. (Dee
Robbins, reading teacher)
3. To Expand Their Vocabularies
Children might not know all the words in riddles, but they’ll want to learn
them to get the jokes. Looking up unfamiliar words in a dictionary or hearing
definitions from adults helps kids develop the vocabulary necessary for
reading comprehension. Children can’t possibly understand what they read
or hear if they don’t know what the words mean. (Just think how much
trouble you have making sense out of anything loaded with medical terms or
technical jargon.) Riddles help children increase their background knowledge
as well, which also fosters comprehension.
4. To Help Them Learn to Read
We all do more of what gives us pleasure. A college instructor enjoyed Bennett
Cerf’s Riddle-De-Dee so much when she was a child that unfamiliar
concepts and vocabulary didn’t faze her. She simply asked her grandmother
about them, thereby learning to read in the process. A Title I teacher
reported with pleasure that one of her reluctant students read more after
discovering the joy of riddle books. A mother wrote Family Fun magazine
that she once tucked notes into her son’s lunch to encourage him to read.
When he threw her missives away without even a glance, she started slipping
riddles in with his sandwiches. This worked! Because her son enjoyed
the riddles, he reread them to classmates throughout the day. Rereading the
same material repeatedly helps children improve their fluency.
Timothy V. Rasinski, a reading expert who wrote The Fluent Reader,
advocates that all reading must have a purpose. Savoring the pleasure of
making others laugh certainly provides a purpose for reading. Score another
point for riddles!
5. To Give Children a Sense of Mastery
The triumph of being one up on those not in the know provides another
purpose for reading. Sharing riddles lets children have all the answers for a
change. It allows them to fool other people—even grown-ups. Wow! What
Introduction 3
a heady switch from feeling that everyone else knows more than you do and
from always being told what to do!
6. To Bond with Children
Sharing laughs helps people feel closer.
7. To Make Visiting the Library Fun
Reading and hearing riddles make trips to the library fun. Anticipating them
before the actual visit can make children eager to walk through your doors.
8. To Improve Your Image and Their Perception of Reading
Showing your playful side helps dispel those “dragon lady” stereotypes that
persist about librarians. Positive feelings about people who love reading
might help foster good feelings about the act of reading itself. When children
learn that the riddle they laughed at came from a book, they see that
opening book covers opens up worlds of fun.
Simple Ways to Start Sharing Riddles
A few tips will help you and the children get more fun out of riddles.
Some riddles work best when you share them in writing:
What prehistoric reptiles were black-and-blue?
“dino-sores”
Other riddles are more suitable for sharing orally:
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims
Delivering punch lines with vocal expression and appropriate gestures
enhances their humor. For example, say “pew” distastefully while holding
your nose with one hand and waving your other hand in front of you when
sharing the following riddle.
What did Christopher Robin call his pet skunk?
Winnie-the-“Pew”
Pretend to shiver during the punch line to this next riddle.
What do you call your Thanksgiving turkey when it’s still in the
freezer?
a “brrr-d”
4 Introduction
Share Riddles while Checking Out Books
When I worked in a public library, I enjoyed sharing riddles while checking
out patrons’ books. If you decide to try this, learn one to three riddles each
week. Consider choosing riddles that fit the time of year (see chapter 13),
the sports season (see chapter 14), the weather (see chapter 16), or a current
event (either in your library, your community, or the world).
A slight change of wording makes riddles fit new situations. For example,
I adapted a sports riddle to fit the state speech tournament when it took
place in our city.
Why did Cinderella’s team lose the speech tournament?
They had a pumpkin for a coach.
(The original was “Why was Cinderella such a lousy baseball player?
She had a pumpkin for a coach.”)
If this seems like too much bother, share any riddles that tickle your funny
bone.
Unlike Trix cereal, riddles aren’t just for kids. Some grown-ups enjoy
them, too. One night a father who usually brought his children to the
library came in alone. As he checked out, he remarked sheepishly, “When I
was here with the kids last week, you asked them some riddles. Do you know
any tonight?” While working on Reading Is Funny! one afternoon, I tried out
scouting riddles on our school’s Cub Scout leader. After that he seemed to
expect a riddle every week.
Riddle of the Week
Post a new riddle at the circulation desk each week. To show children that
opening books opens up worlds of fun, write “For more fun, read our riddle
books” at the bottom of the page. If you copied the riddle from a book, put
its title under the answer. (To teach library skills, see “Riddle of the Week”
in chapter 3.)
Share Riddles through Your Website
Put a riddle or two on your home page so people will see them as soon as
they visit your site. Change riddles weekly or monthly.
Fill In Odd Moments of Waiting Time with Riddles
Will the dismissal bell ring in just a few minutes? Are you stuck in line because
the class that takes PE ahead of yours is running late? Ask a riddle or two.
Introduction 5
Introduce Books with Riddles
Before or after reading a story aloud, share a related riddle. Incorporate
riddles into booktalks. (See chapter 8 for titles that probably appear in many
collections.)
For other literature, find riddles that match their subjects. When matching
riddles to books, brainstorm as many related subjects as possible. For
example, either cat riddles from chapter 10 or witch riddles from chapter
12 might work with Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner’s A Job for Wittilda
(Dial, 1993). Pizza riddles might apply, too, if you know any.
Change wording to make riddles fit books. Don’t ask, “Why did the
dog . . . ?” Ask instead, “Why did Martha [or Shiloh or Sounder] . . . ?” Substitute
“Jack’s giant” for “elephant” when answers involve being big, or use
“the Littles” instead of “leprechauns” when answers involve being short.
If you can’t find a riddle that covers a particular book, make one up!
Chapter 6 provides tips to start you off.
Share Riddles during Daily Announcements at School
If you work in a school, ask the principal to let you share a riddle during
daily announcements. If every day seems like too much, consider doing this
once a week or only during special occasions like Children’s Book Week,
Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and National Library Week. To involve students, see
chapter 2.
Celebrate National Library Week, Children’s Book Week,
and Your Summer Reading Program
Hold drawings to give away books during special occasions. Children can
enter by answering riddles. (See “Interactive Bulletin Boards” in chapter 1
and “Riddle of the Week” in chapter 3.)
Notes about This Book and How to Use It
To encourage you to incorporate riddles into your program as much as possible,
I’ve organized
Reading Is Funny! in a way that I hope you’ll find easy
to use. Material appears alphabetically by subject matter as much as possible;
see and see also references throughout the text guide you to related
contents.
Part 1 suggests ways to motivate kids to read with riddles. Each chapter
offers a number of ideas for a given method, and some ideas can be
presented using multiple methods. For example, “The Talking Turnip,” a
folktale reproduced in appendix A, and “The Loony Library,” the imaginary
6 Introduction
collection of silly titles in chapter 9, work with bulletin boards in chapter 1
and games in chapter 3.
Chapter 1 describes how to create simple seasonal and year-round bulletin
boards that promote reading. The interactive bulletin boards stimulate
children to think critically by allowing them to match book jackets to
riddles, pair questions with answers, figure out mystery words, or decode
secret messages. The suggestions don’t require artistic talent to implement,
because they call for book jackets, pictures from old calendars and magazines,
and cutouts. (See appendix C for patterns you can enlarge.)
Suggestions in chapter 2 give children a humorous way to practice reading
for a purpose, public speaking, and writing with proper penmanship,
spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Children can read riddles during
your school’s daily announcements, illustrate riddles, make riddle books,
and fill a jar with riddles. You can collect riddles from kids to share through
bulletin boards, bookmarks, newspapers, newsletters, and websites.
Chapter 3 tells how to incorporate riddles into quiet and active games
you can play anywhere. Most are noncompetitive.
“The Talking Turnip” and “The Loony Library” inspired card games
that let children match questions to quotes or titles to authors. Play Talking
Turnip and Loony Library like Old Maid. Riddle Roundup follows the rules
of Concentration (aka Memory). To encourage children to work together,
play these games’ noncompetitive variations, Who Said That? and Who
Wrote That?
Crack the Code! encourages children to practice alphabet skills while
decoding answers to riddles. Get It Together lets children assemble puzzles
to read riddles. (To play some of the quiet games with activity sheets, see
appendix C.)
In Find Your Partner, children move around to find the player with the
other half of their riddle. Egg Hunt is just what the name implies. In Pass It
On, a noncompetitive variation of Hot Potato, children read riddles instead
of dropping out. The Toll-Bridge Troll Game lets children act out a picture
book by answering riddles to cross an imaginary bridge.
Riddle of the Week and the Loony Library Book Hunt teach children
how to find books in your library.
Chapter 4 describes how to create PR handouts that use riddles to promote
your library and suggests places to distribute them in your community.
(See appendix C for samples.) It also provides ideas to attract families to
your booth at community events. These include assembling puzzles, making
puppets, and figuring out mystery words and coded messages.
Chapter 5 provides directions for making paper plate and paper bag
puppets with children. Kids can use these creations to share the reproducible
riddles provided in appendix C. Chapter 5 also tells how you can use
Introduction 7
puppets to ask riddles or present puppet skits. Novice puppeteers can learn
how to make puppets out of mittens and socks plus get a few tips for giving
them life. (See appendix A for three skits that include riddles.)
Because Reading Is Funny! can’t provide riddles for every book and situation,
chapter 6 offers tips for making up riddles. It also teaches how to keep
a file to supply your future riddle needs.
Part 2 supplies hundreds of riddles that support the ideas in the first
part. Each chapter covers a different subject (e.g., animals, holidays, and
sports). Chapters with book-related riddles come first, with other chapters
following in alphabetical order by their subject matter. (The last chapter,
“Odds and Ends,” includes riddles on popular subjects that don’t fit anywhere
else.) Each chapter subdivides topics alphabetically. See and see also
references guide you to related riddles.
Although my name stands alone on the cover, I don’t pretend to have
made up every riddle in Reading Is Funny! Some are original. The rest
are adaptations or rewrites of riddles in a file I’ve kept ever since patrons
requested riddles on eggs and volcanoes in the early 1990s. Unfortunately,
giving credit where it’s due is impossible. Because I never anticipated writing
a book when I started the file, I copied riddles I liked without citing
sources.
Reading Is Funny! excludes riddles involving underwear, bodily functions,
disrespectful attitudes, and contemporary fads that will quickly fade.
The material in the appendixes helps you implement ideas in the opening
chapters. Appendix A provides a folktale and three puppet skits that
include riddles. Use them independently or with bulletin boards in chapter
1, games in chapter 3, and puppets in chapter 5. Appendix B recommends
riddle collections to buy and ways to save money when purchasing books to
give away. Appendix C offers reproducibles and samples for bulletin boards
in chapter 1, games in chapter 3, outreach ideas in chapter 4, and puppets in
chapter 5; appendix C is also available on the book’s website: www.ala.org/
editions/extras/Anderson09577.
Please don’t feel obligated to implement every idea or share every riddle
in Reading Is Funny! The book contains a variety of material to suit a variety
of tastes, not because I expect anyone to try them all. Pick the ideas that
appeal to you and ignore the rest without guilt.
Because people who work with children often lack time and money,
Reading Is Funny! suggests cheap, quick ways to carry out its ideas. Follow
these directions, or elaborate on them. Treat all ideas as suggestions to
inspire your creativity, not commandments to slavishly obey.
I’ve laughed a lot while writing Reading Is Funny! I hope you’ll laugh
a lot while reading it. I also hope you can use its contents to convince the
children you work with that reading is funny!

part oNE
WAYS TO SHARE
RIDDLES WITH CHILDREN

11
Bulletin Boards That
Promote Reading 1
Does your cork rectangle catch the eye or is it a bulletin “bored”?
Putting riddles on it will enliven it—and put smiles on the faces
of people who read it. It will also encourage reading. To make
designs doable for colleagues with limited time or artistic ability, I’ve kept
them fairly simple and included patterns that you can enlarge in appendix C.
Feel free to draw your own patterns and embellish these ideas with touches
of your own. Perhaps a gifted coworker, volunteer, or student would love
to help. Lavish artwork isn’t as important as your message that reading is
funny!
For All Boards
• Although a possible caption for the top of each bulletin board follows its
title, feel free to write your own.
• To make the point that reading is fun as well as funny, I always underline
“Fun” in the caption “Reading Is Funny!” You may want to try this as
well.
• To promote reading, incorporate book jackets into your bulletin boards.
Use jackets of books related to the board’s theme, new titles, or any books
you like. (Write the books’ call numbers on adhesive labels and attach
them in the lower-left corner.) If directions call for pictures or cutouts in
the middle of the board, add book jackets around the borders.
Why did the silly librarian thumbtack baseball mitts
to her bulletin board?
to “catch” patrons’ eyes
Ways 12 to Share Riddles with Children
• Whenever directions call for book jackets, you can substitute pictures
of book covers. Copy the covers of books on a color photocopier, or
enlarge and print pictures of books off Amazon.com.
• Some bulletin boards feature book jackets in the middle and cutouts
around the border. Enlarge patterns for cutouts in appendix C, or draw
your own.
• Boldface 22-point type works well with riddles you’ll glue onto book
jackets and pictures from calendars or magazines.
• When keying riddles for cutouts into the computer, use boldface type
big enough to read easily but small enough to fit inside the shapes. If
necessary, vary line lengths to fit inside the shapes. (You can also print
with marker right on the cutout.)
• Teacher stores and catalogs sell notepads in many shapes. You could use
these instead of making cutouts.
• Display copies of pictured books near the board.
• The ideas for interactive bulletin boards help you adapt the earlier
suggestions to start children thinking.
Bulletin Boards for Any Time
Book Care: “Books Are Our Treasures. Let’s Treasure Our Books.”
Pick riddles under “Book Care” in chapter 7. Write an appropriate bookcare
tip for each.
For example:
What would you call Cynthia Rylant’s dog books if someone read
them with dirty hands?
Henry and “Smudge”
Make sure your hands are clean before you read.
Key each riddle’s question and answer into the computer in letters large
enough to fill a page (or half a page for small bulletin boards). Make each tip
fill a page as well. Place each tip underneath its corresponding riddle.
Book Jackets: “Reading Is Funny!”
For each book jacket find an appropriate riddle. (See chapter 8 as well as
riddles on related subjects in other chapters.) You can also choose literacy
Bulletin Boards That Promote Reading 13
riddles from chapter 7. Glue the riddles onto the book jackets before arranging
the jackets on the board.
Animals: “Reading Is Funny!”
Gather animal pictures from old calendars and magazines. If their backgrounds
are cluttered, cut around the animals and glue them onto plain
paper. Glue on riddles that match from chapter 10, chapter 15, or other
chapters, or choose appropriate riddles from chapter 13 to adapt these ideas
for holidays. (See also “Picture Matching: ‘Can You Fill In the Blanks?’”
under “Interactive Bulletin Boards.”)
People: “Reading Is Funny!”
Cut pictures of people out of catalogs, newspapers, and magazines, or use
photos of willing coworkers or children. Glue on riddles. Choose appropriate
riddles from chapter 13 to adapt these ideas for holidays, or match
riddles to speakers (e.g., for athletes, see the riddles in chapter 14).
Talking Turnip Bulletin Board: “Look What’s Talking!”
A European folktale inspired this bulletin board. (See “The Talking Turnip”
in appendix A.) Find pictures that illustrate objects in chapter 15. Glue each
talking pair onto a sheet of paper, with the object that answers the question
on the right. Draw a dialogue balloon above each item. Write the question
in the balloon above the left-hand object. Write its answer in the balloon
above the object on the right.
Mysteries: “Track Down a Good Mystery”
Trace around your shoe and cut out eight to twelve copies of your footprint.
Put a mystery riddle from chapter 8 on each footprint.
Space: “Reading Helps You Reach for the Stars” or “Be a Star: Read!”
Cut stars out of yellow paper or aluminum foil. On each, put a space riddle
from chapter 16.
Sports: “Have a Ball: Read!”
Put riddles from chapter 14 on different kinds of ball cutouts.
Ways 14 to Share Riddles with Children
Seasonal Bulletin Boards
Any Holiday: “Reading Is Funny!”
In the middle of your board, put a holiday poster, picture, or large cutout
purchased from card shops or dollar stores. Frame this centerpiece with
eight to twelve appropriate riddles from chapter 13. Key each riddle’s question
and answer into the computer in letters large enough to fill a page (or
half a page for small bulletin boards).
Winter: “‘Sno’ Joke: Reading Is Funny!”
Cut snowflakes or snowmen out of white paper. Put a winter riddle from
chapter 13 or a snow riddle from chapter 16 on each.
Valentine’s Day: “You’ll Love These Books”
Cut hearts out of red or pink paper. Put a valentine riddle from chapter 13
on each.
Easter: “‘Hoppy’ Easter!”
Cut eggs out of pastel paper. Put an Easter riddle from chapter 13 on each.
April: “April Showers Make Cozy Hours: Read!”
Cut raindrops out of light blue paper and umbrellas from any color. On
each put a spring riddle from chapter 13 or a rain riddle from chapter 16.
Fall: “Fall into a Good Book”
Cut leaves out of red, yellow, and orange paper. Put a fall riddle from chapter
13 on each.
Halloween: “Treat Yourself to a Good Book” or “Scare Up a Good Book”
For “Treat Yourself to a Good Book,” save empty candy bags. On each glue
a riddle from chapter 12 or a Halloween riddle from chapter 13.
For “Scare Up a Good Book,” enlarge and photocopy the ghost pattern
in appendix C. On each ghost put ghost riddles from chapter 12 or Halloween
riddles from chapter 13. A variation is to cut around riddles to make each
resemble a dialogue balloon. Attach to the board so the riddles come from
the ghosts’ mouths.
Bulletin Boards That Promote Reading 15
Thanksgiving: “‘Gobble’ Up a Good Book”
Cut turkeys from brown paper. On each put a Thanksgiving riddle from
chapter 13.
Christmas: “Merry Christmas!”
Cut a large tree out of green paper. (Enlarge the pattern in appendix C, or
make a large triangle.) To make ornaments, trace around circular objects
on construction paper or leftover wrapping paper. Cut them out. Glue a
Christmas riddle from chapter 13 on each. Arrange them on the tree.
Interactive Bulletin Boards
Interactive bulletin boards encourage children to match riddles to book jackets,
pair questions to answers, figure out mystery words, or decode secret
messages. Think of them as giant activity sheets and use sample activity
sheets in appendix C to help you create your own.
When preparing interactive bulletin boards, put each question and each
answer on a different sheet of paper, unless stated otherwise. Use type large
enough to make the words fill each page (or half a page for small bulletin
boards). Number each question. Unless directed otherwise, give each
answer a different letter, but don’t allow letters to correspond to the numbers
of their questions. For example, don’t assign a to the answer for the
first question.
Under the caption of each interactive bulletin board, put directions telling
children what to do. (Use the sample captions and directions here, or
write your own.) When posting questions and answers, pretend an imaginary
line runs down the middle of your board. Put all questions (or book jackets)
in numerical order to the left of this dividing line; arrange all answers alphabetically
on its right.
The number of riddles you use depends on how challenging you want
your board to be. Four to eight riddles per board work well.
Answer keys let children see if they guessed right. To make a key, write
the answers on an index card. Slip the card backward into an envelope. Write
“Answers” on the back of the envelope. Attach the envelope to the board’s
lower-right-hand corner.
You can tie interactive bulletin boards into drawings to give away books.
Children write their answers on paper and drop them into a box. (Don’t
provide answer keys during drawings!)
Consider handicapping this activity by age. Primary-grade children
match any one or two questions to their answers. Children in intermediate
grades match all four to eight. Consider offering a more developmentally
Ways 16 to Share Riddles with Children
appropriate alternative for preschoolers, such as activities copied from coloring
books and children’s magazines.
See “Riddle of the Week” in chapter 3 for more about drawings.
Using Captions
When making signs for the first four interactive bulletin boards, fill in the
blanks (as shown below) with the appropriate words (for example, “book
jacket,” “riddle,” “question,” “answer,” and “quote”).
Can You Guess?
Match each _____ on the left to its _____ on the right.
Check the answers in the envelope to see if you’re right.
Put answers back so others can check them.
Book Jackets: “Reading Is Funny!”
Children match book jackets to their related riddles.
Choose four to eight books. Number their jackets. Find a riddle to go
with each book by checking chapter 8 or chapters with riddles related to the
book’s subject. (See chapter 10 for animal books, for example.)
Put each riddle’s question and answer on a separate page, using type big
enough to make the words fill the paper. Letter the riddles at random. (For
example, make sure the riddle that corresponds to the first jacket isn’t a.)
Any Holiday or Theme: “Reading Is Funny!”
Children match answers to the questions of riddles about an upcoming holiday
or theme of your choice. For holidays, see chapter 13. For themes, see
chapters with riddles related to the topic.
Loony Library: “Who Wrote That?”
Children decide who wrote each title in “The Loony Library,” chapter 9’s
imaginary collection of silly books.
For the left side, cut book shapes out of construction paper. Put a different
title on each. For the right side, put each author’s name on a different
page.
Bulletin Boards That Promote Reading 17
Talking Turnips: “Who Said That?”
Inspired by the folktale in appendix A, this bulletin board lets children
imagine what inanimate objects might say if they could talk. Choose riddles
from chapter 15.
Picture Matching: “Can You Fill In the Blanks?”
Make a sign like the one below to put under the caption.
Read each question on the left.
Find the picture on the right that fills in each blank.
Check the answers in the envelope to see if you’re right.
Put answers back so others can check them.
For the right side, choose pictures from old magazines and calendars. If
backgrounds are cluttered, cut out the desired animals or objects and glue
them onto plain paper.
For the left side, find riddles that match the pictures by looking in chapters
on related subjects. Make each riddle (both question and answer) fill a
page, but put a line in place of the name of the animal or object. The following
riddle would work for a picture of a kangaroo.
What would you get if you crossed a _____ with a clock?
a pocket watch
Mystery Word: “What Will You Find in the Library?”
By figuring out a mystery word, children discover that libraries contain
treasures in this adaptation of the activity sheet “Why Should You Go to the
Library?” in appendix C.
Put scrap paper and pencils near the board and make this sign to put
under the question.
Ways 18 to Share Riddles with Children
To answer the question, copy the underlined letters—in order—on a
slip of paper.
Check the answer in the envelope to see if you’re right.
Put the answer back so others can check it.
Look around the library and see if you can find some.
Variations
Use different questions and mystery words to introduce library rules
and services.
What should library books never be?
overdue
What’s new at the library?
a riddle jar
Post a riddle’s question at the top of the board. Spell out its answer
with the underlined letters. Riddles with short answers work best.
Secret Messages: “Crack the Code!”
Children can practice alphabet skills to decode answers to riddles if you
make a bulletin board that looks like the “Crack the Code!” activity sheet
in appendix C. Put scrap paper and pencils near the board. (See also “Crack
the Code!” in chapter 3.)
19
2 Encouraging Children
to Share Riddles
How do you know when someone is sharing
a riddle with Mother Nature?
The wind is “howling.”
Children’s love of riddles can be channeled into opportunities to
practice reading for a purpose, speaking in front of a group, and
writing with good penmanship, proper spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation. The following activities encourage children to share
riddles. Because children need a good supply of printed riddles, round
up books and magazines like Highlights and Ranger Rick. Cut riddles from
Sunday comics.
Daily Announcements
Ask your principal to allow one or two students to conclude each day’s
announcements by reading a riddle. If possible, have readers visit the school
library the day before to choose something from a book or the riddle file.
To avoid bathroom humor and riddles that don’t make sense, have children
share their choices with you first.
Consider revolving the task among the classes on a regular rotation, for
example, by grade level or alphabetically by teachers’ last names. Each teacher
can pick the student(s) who’ll represent his or her class during its turn.
If every day seems like too much, consider doing this only once a week,
perhaps Fridays.
Ways 20 to Share Riddles with Children
Illustrated Riddles
For artwork that can be displayed on the bulletin board, around the library,
or in the halls at school, children can illustrate riddles. Children write a
riddle’s question across the top of their paper and its answer across
the bottom. In between they draw a picture to illustrate it. They sign
their name in the lower-right-hand corner.
School librarians can have children illustrate riddles during class
visits. In public libraries, consider making this activity part of a program
that involves games from chapter 3 and the story or puppet
skits in appendix A. (If you read “The Talking Turnip,” children can
illustrate riddles from chapter 15.)
Consider asking teachers to make this a class project. If they
agree, let classes take turns displaying their artwork in the library.
“Mini Ha-Ha’s”
“Mini Ha-Ha’s”—miniature riddle books—let children be authors. Children
make these books by folding a sheet of paper into eight pages and
copying riddles into it.
Before making “Mini Ha-Ha’s” with children, practice till you have the
steps down pat.
Give directions verbally while demonstrating. Children can fold their
own papers as they watch you.
If you want to let children read for a purpose, make copies of the directions
(shown opposite). Children can read them with you as you demonstrate
or refer to them while working independently. In either case, circulate
to help anyone having trouble.
Hints
Turning the directions into
a transparency or PowerPoint
presentation saves paper.
For younger children, consider folding
books ahead of time.
If time permits, let children read each other’s
“Mini Ha-Ha’s” before taking them home.
Folding bigger paper gives more
space for writing—and maybe
illustrating—riddles.
Hint
Riddles posted
outside the school
cafeteria give children
something to look at while
waiting for lunch. Put up one
to three riddles each week,
depending on how
many you receive.
21
1. Hold your paper in
front of you so it’s
wider than it is tall.
5. O pen the
paper so it
looks the
way it did in
step 2.
9. Hold the left edge
between your left
thumb and index
finger. Hold the
right edge between
your right thumb
and index finger.
2. Fold it in half to
bring the 8½˝
sides together.
6. S tart from the folded
edge. Tear (or cut)
along the horizontal
fold line you made in
step 3. Stop when you
reach the vertical fold
you made in step 4.
10. U sing both
hands, push
the edges
toward each
other to make a
plus sign in the
middle.
3. Fold it in half again
to bring the top and
bottom edges together.
7. O pen your paper so
it looks the way it
did in step 1.
11. Fold the top of the
plus sign down to
meet the paper’s right
edge. Fold the bottom
of the plus sign up to
meet the right edge.
Run your fingers down
the center fold to
crease it deeply.
4. Fold it in half again
to bring the 4¼˝
sides together.
8. Fold it in half to
bring the top and
bottom edges
together.
12. Fold the left side
over to make the
cover. Crease the
fold deeply.
13. M ake up a title.
Write it on the
cover. Write your
name on the cover
as the author.
14. W rite a riddle you like on each
page. People won’t laugh if they
can’t read your riddles, so write
neatly, spell correctly, and leave a
space between words.
15. S hare your
“Mini Ha-Ha”
with family and
friends.
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
“Mini Ha-Ha” instructions
Line you cut
11˝
8½˝
Ways 22 to Share Riddles with Children
Riddle Jar
How to Make
Find a large plastic jar. (You can also use a bag, box, pail, or tin.) Make this
sign to put on it.
Riddle Jar
You can give yourself some cheer:
Take a riddle out of here.
You can pass along a grin:
Write new riddles; drop them in!
Make the following sign to display near the jar.
People won’t laugh at your riddle if they can’t read it.
Print neatly.
Spell correctly.
Leave a space between words.
Display the jar and the sign where the activity won’t bother other people.
Put pencils and slips of scrap paper nearby. Drop in a few riddles to start
things off.
How to Use
Children can pull out a riddle when they visit the library.
Encourage them to take it with them to share with family
and friends later on. (I’ve noticed some children like to pull
out riddles, read them, and then put them back in the jar.
Although I hadn’t anticipated this when I established the
jar, it’s fine with me. They’re reading.)
If children want to share a riddle different from what
they pulled out, they can write it on the scrap paper and
drop it in. (Keeping a few riddle books near the jar might
encourage this.)
Hint
Introduce the jar
in school libraries by
explaining its use during each
class’s visit. In public libraries,
tell patrons about it as they check
out. Mention the jar in newsletters
and on your website. Consider
sending public service
announcements to the
media.
Encouraging Children to Share Riddles 23
If patrons take out more riddles than they put in, consider having volunteers
or older children who are working off fines replenish the supply.
Variations
Put in riddles cut from Sunday comics and old magazines.
During October, fill a plastic pumpkin with riddles from chapter 12 or
Halloween riddles from chapter 13.
During December, fill a gift-wrapped box with Christmas riddles from
chapter 13.
During March, fill a striped hat with Dr. Seuss riddles from chapter 8.
Fill a gift-wrapped box or sturdy gift bag with birthday riddles from
chapter 11. Let children choose a riddle on their birthdays.
Ways to Use Children’s Riddles
Collecting Riddles from Children
Get a large unbreakable container, index cards, pencils or pens, and boxes
for filing the cards. Make a sign to display near your container.
Make Us Laugh: Share Your Favorite Riddles
Write your favorite riddle on an index card.
Please start writing on the second line.
Write your first and last names at the bottom.
We won’t laugh if we can’t read your riddle.
Please print neatly.
Spell words correctly.
Leave a space between words.
Put your riddle in the [specify what kind of container you have]. Please
don’t fold it!
We’ll share our favorite riddles [tell how you plan to use the riddles].
Put the container and sign in a prominent place that’s easily accessible.
Set cards and pencils or pens near them. To model what children should
do, write a riddle and your name on a card. Attach your sample to the container.
Ways 24 to Share Riddles with Children
Empty the container periodically and file the riddles in a box. (See chapter
6.) Check this file when you need riddles, such as for the following projects.
Note: When sharing children’s riddles, write the names of the kids who submitted
them underneath.
Bookmarks
To create riddle bookmarks, set up your page to make three columns. Key
in riddles from the file.
After filling the first column, copy and paste the material into each of
the other two columns. Make another master sheet for the back. Add more
riddles, share information about your library, or recommend books.
Put three fronts on one master sheet and three backs on another. Print
one-third as many copies as you need. (If you want 300 bookmarks, print
100 copies.)
Cut apart the bookmarks. Put them at the circulation desk, or distribute
them outside your library. (See chapter 4 for possible distribution points.
See appendix C for sample bookmarks.)
Bulletin Boards
See chapter 1.
Newspapers, Newsletters, and Websites
Submit riddles for each issue of your school’s newspaper.
Submit riddles for each library and school newsletter. Introduce your
first riddle column with a brief note to parents. Encourage them to share
the humor with their children, and explain the benefits of riddles. (Consider
listing the introduction’s first six reasons for sharing riddles.)
Post riddles on your home page. Change weekly or monthly.
25
3 Games to Play
with Riddles
Why do deer enjoy playing checkers?
They’re “game” animals.
Children are game animals, too, because they love to play. Child’s
play isn’t all fun and games, however. It’s also educational. Playing
games from this chapter helps children learn while having fun.
These games exercise children’s brains as kids figure out answers to riddles,
learn new vocabulary, and think about the multiple meanings of words.
They also let children read for a purpose and develop the lifetime skill of
finding books in a library.
You can play the quiet and active games anywhere, for example, during
library programs, indoor recess, and class parties. Choosing appropriate
riddles makes the games fit any holiday or theme.
Be flexible because a game that delights one group might flop with
another. Prepare more games than you can use in the allotted time; then
follow the children’s lead. If they’re really enjoying a game, extend it. If
they’re not, drop it and move on to another.
If the games don’t work for you, change these directions. These rules
were made to be broken!
Do these games give you a feeling of déjà vu? No wonder, because I
simply incorporated riddles into familiar games. What games can you adapt
to include riddles?
Quiet Games
Quiet games work best if children play in groups of four to six. If possible,
have a volunteer play with each group. Explain rules to helpers beforehand
so they can teach children.
Ways 26 to Share Riddles with Children
If you can’t get help, explain the rules to everyone before dividing into
groups. Circulate to see how each group is faring.
Card Games
Appendix C provides two reproducible decks of cards. The Talking Turnip
deck features questions and quotes. (For example, “What did the scissors
say to the hair?” “It won’t be long now.”) You can play with these cards
independently or after reading “The Talking Turnip” in appendix A or Talk,
Talk: An Ashanti Legend, its African counterpart, by Deborah M. Newton
Chocolate.
The Loony Library deck features silly, imaginary titles by pretend
authors. For example, “Who wrote The Little Tattletale? I. Will Tell.”
You can use each deck to play three different card games. Although
these directions use the Talking Turnip cards as examples, you can also play
all three games by matching Loony Library titles and authors’ names. (To
use either deck with an active game, see “Find Your Partner.”)
How to Prepare for All Card Games
Photocopy the Talking Turnip cards in appendix C to make a deck for
each group. Don’t cut several sheets at once.
You can keep the game fresher by making additional decks with different
riddles. Groups can switch decks for each round.
To make additional decks, write each question and each answer in ink
on an index card, or key the material into the computer. Print on card stock
or on labels to attach to index cards. Divide into decks of eight to thirteen
pairs. (Having eight pairs shortens the game for younger children. Playing
with thirteen pairs might work better for a group of six.) Give each deck an
extra card that says “You Win!” if you’re playing Talking Turnip.
Talking Turnip and Loony Library
Play Talking Turnip or Loony Library the way you’d play Old Maid, but
match questions to quotes instead of identical pairs. A twist at the end allows
the player holding the last card to win.
Mix up all the cards.
One child deals out all the cards, one at a time, facedown.
Players look at their cards and check for corresponding questions and
quotes. Those who find such matches in their hands read aloud the words
on those cards before placing them faceup in front of them.
All players hold their unmatched cards so no one else can see them.
Without peeking, the player on the dealer’s left takes one card from the
dealer’s hand.
Games to Play with Riddles 27
If it corresponds to a card he already has, the player reads aloud both
question and quote and puts the cards down in front of him.
If the drawn card doesn’t correspond, the player keeps it and lets the
child on his left take a card from him.
Keep playing until all questions have been matched to their quotes.
Whoever is holding the turnip card wins.
Riddle Roundup
Play Riddle Roundup like Concentration (aka Memory), but search for corresponding
questions and quotes instead of identical pairs.
The dealer removes the turnip card and lays the other cards facedown
in rows of five to six cards each.
The player on the dealer’s left starts by flipping over any two
cards and reading them aloud.
If they are a question and its quote, the player lays them
faceup in front of her.
The player may then flip over any other two cards.
If they are not a question and its quote, she flips them back
facedown.
Then the next player takes a turn.
Keep playing until children have matched all the cards.
The child who matched the most questions to their corresponding
quotes wins.
Who Said That? and Who Wrote That?
In this noncompetitive game, children work as a group to match questions
to quotes. Put cards in the middle of the playing area. Keep questions in one
pile and quotes in another.
Children take turns picking the top question.
After reading it aloud, they lay each card
down faceup to make a vertical column. After
they’ve read all the questions, children take
turns picking the top quote and reading it
aloud. Then everyone decides which question
the quote answers. The player who read the
card lays it down next to the appropriate question.
Crack the Code!
Children practice alphabet skills to decode answers to riddles in this variation
of a bulletin board in chapter 1 and an outreach activity in chapter 4.
Hint
If children have
trouble matching a
card—or you know their
answer is wrong—suggest
they put it aside. Point out
that the answer might be
clearer after reading
more cards.
Hint for
Both Games
If you want to make
matching questions
and answers easier for
younger children, give
each question and its
answer the same
number.
Ways 28 to Share Riddles with Children
Consider introducing this noncompetitive game by showing your code
books or reading a detective story. (Each title in James Preller’s Jigsaw Jones
series includes a code.)
Write different riddles on index cards, one per card. (Riddles with short
answers work best.) Write the letter that comes before each letter in the
answer. For example, “the” becomes “sgd.” (See the Crack the Code! activity
sheet in appendix C.)
Distribute index cards, scrap paper, and pencils.
Tell children to write on their scrap paper the letter that comes after each
letter in their riddle’s answer. When all children have decoded their answers,
they pass their cards to their left. Play until interest flags or time runs out.
Activity Sheets
Make copies of any activity sheet in appendix C for each child or small
group. Consider saving paper by turning the sheets into transparencies or
PowerPoint presentations for everyone to figure out together.
Get It Together
Children put together puzzles to read riddles in this noncompetitive game.
How to Prepare
Pick as many riddles as you’ll have players. Key each into the computer in
letters large enough to fill a page. Print on card stock.
Cut each riddle into six pieces. Make each puzzle different. Put each
puzzle’s pieces in an envelope or Ziploc bag.
How to Play
Give everyone a puzzle. At a signal, children
assemble their puzzles and read the riddles to
themselves. Let children take apart puzzles and
pass them to their left as long as interest lasts.
Active Games
Find Your Partner
Find Your Partner provides a noncompetitive, mobile way to match corresponding
Talking Turnip and Loony Library cards. Consider introducing
this game with a story about two friends, for example, Arnold Lobel’s Frog
and Toad stories or the Miggs and Jiggs puppet skits in appendix A.
Hint
If you use a
different code,
post a copy where
children can
see it.
Hint
Number each riddle.
Write its number on the
envelope or bag and on
the back of each piece. This
makes reassembling puzzles
easier if children mix up
pieces from different
envelopes.
Games to Play with Riddles 29
How to Prepare
Photocopy the cards in appendix C to provide one card per child. For more
than twenty-seven children, make duplicates of either deck, or play with
both Loony Library and Talking Turnip cards.
How to Play
Give every child a card. Tell them to find the
person with the other half of their riddle and sit
down together when they have. Check seated
players. If their cards go together, congratulate
them. If the cards don’t correspond, tell children
to keep looking. When everyone has paired up
successfully, players take turns reading aloud
their cards.
Egg Hunt
Egg Hunt combines the fun of looking for hidden objects with the pleasure
of reading riddles.
How to Prepare
Play this game around Easter or after reading an egg story. Write egg riddles
from chapter 16 on slips of paper. Or key riddles into the computer and
cut them apart. Put each in a plastic pop-apart egg. Make at least as many
eggs as you have searchers.
Hide the eggs so children can find them without moving anything. Provide
a bag or other container to hold the eggs.
How to Play
Children put eggs into the container as they
find them. Count eggs as children deposit them
so you’ll know when they’ve found them all.
Sit around the container. Children take
turns opening an egg and reading aloud its riddle.
(Time permitting, let children try to guess
answers before they’re read aloud.)
Pass It On
Nobody has to drop out of this noncompetitive variation of Hot Potato.
Whoever is holding the object when the music stops gets to read a riddle to
the group.
Hints
To simplify for
younger children (or a
large number of players)
divide the children into small
groups before distributing cards.
If an odd number is playing,
take a card so you can
be somebody’s
partner.
Hint
To let everyone read,
divide large groups
into small ones. Give each
group a supply of eggs. Children
take turns opening eggs and
reading riddles within
these small groups.
Ways 30 to Share Riddles with Children
How to Prepare
Write ten to twelve riddles on slips of paper, or key them into the computer,
print, and cut them apart. Fold each in half and drop all of them into an
unbreakable container.
How to Play
Children stand in a circle and pass the container while you play a recording.
When you stop the music, whoever has the container pulls out a riddle and
reads it aloud. (Time permitting, let children try to guess answers before
they’re read aloud.)
Start the music and pass the container around again. Play until interest
lags, you’ve read all the riddles, or time runs out.
Variation
Pass around a beanbag, Nerf ball, or sponge. When the music stops, the
player with the object reads a riddle from the container. During each round,
children pass the object in a different way (e.g., counterclockwise, over their
heads, between their legs, etc.). Children can suggest different ways to pass
the object.
The Toll-Bridge Troll Game
Inspired by Patricia Rae Wolff’s The Toll-Bridge Troll, this game encourages
children to outwit a troll by answering riddles to cross an imaginary bridge.
Read the funny picture book before you play, or present its Halloween puppet
version, “The Ghost Bridge,” in appendix A.
How to Prepare
Choose as many riddles as you’ll have players plus extras in case some are too
hard. Write each riddle—and its answer—in ink on a separate index card, or
enter each into the computer. Print on card stock or on labels to attach to
index cards. (If you’ve tried activities in chapter 6, you might already have a
supply of cards you can use.)
Pick riddles children can probably figure out. Hink pinks and riddles
with answers that involve anagrams and homophones work best.
Hink pinks have words that rhyme as their answers. Make up your
own, or choose riddles from Francis X. McCall’s A Huge Hog Is a
Big Pig or Marilyn Burns’s The Hink Pink Book.
Anagram riddles use the letters of one word to spell another. Create
your own (see chapter 6), or pick anagram riddles from Joanne E.
Bernstein’s Fiddle with a Riddle.
Games to Play with Riddles 31
Homophone riddles have answers with words that sound alike but
are spelled differently. Make up your own, or select riddles from
Marvin Terban’s Eight Ate.
If you don’t want to prepare index cards, read riddles right out of the
books.
How to Play
Have children line up along one wall. Explain that you are a troll who won’t
let them cross your bridge unless they answer your riddles.
Starting at the head of the line, ask each child in turn a riddle. Give hints
if necessary. If someone can’t answer, ask her another question.
When a child has successfully answered a riddle, she may cross the
bridge (i.e., move to the other side of the room). Everyone must move in a
different way! Encourage creativity.
Variation
Divide children into two teams—the Trolls and the Triggs. Teams sit in
rows facing each other. Each gets a pile of riddles.
The first child on the Triggs team reads aloud the riddle on the top card
on the team’s pile. The Trolls may confer for thirty to sixty seconds. If they
can answer, they earn a point. If the Trolls can’t answer, neither side scores.
Either way, the Trigg discards the riddle.
Now the first child on the Trolls team reads aloud the riddle on the
top card on the team’s pile. The Triggs confer for thirty to sixty seconds. If
they can answer, they earn a point. If the Triggs can’t
answer, neither side scores. Either way, the Troll discards
the riddle.
Teams alternate asking and answering questions
until they’ve read all the cards, time runs out, or
interest lags. Each child should get a turn to read.
The side scoring the most points wins.
Games That Teach Library Skills
Riddle of the Week
Each week think of a book, author, subject, or location you want children to
know. Pick any riddle, or find a related one.
Think of a clue that hints at your subject. For example, introduce children
to the unabridged dictionary by writing, “Find the answer next to the
big book that tells what words mean.” (Call numbers can be clues, too, for
example, “Find the answer near books with call number 567.9.”)
Hint
To give everyone
a turn to read, divide
large groups of children
into four teams—two
Triggs and two
Trolls.
Ways 32 to Share Riddles with Children
Key the question and clue into the computer using a large type size.
Use boldface 18-point type to key in the answer at the bottom of the
page.
Print the page and cut off the answer.
Post the question and clue in a prominent spot under the heading “Riddle
of the Week.” Tape the answer near the featured book(s).
If every week seems like too much, do this during Children’s Book
Week, the week of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, National Library Week, and your
summer reading program.
Give Away Books in a Drawing
To tie this activity into a drawing, have children write the answer on paper
along with their names and contact information. (In a school, have them
write their teacher’s name. In a public library, get their phone number.)
They drop their answers into a container that sits in a prominent place.
The number of winners and the frequency of your drawings depend on
the number of available books. (Our school held monthly drawings; therefore,
children who found the answer every week had four chances to win a
book each time.) To buy riddle books cheaply, see appendix B.
Some children might know or be able to guess the answers. To make
sure they found what you hid, capitalize and underline random letters:
Where can pigs fly?
At The “aiR-pork”
Children must copy the answer exactly as you wrote it. Save each answer
after taking it down. When pulling slips, discard those whose answers don’t
match your original.
I posted the following sign next to the weekly question and clue. Adapt
the wording to fit your library.
Find the Riddle’s Answer, and You Might Win a Free Book!
Use the clue to find the answer to the riddle.
On scrap paper, copy the answer down exactly the way it looks.
Write your name and your teacher’s name on the paper.
Put your answer in the jar near the door.
You must copy the answer exactly to win the drawing.
Put in only one answer each week.
Hint
If you’d rather not
use the computer, print
the question and clue on
a chalkboard or whiteboard.
Print the answer on paper
small enough to fit on
the front of a shelf.
Games to Play with Riddles 33
The Loony Library Book Hunt
The Loony Library Book Hunt uses the imaginary collection of silly titles in
chapter 9 to teach children, step-by-step, how to find books in your library.
Spread the five activities below over a number of library visits. Practice the
first activity until children breeze through it. Then move to the next level.
Having more than one person verify children’s answers makes the activities
run more smoothly. If you have no coworkers or volunteers to help,
consider working with one small group of children at a time while the other
children read independently.
How to Prepare for the First Four Activities
For the first four activities, print each title and its author’s name on a large
index card. Make the call number large enough to read from a distance. Or
use large, boldface type on a computer and print on card stock.
Note: If you classify beginning readers as ER or EZ, change some Loony
Library call numbers from E to ER or EZ.
How to Prepare for the Last Activity
For the last activity, put each title and each author’s name on a separate card.
Don’t write call numbers!
Put scrap paper and pencils by your catalog, if they’re not already there.
For card catalogs. Make an author and title card for each book. Both
should give title, author, and call number. Type “This Isn’t Real”
on each card.
For automated catalogs. For each book add a pretend entry with title,
author, and call number. Enter “This Isn’t Real” in the publisher’s
space. Make Loony Library a subject heading. If you use different
material types, create a new category.
How to Play
1. Learning What Call Numbers Represent. Each child gets a card and decides
what type of book it is. Ask children who have fiction books to stand. Check
their cards. If children have fiction, congratulate them for being right. If they
don’t, ask them to sit. When you’ve checked all cards, ask everyone to sit.
Repeat with easies, nonfiction, and biographies. (If you classify beginning
readers as ER or EZ, ask children with those cards to stand as well.)
2. Finding the Section for Each Call Number. Each child gets a card, decides
what type of book it is, and goes to the section where that type of book is
shelved. He then raises his hand and waits for someone to check his card.
Congratulate children who are right. Help others figure out where to go.
Ways 34 to Share Riddles with Children
(Children don’t need to find their books on the shelf. They just need to stand
in the appropriate section.)
3. Learning Shelf Order. Follow the above steps. When everyone has found the
appropriate section, have the children in each location stand in shelf order.
For example, children line up alphabetically by the authors’ last names in the
sections with easies, beginning readers, and fiction. Children with biographies
line up alphabetically by the subjects’ last names. Children with nonfiction
line up numerically by the call numbers. Congratulate groups that lined up
correctly. Help children who are out of order make corrections.
4. Using Call Numbers to Find Books. Give each child a card. Children slide
their cards between the books where the Loony Library title would be if it
were real and raise their hands so someone can check their work. Demonstrate.
As hands go up, check cards. Congratulate children who are right. Help those
who are wrong or confused. After finding their correct locations, children can
help classmates or read quietly.
5. Using the Catalog to Find Books. Model looking up books and writing down
their call numbers on scrap paper. Then give each child either an author or
title card. They must search the catalog for their title or author before looking
for their book’s location, following the procedure above. Remind them not to
write on the cards, so you can reuse them.
Hint
When working
with one small group,
give all children the same
type of book so they can
practice lining up in
shelf order.
35
4 Using Riddles for
Public Relations
Why did the silly librarian write public service
announcements
with peanut butter?
to “spread” the word
Although writing with peanut butter is silly, spreading the word
about your library’s treasures and services
is smart. Besides sending
public service
announcements to the media, you can go out
into the community and entice people to use the library.
Consider spreading the word by distributing literature through places
that families frequent and setting up informational booths at community
events. Riddles can help you grab people’s attention in either case. Because
they also show that its staff has a sense of humor, riddles make the library
seem more inviting.
Distribute Bookmarks through Places Families Visit
Think about the many places in your community that families visit, either
regularly (like dentists’ offices) or seasonally (like pumpkin patches).
Ask these places if they’ll distribute PR materials advertising your services.
If they agree, ask how many they want. Take your regular literature,
or design bookmarks tailored to their focus. (See chapter 2 for directions on
making bookmarks. See appendix C for samples geared to offices of dentists,
physicians, and eye doctors; pet stores and animal shelters; and pumpkin
patches.)
When delivering materials, ask distributors to call if they want more.
Consider checking back periodically to see if distributors have run out.
Ways 36 to Share Riddles with Children
Informational Booths at Community Events
Participate in events where organizations
can set up booths. People stride
past displays of pamphlets and books but might stop for children’s activities.
Talk to adults about library services
while their children assemble puzzles,
create puppets, or decode secret messages. When people leave, urge
them to visit the library soon.
Make available literature about your library. To intrigue folks into reading
your PR instead of pitching it as “litter-ature,” let the sample activity
sheets and bookmarks in appendix C inspire you to create handouts that are
standouts.
Puzzles
What You Need
riddles, card stock, scissors, envelopes or Ziploc bags; optional: labels
How to Prepare
Key a riddle into the computer in letters almost large enough to fill a page.
In smaller letters at the bottom of the page, include a message like “Find
more riddles at [your library’s name]. Please visit soon.” Print enough copies
on card stock for the expected attendance. (Preparing three to five different
riddles encourages more reading.)
Create a sign that says “Make Your Own Puzzle.” Cut a riddle into five
to eight pieces and attach it around the sign’s border.
Consider printing labels that read “Puzzled? Find answers at [your
library’s name, address, phone number, and website].”
During the Event
Put up the sign and lay out the materials. Ask children who pass by, “Would
you like to make a puzzle?” If they stop, give them a riddle. If you prepared
several, let them choose one.
Tell them to cut their paper into five to eight pieces. Give them an
envelope or plastic bag for their pieces. (Attach a “Puzzled?” label, if you
made any.)
Paper Bag Puppets
What You Need
paper lunch sacks, crayons or markers, sheets of riddles, bottles of glue or
glue sticks
Using Riddles for Public Relations 37
How to Prepare
Make enough copies of the reproducible library riddles in appendix C for
the expected attendance.
Print half as many papers as you’ll need. If you expect 200 visitors, make
100 copies. Cut each sheet in half. Glue one section of riddles to the back
of each sack.
Make a sign that says “Make Your Own Puppet.” Make a puppet. (See
“Paper Bag Puppets” in chapter 5.) Attach the puppet to the sign.
During the Event
Put up your sign. Space three to five piles of crayons along the table within
children’s reach. Put bags near you.
Ask children who pass by, “Would you like to make a puppet?” If they
stop, point out the crayons and give them a bag. Show them the riddles on
the back. Encourage children to share the riddles with others.
Consider donning a puppet and asking children some riddles.
Decode Secret Messages
What You Need
poster board, scrap paper, pencils
How to Prepare
Make one of the activity sheets in appendix C into a poster. (See “Crack the
Code!” or “Why Should You Go to the Library?”)
During the Event
Set up the poster so children can see it. Put pencils and scrap paper nearby.
Ask children who pass by, “Do you want to figure out secret messages?”
If they stop, give them paper and pencil. Explain how to figure out the
answers.
Congratulate children when they finish. Encourage them to share the
riddles.
Variation
Make copies of either sheet. Print information about your library on the
back. (See samples in appendix C for ideas.) Point out the information when
you hand out the sheets.
Ways 38 to Share Riddles with Children
Read a Riddle
What You Need
poster board, book pockets or envelopes, index cards
How to Prepare
Turn the poster board on its longer side. Write “Your Library Has Lots of
Laughs” across the top. Across the bottom write “You’ll Find More Riddles
at Your Library. Please Visit Soon.”
In between, glue six to twelve book pockets (or envelopes cut in half).
Key as many riddles as you have pockets into the computer in 18-point type.
Cut apart questions and answers. Glue one question on each pocket. Glue
one answer near the bottom of each index card. (Turn cards on their sides so
they’ll fit the pockets.) Put each answer in the appropriate pocket.
During the Event
Display the poster within children’s reach. Tape the poster securely to the
side of a large box weighted with heavy books to keep little hands from
knocking it over.
Ask children who pass by, “Would you like to read riddles?” If they
stop, demonstrate reading the questions on the pockets and pulling out the
answers.
39
5 Sharing Riddles
through Puppets
What would you get if you crossed a top with
the storybook puppet that came to life?
“Spin-occhio” (Pinocchio)
Pinocchio isn’t the only puppet that came to life. Even the humblest
homemade creation seems real in the eyes of a child. One
morning I made paper bag puppets with the boys I was babysitting.
Shortly after that, the younger one was picking at his lunch.
Impulsively, I slipped on one of the puppets, turned it toward him,
and said, “Eat your food, Justin. It’s good for you.” Immediately, his older
brother begged, “Make it talk to me! Make it talk to me!”
Because children relate to puppets so well, teaming puppets with riddles
makes a winning combination.
Make Puppets with Children
Encourage children to share riddles with other people by having them create
the simple puppets below and gluing on their backs appropriate riddles
from appendix C. Sharing riddles as a puppeteer gives children a purpose for
reading and lets them reread the same material many times, which improves
fluency. Talking through puppets can help shy children share riddles more
comfortably.
The library-related riddles in appendix C work with any animal, person,
or fantasy creature that children choose to make. The other three pages
work with dish, ghost, and snowmen puppets, respectively.
Because each page has riddles for two puppets, make half as many copies
as you have children (e.g., make twelve copies for twenty-four children).
Cut each sheet in half.
Ways 40 to Share Riddles with Children
Dish and Spoon Puppets for Mother Goose Riddles
Draw faces on the backs of plastic spoons with permanent markers, or trace
around a milk jug lid on paper. Draw a face on it, cut it out, and tape it to
the spoon. If you don’t have spoons, cut some out of cardboard.
Draw a face on a paper plate. Make a handle by taping an ice-cream
stick or strip of cardboard to the back.
Paper Bag Puppets
Lay a lunch sack in front of you with the flat bottom at the top. Draw a face
on the bottom. Draw a body on the front.
Slide your hand inside. Lay your thumb against your palm and bend
your fingers down into the flat bottom.
Move your fingertips forward and back toward your palm. Voilà! The
puppet talks.
Variations
Cut features, arms, and clothes from colored paper, wrapping paper, or
fabric scraps.
Make ghost puppets at Halloween.
Make snowman puppets in winter.
Make puppets to act out Patricia Rae Wolff’s The Toll-Bridge Troll.
After reading the book, let children make Trigg and Troll puppets. To
encourage them to act out the story at home, key Trigg’s riddles
into the computer. Print a copy for each child to glue on the back
of his puppet.
Ask Riddles with Puppets
Use puppets to ask children riddles. Puppets with movable mouths work
best. (If you use only one puppet to ask riddles, its appearance lets children
know what to expect.)
Present Skits with Puppets
Appendix A contains three puppet skits featuring riddles. Use them independently
or as part of programs that include playing games (see chapter 3)
or making up riddles (see chapter 6).
Any two puppets can play the parts of Miggs and Jiggs. To create additional
skits for them, pick riddles that Miggs can ask and make up silly things
Sharing Riddles through Puppets 41
for Jiggs to say. Think literally, the way Amelia Bedelia does. Or ask young
children riddles and incorporate their answers into Jiggs’s dialogue. One
day, for example, I asked second-graders, “A penny and a quarter sat on a
bridge. The penny jumped off. Why didn’t the quarter?” One girl said, “It
didn’t have legs.” Her reply went into “The Punch Line.”
Veteran puppeteers can turn to the skits in appendix A. If you’ve never
worked with puppets before, however, you might find the following information
helpful.
Basic Tips for Presenting Puppet Skits
• Don’t let the technical wizardry of television’s Muppets intimidate you!
You don’t need to be anywhere near that good. Children like puppets so
much, they enjoy even the simplest performances.
• Do the same things you do when reading stories aloud. For example,
speak clearly and loudly enough to make yourself understood. Practicing
a little ahead of time helps you deliver lines with appropriate expression.
If children react to something funny, wait till their laughter dies down
before going on.
• You don’t need a stage to perform these skits, because children look at
the puppets, not you. Sit on a chair or stool and lay a large, flat box (like
what the post office sells for mailing packages) across your lap when you
need a place to rest your props. (If you don’t have time to memorize the
dialogue, thumbtack photocopied pages of the skit to this box for easy
reference.)
• Seat children directly in front of you. If they sit too far off to either
side, they’ll miss some of the action. Make sure, however, that you have
enough room to manipulate puppets without hitting members of your
audience!
• You can perform all three skits by yourself, or ask someone else to play
one of the parts.
• Put your hands all the way inside the puppets so they won’t fall off.
• To show off the faces of puppets with movable mouths, bend down your
wrist. To give puppets with movable arms good posture, hold your arm
straight up from the elbow.
• Turn the puppets slightly toward each other in what’s called “threequarters
position.” This makes characters look as if they’re talking to
each other, not to the audience, and lets children see three-fourths of the
puppets’ faces.
• Move only the puppet that’s talking. Hold the other puppet so that it
pays attention to the speaker.
• Make puppets nod to agree with something and shake their heads to
disagree. Exaggerate their actions to make children laugh.
Ways 42 to Share Riddles with Children
• Consider using a silly voice for Jiggs.
• Reverse the scripts’ stage directions, if necessary. For example, work the
child in “The Ghost Bridge” on your left hand if you write with that
hand. I work Jiggs on my right hand, because my puppet feels better
there. The opposite might be true in your case.
• If you make a mistake, quickly correct yourself and keep going. The
audience members might not even notice your goof, because they can’t
read the script.
• You might feel awkward at first. I did. The more you work with puppets,
however, the more comfortable you’ll become, especially when you
hear children’s laughter and their eager question, “Are we going to have
puppets today?”
Acquiring Puppets
If you don’t have puppets, you can buy them through some teacher- and
library-supply catalogs as well as in some department, dollar, and toy stores.
Puppets in good condition sometimes show up at yard sales and thrift
shops.
You can also make simple puppets out of socks and mittens. Wiggly
eyes, buttons, little pompons, sequins, and circles cut from paper or felt
make good eyes and noses. Attach these with hot glue on the back of a mitten
or near the toe of a sock. Yarn works well for hair.
To operate, bend your wrist down to show off the face. Keep moving
your fingers and thumb away from each other. Voilà! The puppet talks.
(Sock puppets work better if you first push some of the material in the toe
all the way back to your palm.)
See my book Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays for more details about presenting
simple puppet skits and making puppets out of socks and mittens.
(Although this book is out of print, you can borrow copies on interlibrary
loan.) Sock puppets with movable arms work for “The Ghost Bridge,” in
appendix A.
To create more elaborate puppets, look for library books on sewing
(646.4) and puppets (745.59 and 791.5).
43
6 Do It Yourself!
How to Make Up Riddles
and Keep a Riddle File
What would you call a bookcase you have to put
together without any help?
a do-it-“your-shelf” project
Creating riddles isn’t as hard as you might think, and it can amuse
you while you’re commuting or performing mundane tasks like
washing dishes. The more riddles you read and the more you
make up your own, the easier it gets—and the better you get.
These tips and examples can help you start.
Creating Spin-offs
Think of Words That Rhyme with a Word (or Part of a Word) in a Riddle’s Answer
What has eight arms, lives in the ocean, and tells time?
a “clock-topus”
What can bang on your door with eight arms?
a “knock-topus”
Think of Other Words and Phrases That Use the Funny Part of an Answer
What do antelopes read every day?
the “gnus-paper”
What do antelopes get for the first day of school?
“gnu” clothes
Ways 44 to Share Riddles with Children
Think of Situations That Can Use the Same Punch Line
Why are the teeth scared to go to the dentist?
They’re “yellow.”
Why are the baby goldfinches afraid to fly?
Why are the maple leaves afraid to fall off the tree?
Making Up New Riddles
Start with the punch line; then think of a question that leads to it. These
eight suggestions can help you make up funny answers.
1. Think of Idioms
The figure of speech becomes either the whole punch line or part of it. The
question can explain the figurative meaning and perhaps invoke some of its
literal aspects.
Why is it hard to talk when your kitten bites the middle of your
sneaker?
The cat’s got your “tongue.”
Or include the idiom in the question and answer it with the literal interpretation.
How did the silly twins try to make time fly the week before their
birthday?
They threw a clock out the window.
2. Think of Words or Phrases with More Than One Meaning
Why did the silly kids bring dynamite to their friend’s birthday
party?
They’d been asked to help “blow up” balloons.
3. Think of Homophones (Words That Sound Alike but Are Spelled Differently)
What did Little Jack Horner eat in geometry class?
his Christmas “pi”
Do It Yourself! 45
4. Think of Names of Places, People, and Storybook Characters
Look for little words inside their names.
What author makes good sandwiches?
Cynthia “Rye-lant”
Or play with words that sound like their names.
What would you get if you crossed a spinning dreidel with Mickey
Mouse’s creator?
Walt “Dizzy”
Or think of longer words that contain part of these names.
Who likes honey, has a friend named Christopher Robin, and can
disappear without a trace?
Winnie-the-“Poof”
5. Work with Words or Phrases You Come Across That Sound Like Punch Lines
Seeing a sign for “Whirlpool” led to this riddle:
Where do ballerinas go swimming?
“twirl-pools”
6. Let the Comics Inspire You
While pretending to be a wizard, the cat in Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts called
his dictionary “my magic book of shpells [sic].” That inspired this riddle:
Why does Harry Potter carry around a dictionary?
It helps him “spell.”
7. Rewrite Jokes in Riddle Form
Mom: “Why didn’t you take out the garbage?”
Son: “It already had a date.”
When don’t you have to take out your garbage?
when it already has a date
Ways 46 to Share Riddles with Children
8. Use a Punch Line in Different Contexts
Why can’t you take out a reference book?
It already has a date.
Making Up Riddles with Children
Anagrams
In Fiddle with a Riddle, Joanne E. Bernstein describes how she creates riddles
with children.
Think of a three- or four-letter word (e.g., “TOPS”). Rearrange its letters
to make a new word (e.g., “SPOT”). Make up a definition for the anagram
(e.g., “something on a leopard’s coat”).
Make TOPS into something on a leopard’s coat.
SPOT
If children write their anagrams on index cards, you can use them to
play the Toll-Bridge Troll Game in chapter 3.
Hink Pinks
Think of two words that rhyme and make up a definition for them.
Introduce hink pinks by reading Francis X. McCall’s A Huge Hog Is a Big
Pig or a few riddles from Marilyn Burns’s The Hink Pink Book. Let children
use rhyming dictionaries, if you have them.
If children write their hink pinks on index cards, you can use them to
play the Toll-Bridge Troll Game in chapter 3.
Pattern Riddles
Pattern riddles have answers containing the same word or syllable, like the
“spirit” riddles under “Ghosts” in chapter 12. Knowing the answer to one
riddle in a series helps children figure out the others. It also allows them to
make up similar riddles.
Suggestions for creating new riddles based on patterns occur throughout
Reading Is Funny!
Read more about making up riddles in Joanne E. Bernstein’s Fiddle with
a Riddle, Marvin Terban’s Funny You Should Ask, and Mike Thaler’s Funny
Side Up!
Do It Yourself! 47
Keeping a Riddle File
Write riddles you like on index cards. Write an appropriate subject heading
at the top of each card. For example, either “Doctors” or “Food” makes a
good subject heading for this riddle.
Why did the doctor send the ham home from the hospital?
It was “cured.”
Choose which heading you’d be most likely to use, or put “Doctors”
on the original card. Copy the riddle onto a new card labeled “Food.” File
cards alphabetically by subject in a box.
To save space, add new riddles to cards in the box. When the originals
fill up, start new cards with the same subject headings.
Variation
To collect riddles from children, see “Ways to Use Children’s Riddles” in
chapter 2.
If you’re technologically savvy, create a riddle database.

part two
The riddles

51
Laugh Lines
Riddles about Literacy 7
Authors
In General
If desired, use names of individual authors.
What happened when the author sent her editor
a manuscript written on flypaper?
He couldn’t put it down.
Why is the author writing on sandpaper?
It’s a “rough” draft.
Why was the room chilly while the author
wrote the first copy of a new book?
It had a “draft.”
What did the author call the first [or preliminary]
copy of his dog story?
a “ruff” draft
How is the author’s story coming along?
“all write”
What will you always get if you ask authors
about their work?
“write” answers
What do authors need to succeed?
the “write” stuff
What authors make up the scariest stories?
“ghost-writers”
What did the judge do when sentencing the
author for plagiarism?
She “threw the book” at him.
Why do fiction authors look strange?
“Tales” grow out of their heads.
How are authors of heartwarming stories like
happy dogs?
Their “tales” are “moving.”
Why can’t frogs and toads be authors?
They have no “tales.”
52 The Riddles
Why did the silly writer visit the cemetery to
get ideas?
It had lots of “plots.”
Why was the author’s head wet?
She’d gotten a “brainstorm.”
Why did the author take a dictionary to the
park?
He liked playing with words.
Why does the author write “Bic” when he
autographs books?
It’s his “pen” name.
What belongs to an author but is used more
by her readers?
her name
What do award-winning authors eat for breakfast?
“New-berry” pancakes
What do mystery writers use to hold their
pants up?
“suspensers”
How did the pretzel maker end his mystery?
with a “twist”
How are mystery authors like Santa’s elves
before Christmas?
They “wrap” everything up.
What helps authors cool off on hot summer
days?
reading “fan” mail
What happened when the surgeon wrote a
very funny book?
It kept readers in “stitches.”
Why did the actor get annoyed with the playwright?
She put words in his mouth.
Individual Authors
Who writes and illustrates children’s books in
his cellar?
Graeme “Base-ment”
Who’s the gardener’s favorite author?
Judy “Bloom”
What author makes good sandwiches?
Jan “Bread”
What would you get if you crossed a novel
with Arthur and D. W.’s creator?
a “book-Marc”
What author enjoys kicking footballs?
Eve “Punting”
What author loves shopping?
Betsy “Buy-ers”
Why does music fill the library at Christmastime?
Lewis “Carrolls”
What would you get if you crossed the author of
[name a Roald Dahl book] with Raggedy Ann?
Roald “Doll”
What boxer writes and illustrates children’s
books?
Tomie “de-POW-la”
What pig writes award-winning books for
children?
Virginia “Ham-ilton”
Laugh Lines 53
What children’s book authors like working in
gardens?
Lillian, Russell, and Tana “Hoe-ban”
What duck wrote picture books about a nice
teacher who sometimes pretends to be a mean
teacher?
Harry “Mallard”
Who wrote and illustrated children’s books
when he wasn’t keeping law and order in the
Old West?
James “Marshal”
Why did Peggy Parish take a dictionary to the
park?
She liked playing with words.
Where does Junie B. Jones go to play on the
swings?
Barbara “Park”
What would you get if you crossed an author
of funny books with an aspirin?
Dav “Pill-key”
What would you call clay dishes decorated
with pictures of Jemima Puddleduck, Peter
Rabbit, and Squirrel Nutkin?
Beatrix “Potter-y”
What author makes good sandwiches?
Cynthia “Rye-lant”
What would you get if you crossed the author
of [name a Seuss book] with a Greek god?
Dr. “Zeus”
What author stole the plots for Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde, Kidnapped, and Treasure Island?
“Robber” Louis Stevenson
Who writes children’s books and makes men’s
clothing?
Theodore “Tailor”
What mountain lion wrote books about her
pioneer family?
Laura Ingalls “Wildcat”
Books
In General
What book should you always take when you
camp?
a “book” of matches
When is a green book not a green book?
when it’s “read” (red)
How do you make a bookend?
Read the last page.
What do library books wear when it’s chilly?
dust “jackets”
What did the alien say to the library book?
“Take me to your ‘reader.’”
What do you call stories about kittens?
“cat-tales”
What do you call stories about hogs?
“pig-tales”
What do you call stories about horses?
“pony-tales”
What do you call stories about patchwork
quilts?
“scrap-books”
54 The Riddles
What do you call stories about skyscrapers?
“tall tales”
What would you call novels someone put in
the oven?
“cooked-books”
Why did the silly kid put the book in the
oven?
The cover said “Cook Book.”
Why is reading cookbooks exciting?
They’re “stirring.”
What will you get if a spider makes its home
in your library book?
“web pages”
Why did the silly kid put a ruler on the library
book?
to get the story “straight”
Why didn’t the monster finish the 300-page
book?
He was full.
Why was the ending of The Mummy Mystery
disappointing?
It didn’t “wrap things up.”
What would you get if you crossed [name a
book] with a gymnast?
a book that flips its own pages
Why didn’t the tree get much out of the book?
It just “leafed” through the pages.
How can you get a book to come to the
phone?
“Page” it.
Why didn’t the student believe what she read
in the book about aquariums?
It sounded “fishy.”
Why can’t most readers understand the book
about how birds fly?
It’s over their heads.
Why can’t most readers understand the book
about rocks?
It’s a “hard” subject.
Autobiographies
What did the car call the story of its life?
My “Auto-biography”
What does the critic think is wrong with the
jogger’s autobiography?
“run-on” sentences
What does the critic think is wrong with the
judge’s autobiography?
The “sentences” are too long.
What did the critic say about the skunk’s autobiography?
“It stinks.”
Book Care
See also the book-care bookmarks in appendix C.
Why are library books like boomerangs?
They should always come back.
Why did the girl wrap the book about parrots
in plastic bags before returning it to the
library on a rainy day?
to keep it “Polly-unsaturated”
Laugh Lines 55
Why shouldn’t you leave library books on the
ground overnight?
In the morning they’ll be “over dew”
(overdue).
Why was Rip Van Winkle scared of going to
the library after his twenty-year nap?
His books were way overdue.
Why couldn’t King Arthur find his page?
He hadn’t used a bookmark.
What would you get if you crossed something
that keeps your place when you read with
Arthur and D. W.’s creator?
a “book-Marc”
Book Reviews
What do you call it when critics express opinions
about what they read through songs,
dances, and skits?
a book “revue”
Why did the student think the book about
boxing was amazing?
It “knocked him out!”
Why is the story about the cemetery confusing?
It has too many “plots.”
Why do reviewers criticize the story about the
dog that ran three miles to return a stick?
It’s “far-fetched.”
Why shouldn’t you believe what you read in
the book about garbage?
It’s “rubbish.”
Why did the reader think the book on hurricanes
was amazing?
It “blew her away!”
Why do people get bored when they read The
Unsharpened Knife?
It’s very “dull.”
Why does the critic highly recommend the
book about lions and tigers?
She’s “wild” about it.
What happens when people read the funny
story about onions?
They laugh till they cry.
Why do readers laugh when they read the
story about owls?
It’s a “hoot.”
What did critics do when they disliked the
book about pizza?
They “panned” it.
Why do readers finish the book about Scotch
tape in one sitting?
They can’t “tear themselves away.”
Parts of a Book
Why did the surgeon cut out the last few
pages of his medical textbook?
to remove its “appendix”
What holds together the pages of a wizard’s
book?
“spell-binding”
Where do books sleep?
between “covers”
What comes at the beginning of a book about
ghosts?
the “dead-ication”
56 The Riddles
What keeps library books warm when the
weather gets chilly?
dust “jackets”
How did [name a fictional duck] start his/her
autobiography?
with an “intro-duck-tion”
What do you call a company that prints nothing
but dog books?
a “pup-lisher”
What did the carpenter make for the textbook?
a “table” of contents
What comes at the beginning of geography
books?
a table of “continents”
Reference Books
Why can’t you take out a reference book?
It already has a date.
Atlas
What would you get if you crossed a runner
with an atlas?
a “jog-raphy” book
Why will the librarian shelve the book with
legends in the 900s instead of under 398.2?
It’s an atlas.
How is an atlas like a book of folklore?
It has “legends.”
What would you call a book of maps that show
where lions and tigers live?
a “cat-las”
What would you call a very, very thick book of
maps?
a “fat-las”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“at.”
Dictionary
Where can you always find money when
you’re broke?
in the dictionary
Where does Christmas come before Valentine’s
Day?
in the dictionary
Create new variations of this.
Why does the witch [or Harry Potter] carry
around a dictionary?
It helps her [him] “spell.”
What happened when the meteorologist put
her dictionary in the freezer?
She predicted a cold “spell.”
What should you do if your dog eats your dictionary?
Take the words right out of its mouth.
Why do you need a dictionary to talk to
giants?
They use “big words.”
What would you get if you crossed an elephant
with a dictionary?
“big words”
What would you get if you crossed a dictionary
with a stinging insect?
a spelling bee
Laugh Lines 57
What would you get if you crossed a bookworm
with a dictionary?
an animal that eats its words
What word does every dictionary spell wrong?
the word “wrong”
Why did the author take the dictionary to the
park?
She liked playing with words.
What did one dictionary say to the other dictionary?
“I’d like a word with you.”
What’s happened ever since somebody stole
our library’s dictionary?
We’re at a loss for words.
Encyclopedia
What do you call someone who carries an
encyclopedia in her pocket?
“smarty-pants”
What set of reference books helped the
chicken start writing its report for school?
the “hen-cyclopedia”
What would you get if you crossed a set of reference
books with a bike?
an “en-cycle-lopedia”
Thesaurus
What dinosaur knew many synonyms?
“Thesaurus” rex
What’s a synonym?
the word you use when you can’t spell the
other one
Computer Searches
What has six legs and wings, flies, and knows
its way around the Internet?
a computer “bug”
What’s the most popular place for surfing?
the Internet
What did the computer do at the beach?
It “surfed” the Net.
What does a skunk use for surfing the Internet?
a “com-pew-ter”
How can you learn about hotels and motels
before your vacation?
Search the “Inn-ternet.”
How do sharks get information?
They search the “Fin-ternet.”
How do snowmen find information?
They search the “Winter-net.”
How can you learn to remove slivers from
your fingers?
Search the “Splinter-net.”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“Inter.”
What do lumberjacks do before surfing the
Net?
“log” on
What computer browser do witches use?
Internet “Hex-plorer”
What search engine do owls use?
“Ya-whoooo!”
58 The Riddles
Why don’t fish look up information on the
computer?
They’re afraid of the “Net.”
Why don’t flies look up information on the
computer?
They’re afraid of the “Web.”
Why did the police give the computer a
ticket?
for speeding on the information highway
See also The Little Engine That Could in
chapter 8.
Illustrators
What did the illustrator call her first [or preliminary]
drawings for a dog story?
“ruff” sketches
What would you get if you crossed an artist
with Benedict Arnold?
an “illus-traitor”
What did the illustrators name their son?
Drew
Where do award-winning illustrators sleep?
on “Calde-cots”
How is Martin Handford like a rock concert?
He “draws” crowds.
How are the illustrations in [name any book
illustrated by James Marshall] like karate?
They’re “Marshall” art.
Libraries
In General
What’s the tallest building in town?
The library has the most “stories.”
What does a fish use for borrowing books?
its library “cod”
What provides you with hours of entertainment
and information, helps you keep up with
current events, and is small enough to fit in
your wallet?
a library card
Why does the girl borrow books about fishing
every time she visits the library?
She’s “hooked” on them.
What do librarians use for bait when they fish?
“book-worms”
What would you get if you crossed a librarian
with a car?
a “bookmobile”
Why do the library’s history books go out all
the time?
They have many “dates.”
What can you do in the library on the savannah?
Read between the “lions.”
How did the librarian know who stole The
Scarlet Letter?
He caught the thief red-handed.
Why doesn’t anyone ever check out the
library’s copy of Invisible Stanley?
No one can see it.
Laugh Lines 59
See also “Why Should You Go to the Library?”
and the reproducible library riddles for puppets in
appendix C.
Library Manners
Why shouldn’t you whisper to friends when
the librarian reads your class a story?
It’s not “aloud” (allowed).
What shouldn’t you wear when you go to the
library?
“loud” socks
What did the librarian tell the duck that raised
its feathers noisily?
“Quiet, ‘down.’”
What can you break in the library just by saying
its name?
silence
Why are bowling alleys even quieter than
libraries?
You can hear a “pin” drop.
Why did the tennis players get in trouble at
the library?
They raised a “racket.”
Why did [name a fictional horse] get in trouble
at the library?
He/she was horsing around.
What did the librarian ask the students who
carelessly put away books upside down, backward,
and lying on top of each other?
“Aren’t you ashamed of ‘your-shelves’?”
Why did the boxer get in trouble at the library?
He “hit” the books.
Why did Curious George get in trouble at the
library?
He “monkeyed” around with the books.
Magazines
What does George Selden’s Chester like to
read every month?
Cricket magazine
What magazine keeps tumbling off library
shelves?
Jack and Jill
What magazine does Wodney Wat read every
month?
“Wanger Wick”
What magazine do gardeners read every
month?
“Weeder’s” Digest
What does E. B. White’s Charlotte like to
read every month?
Spider magazine
What magazine do toads like to read every
month?
“Warts” Illustrated
What do clocks read every week?
Time magazine
Newspapers
What’s black and white and “read” all over?
a newspaper
What do antelopes read every day?
the “gnus-paper”
60 The Riddles
What do cows read every day?
the “moos-paper”
What do amphibians read every day?
the “newts-paper”
Why did the newspaper reporter go to the icecream
parlor?
to get the “scoop”
Why did the silly reporter write stories with
peanut butter?
to “spread the word”
What did the silly reporter do when her editor
asked her to cover a story?
She tucked her computer in bed.
Why should reporters take notes on a ruler
when they interview people?
to keep their facts “straight”
What did the billionaire have when newspapers
ran front-page stories about the fire at
her mansion?
“flame” and fortune
What newspaper covered the story about
Sleeping Beauty?
The Daily “Snooze”
What prints news about airports?
The “Fly-Paper”
What prints news about the beach?
The “Sand-Paper”
What part of the newspaper never has anything
nice to say?
the “cross-word” puzzle
Poetry
Why do poets have trouble making a living?
Rhyme doesn’t pay.
What turtle wrote funny poems for children?
“Shell” Silverstein
What did [name a children’s poet] plant on
Arbor Day?
a “poe-tree”
What do forest rangers read?
“poe-tree”
Why shouldn’t you write poetry when you
have a bad day?
You’d make things go from bad to “verse.”
What do you call poems about outer space?
“uni-verse”
What do you call poems when you read them
backward?
“re-verse”
What do you call funny five-line verses about
trees?
“limb-ericks”
What would you call seventeen-syllable poems
about doves?
“hai-coo”
Reading
Why will reading ghost stories help you cool
off on hot summer days?
They’re “chilling.”
Laugh Lines 61
Why can you always find plenty to read in a
skyscraper?
It has many “stories.”
Why is a fly in the alphabet soup?
It’s learning to read.
Why do skeletons read riddle books?
to tickle their funny bones
What would you call a cat that reads riddle books?
a giggle puss
What would you hear if you read riddles to
bananas?
“peels” of laughter
Why did the teddy bear need mending after
reading a riddle book?
It split its sides laughing.
What happened when the statue read a riddle
book?
It “cracked a smile.”
What happened when the duck read a riddle
book?
It “quacked” up.
What happened when the lion read a riddle book?
It “roared” with laughter.
What happened when the wolf read a riddle
book?
It “howled” with laughter.
What did Mother Nature hear when she read
riddles during a hurricane?
“gales” of laughter
What happens when Mother Nature reads a
really funny book?
The wind “howls.”
What happens when Mother Nature reads a
really sad book?
The wind “wails.”
What happened when Frankenstein’s monster
read a riddle book?
It laughed its head off.
What happened when Frankenstein’s monster
read a really sad story?
It cried its eyes out.
Why do astronauts read a lot on space missions?
They can’t put their books down.
Why do kittens read adventure stories?
They love a good “yarn.”
What do frogs like best about fairy tales?
the “hoppy” endings
Why do lions eat raw meat?
They can’t read cookbooks.
What do bakers read to their children at
night?
“bread-time” stories
What do astronauts like to read?
“comet” books
What do bank robbers like to read?
“crook-books”
What do musicians like to read?
“note-books”
62 The Riddles
What do pythons like to read?
“gripping” tales
See also riddles under “Books”—“In General” and
adapt where possible. For example, ask “What
do hogs like to read? ‘pig-tales.’” See also the
reproducible library riddles for puppets in appendix
C. Ask “What do _____ like to read?” instead of
“What do _____ borrow from the library?”
63
8 Laughing at “Our-shelves”
Riddles about
Specific Books
For any book, substitute the name of its writer
or artist for “author” and “illustrator.” See also
chapters with riddles related to a title’s subject. For
example, check chapter 10 for animal books. See
also riddles under “Authors” and “Illustrators” in
chapter 7.
Any Book about an
Invisible Character
Fill in the name of any invisible character.
Why did _____ get terrible grades?
His/her teacher kept marking him/her
absent.
What did the nurse say when _____ went in
for a checkup?
“The doctor can’t see you right now.”
Why won’t _____ be able to fool you?
You can see right through him/her.
Why did _____ look in the mirror?
to see if he/she still wasn’t there
Who always wins at hide-and-seek?
_____
Why doesn’t anyone ever check out the
library’s copy of _____?
No one can see it.
Any Book That’s Also a Movie
What did the goat say when it ate the DVD of
[name a book that’s also a movie]?
“I liked the book better.”
Any Giant Story
Fill in the name of any fictional giant.
What would happen if _____ trampled your
vegetable garden?
You’d have “squash.”
What would you have if _____ tramped across
your potato field?
“smashed” potatoes
64 The Riddles
See also “Wild Animals”—“Elephants” in chapter
10. Substitute “giant” for “elephant” when “big”
is in the answer.
Any Spy Story
Fill in the name of any spy, or use “secret agent.”
What does _____ like to drink in the fall?
apple “spy-der”
What would you call _____ if he/she spilled
ice cream in his/her lap?
“spy” à la mode
What kind of pet snake would _____ like to
have?
a “spy-thon”
Where does _____ buy groceries?
the “snooper-market”
Why did _____ hire an exterminator?
His/her room was “bugged.”
Dr. Seuss Books
What would you call a play that combined Dr.
Seuss’s stories with Shakespeare?
Green Eggs and “Ham-let”
What would you get if you crossed the author
of [name a Seuss book] with a Greek god?
Dr. “Zeus”
See also chapter 7, substituting “Dr. Seuss” for
“author” and “illustrator.” For his birthday, on
March 2, adapt riddles from chapter 11.
Riddles for Unusual Dr. Seuss Creatures
Fill in the name of any Dr. Seuss creature.
How long should the legs of a _____ be?
long enough to reach the ground
Where can you find a _____?
That depends on where you left it.
What looks most like a _____?
another _____
See also “Any Animal” in chapter 10.
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry
Street
What would Marco call a procession of cats
marching down Mulberry Street?
a “purr-ade”
Bartholomew and the Oobleck
How could Bartholomew tell that the oobleck
was clumsy?
It kept falling.
What did King Derwin get when the royal
servants forgot to clean his telescope?
a “dirty look”
Why did King Derwin have a royal seal?
Royal walruses eat too much!
The Cat in the Hat
What would you call kittens wearing the same
tall, floppy, red-and-white-striped hat?
“Copy-cats” in the Hat
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 65
What’s black and white and red all over?
the Cat in the Hat with a sunburn
What would you get if you crossed what the
Cat in the Hat carries with Horton?
an “umbrella-phant”
Why does the Cat in the Hat eat meals on top
of the ball?
to “balance” his diet
The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew
Cubbins
Who makes King Derwin remove his crown?
the royal barber
What did King Derwin get from his dentist?
a new “crown”
Fox in Socks
Why does the fox wear red socks?
His blue ones are in the wash.
Green Eggs and Ham
What would you get if you crossed a frog with
a pet rodent?
“green legs and ham-ster”
What will the narrator of Green Eggs and Ham
never eat for breakfast?
his lunch and supper
What would happen if Sam-I-Am dropped his
green eggs and ham in the water?
They’d get wet.
Why didn’t Sam-I-Am tell jokes to the green eggs?
He feared they’d crack up.
Horton Hatches the Egg
Why did Horton sit on the ax?
to “hatch-et”
Why did Mayzie fly off to Palm Beach?
It was too far to walk.
How was Horton’s promise like Mayzie’s egg?
He tried not to break it.
What could seasick Horton have said to stop
the ship?
“‘Whoa, whoa, whoa’ the boat.”
What did Horton do when it poured and it
lightninged?
He got wet.
Horton Hears a Who!
How did the sour kangaroo feel when Horton
talked to the dust speck?
“hopping mad”
What’s the tallest building in Who-ville?
The library has the most stories.
Which Who can jump higher than the Eiffelberg
Tower?
They all can. The Eiffelberg Tower can’t
jump.
What makes more of a racket than a Who
beating on an old cranberry can?
ten Whos beating on ten old cranberry cans
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
What’s wiggly, has no legs, and tried to steal
Christmas?
a “Grinch-worm”
66 The Riddles
Why did the Grinch feel sick while sliding
down the Whos’ chimney with empty bags in
his fist?
He was coming down with something.
How do the little Who stockings celebrate
Christmas?
They “hang around.”
What would you call JoJo’s tricycle if he rode
it very, very fast?
a “tot” rod
Why did the Grinch send Cindy-Lou Who to bed?
The bed wouldn’t come to her.
The Lorax
What kind of ax can’t you use to cut trees?
the “Lor-ax”
How did the Truffula Tree feel when the
Once-ler didn’t chop it down?
“re-leafed”
Why couldn’t the Truffula Tree answer the
Once-ler’s question?
He’d “stumped” it.
McElligot’s Pool
Where is McElligot’s Pool deepest?
at the bottom
How did Marco communicate with the fish in
McElligot’s Pool?
He dropped them a “line.”
What did Marco catch when he went ice fishing
in McElligot’s Pool?
a cold
What was Marco trying to catch when he used
peanut butter for bait?
“jelly-fish”
Why does Marco keep fishing in McElligot’s
Pool?
He’s “hooked.”
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Why should you take a cow with you when
you get on your way?
to “moooo-ve” mountains
What will walk ahead of you in the morning
and behind you in the afternoon as you go on
your way?
your shadow
What did the stringed instrument say to the
person playing it in the Bright Places?
“Quit picking on me.”
The Sneetches and Other Stories
How did the Sneetches’ beaches greet the tide
when it came in?
“Long time, no ‘sea.’”
How did the Sneetches’ beaches say good-bye
to the tide?
“‘Sea’ you later.”
What did the highway built around the Zax
say to the jackhammer?
“You ‘crack me up’!”
What belongs to all twenty-three Daves but is
used more by Mrs. McCave?
their name
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 67
Why were the pale green pants lonely?
They had “no body” (nobody) to play with.
What would you get if you crossed the Brickel
bush with a Stickle-Bush Tree from If I Ran
the Circus?
sore hands
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose
Why did Thidwick’s antlers think Uncle
Woodpecker was dull?
He “bored” them.
When does Thidwick lose his antlers?
in the fall
Why won’t the pests eat dessert at the Harvard
Club?
They’re “stuffed.”
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
What would you get if you crossed Yertle the
Turtle with a children’s poet?
“Shell” Silverstein
Why didn’t Yertle pull his head in his shell?
He had claustrophobia.
What would you get if you crossed a fictional
girl detective with Gertrude’s tail?
Nancy “Droop”
Where could Gertrude McFuzz get back her
old tail?
a “re-tail” store
How is the rabbit like a potato?
It keeps its eyes “peeled.”
What does the bear like to read?
best “smellers”
Easies
Agent A to Agent Z, by Andy Rash
Who follows a secret agent around?
a secret “B-gent”
What has no legs, slithers on the ground, and
wears a trench coat?
a “spy-thon”
See also “Any Spy Story.”
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst
What happened when Alexander wrote a
poem about his terrible, horrible, no good,
very bad day?
He made things go from bad to “verse.”
Why did Alexander’s shoe have a terrible, horrible,
no good, very bad day?
It started off on the wrong foot.
And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon,
by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens
Crummel
Why does Dish need to ask Spoon for a loan?
It’s “broke.”
See also reproducible Mother Goose riddles for dish
puppets in appendix C.
Arthur Series, by Lillian Hoban
What did Lillian Hoban’s Arthur grow in his
flower garden?
“chimp-pansies”
68 The Riddles
What would you call Lillian Hoban’s Arthur
when he’s taking PE?
a “gym-panzee”
What kind of cookie does Lillian Hoban’s
Arthur like best?
chocolate “chimp”
Arthur’s Chicken Pox, by Marc Brown
What did Marc Brown use for writing the
rough draft of Arthur’s Chicken Pox?
“scratch” paper
Berenstain Bears Series, by Stan
Berenstain and Jan Berenstain
See the book-care bookmarks in appendix C.
Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
What would you call a book that combined
Stellaluna and Caps for Sale?
The Bat in the Hat
A Chair for My Mother, by Vera Williams
What kind of furniture wears bracelets?
“arm-chairs”
Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes
What belongs to Chrysanthemum but is used
more by her classmates and teacher?
her name
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, by
Judi Barrett
What formed on Chewandswallow’s streets
the day it rained potatoes?
“spud-dles”
Corduroy, by Don Freeman
What picture book character does Corduroy
look for when he visits the library?
Oliver Button
Why did Lisa have to mend Corduroy after
reading him a riddle book?
He split his sides laughing.
Curious George Series, by H. A. Rey and
Margret Rey
What storybook monkey throws temper tantrums?
“Furious” George
What would Curious George become if he ate
too much ice cream?
a “chunky monkey”
What does Curious George use to get into his
house?
a “mon-key”
What would Curious George get if he opened
his own store?
“monkey business”
What did Curious George use to fix the sink?
a “monkey wrench”
What does Curious George play on when he
goes to the park?
the “monkey bars”
Why did Curious George get in trouble at the
library?
He “monkeyed” around with the books.
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 69
Dog Breath! The Horrible Trouble with
Hally Tosis, by Dav Pilkey
Why did the burglars take a bath before
sneaking into the Tosis house?
to make a “clean getaway”
See also “Wild Animals”—“Skunks” in chapter
10. Substitute “Hally Tosis” for “skunk” where
appropriate.
Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin
Did Duck run for reelection?
No, he stepped “down.”
Eloise Series, by Hilary Knight
Where does Santa deliver Eloise’s presents?
The Plaza “Ho-Ho-Hotel”
“The Farmer in the Dell” (Any Version)
Who drives a tractor and makes great corned
beef sandwiches?
The Farmer in the “Deli”
Fluffy Series, by Kate McMullan
What did Ms. Day’s students call Fluffy when
he got greedy?
a “gimme” pig
Frances Series, by Russell Hoban
How does Russell Hoban’s Frances try to get
her own way?
She “badgers” people.
Frog and Toad Series, by Arnold Lobel
What do Frog and Toad play when they’re
tired?
“sleep-frog”
What would you get if you crossed Arnold
Lobel’s Frog with Lynne Reid Banks’s Houdini
(or Betty G. Birney’s Humphrey)?
“green legs and ham-ster”
Ginger Jumps, by Lisa Campbell Ernst
What did Ginger do when she went to a basketball
game?
She jumped through the hoops.
See also “Circuses” in chapter 16.
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise
Brown
What was the little calf’s favorite bedtime
story?
Goodnight “Moooo-n”
Gregory, the Terrible Eater, by Mitchell
Sharmat
What does Gregory eat for breakfast?
“goat-meal”
What did Gregory get when he ate a key ring?
lockjaw
What did Gregory get when he ate a window?
stomach “panes”
See also “Any Book That’s Also a Movie.”
70 The Riddles
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion
What did Harry become when he took a bath
with a mouse?
“squeaky” clean
Harry’s Dog, by Barbara Ann Porte
What kind of dog won’t make Harry’s father
sneeze?
a hot dog
The Hat, by Jan Brett
What would you call a book that combined
Stellaluna with The Hat?
The Bat in the Hat
Henry and Mudge Series, by Cynthia
Rylant
What should Henry give Mudge when he has
a fever?
Mustard’s always good for a hot dog.
See also the book-care bookmarks in appendix C.
Hooway for Wodney Wat, by Helen Lester
When did Wodney Wat say “whoa” to his horse?
at the end of their “wide”
What magazine does Wodney Wat read every
month?
“Wanger Wick”
How can Wodney Wat say “Richard and Robert
have a Labrador retriever” without any r’s?
“Dick and Bob have a dog.”
What did Wodney Wat put on top of the
house he built for his dog?
a “woof”
Hot-Air Henry, by Mary Calhoun
Why won’t Mary Calhoun’s Henry take advice
from the balloon?
It’s full of hot air.
What would you call Mary Calhoun’s Henry if
he fussed about finishing last in a balloon race?
a “soar” loser
Hot Fudge, by James Howe
What would you call Cynthia Rylant’s dog
books if Toby accidentally smeared chocolate
on them?
Henry and “Smudge”
“I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a
Fly” (Any Version)
Why did the old lady swallow a fly?
She had a “frog” in her throat.
Imogene’s Antlers, by David Small
Why did Imogene grow antlers?
She put too much “moose” in her hair.
“The Itsy Bitsy Spider” (Any Version)
What scatterbrained creature climbed up the
waterspout?
the itzy, “ditzy” spider
Kat Kong, by Dav Pilkey
Why did Kat Kong climb to the top of the
Romano Inn?
He didn’t fit in the elevator.
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 71
The Little Engine That Could, by Watty
Piper
What would you call the Little Engine That
Could if she carried gum?
a “chew-chew” train
What storybook character said, “I think I can
find it. I think I can find it. I think I can find it”?
The Little “Search Engine” That Could
What engine would never be able to pull the
little train up the mountain?
a “search engine”
Madeline Series, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Why did Miss Clavel take her book to the
middle of the girls’ room?
to “read between the lines”
What kind of dancing does Madeline like?
line dancing
What sport is just right for Madeline and her
friends?
in-line skating
Martha Series, by Susan Meddaugh
Why is a fly in Martha’s alphabet soup?
It’s learning to read.
What’s more amazing than a dog that can
talk?
a spelling bee
How did Helen get Martha into the shoe store
that didn’t allow dogs?
She had to “sneak-’er” in.
Why did the workers lose their jobs at Granny’s
Soup Company?
They got “canned.”
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by
Virginia Lee Burton
What did Mike Mulligan call Mary Anne
when she got angry?
a “steamed-shovel”
Mirette on the High Wire, by Emily
Arnold McCully
What did Mirette say to the tightrope?
“‘Hi, wire.’”
See also “Circuses” in chapter 16.
The Mixed-Up Chameleon, by Eric Carle
What would you get if you crossed [name any
fictional horse] with Eric Carle’s mixed-up
chameleon?
a horse of a different color
Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy
Rathmann
What storybook character helps you fasten
your belt?
Officer Buckle
What does Officer Buckle call Gloria when
she’s sick?
a “germy” shepherd
Oliver Button Is a Sissy, by Tomie dePaola
What picture book character does Corduroy
look for when he visits the library?
Oliver Button
72 The Riddles
What does Oliver Button drink?
“tap” water
How did Oliver Button get wet when he tap
danced?
He fell in the sink.
The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg
What train takes children to the dentist’s
office on Christmas Eve?
The “Molar” Express
Rabbit-cadabra! by James Howe
What did The Amazing Karlovsky perform
after eating the breakfast cereal that’s just for
kids?
magic “Trix”
Sheila Rae, the Brave, by Kevin Henkes
What will Sheila Rae, the Brave, never eat
with her soup?
a “chicken” sandwich
Why didn’t Sheila Rae, the Brave, cross the
road?
She wasn’t a “chicken.”
Shrek, by William Steig
What storybook ogre keeps biting his nails?
a nervous
“Shrek”
Sir Small and the Dragonfly, by Jane
O’Connor
What insects fought knights in the Middle Ages?
“dragon-flies”
Skyfire, by Frank Asch
What will Bear find at the end of every rainbow?
the letter “w”
Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon
Why does the reader highly recommend Stellaluna?
He’s “batty” about it.
What would you call a book that combined
Stellaluna with Caps for Sale?
The Bat in the Hat
What would Stellaluna become if she took
gymnastics lessons?
an “acro-bat”
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly
Stupid Tales, by Jon Scieszka
How could the Stinky Cheese Man have
defended himself from the fox?
with kung “phew!”
See also “Wild Animals”—“Skunks” in chapter
10. Substitute “Stinky Cheese Man” for “skunk”
where appropriate.
The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf
What chain of bookstores doesn’t sell Munro
Leaf’s The Story of Ferdinand?
Barnes and “No-bull” (Noble)
What would you call Munro Leaf’s Ferdinand
when he’s taking a nap?
a “bull-dozer”
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 73
How did Munro Leaf’s Ferdinand get hurt at
the archery contest?
Somebody hit the “bull’s eye.”
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by
William Steig
What did guests play at Sylvester’s birthday
party?
“Pin the Tail on the Host”
What would you get if you crossed William
Steig’s Sylvester with an insect?
a “braying” mantis
What do Sylvester and his parents use to open
their front door?
a “don-key”
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
Who gave parking tickets to Flopsy, Mopsy,
and Cotton-tail?
“Meter” Rabbit
Who always peeks when playing hide-andseek
with Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail?
“Cheater” Rabbit
Who snatches toys away from Flopsy, Mopsy,
and Cotton-tail?
Peter “Grab-it”
What do you call stories about Peter Rabbit’s
brother?
“Cotton-tales”
Walter’s Tail, by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Why does Walter wag his tail?
No one will wag it for him.
How are authors of heartwarming stories like
Lisa Campbell Ernst’s Walter?
Their “tales” are “moving.”
The Wolf’s Chicken Stew, by Keiko Kasza
What did the wolf do when the family of
chickens moved in next door?
had his neighbors for supper
What shouldn’t Mr. Wolf eat when he needs
to feel brave?
“chicken” stew
Fairy Tales and Folktales
In General
What do frogs like best about fairy tales?
the “hoppy” endings
Who never smiled or laughed while collecting
fairy tales?
the “Grim” brothers
What do you call stories where good guys lose
and bad guys live happily ever after?
“unfair-y” tales
Abiyoyo, by Pete Seeger
What was the favorite toy of Pete Seeger’s
dancing giant?
his “Abi-yo-yo”
Anansi and the Talking Melon, by Eric A.
Kimmel
What’s more amazing than a talking melon?
a spelling bee
74 The Riddles
“The Arabian Nights”
Why does Scheherazade deserve a raise at the
bank?
She’s a great “teller.”
Why did the magic lamp get angry with Aladdin?
He rubbed it the wrong way.
What did the magic lamp give Aladdin when
he wrapped a scarf around it?
“warm wishes”
What did Aladdin’s lamp give the basketball
player?
three “swishes”
What did Aladdin’s lamp give the beaver?
“tree” wishes
How did Dr. Aladdin cure patients with his
magic lamp?
He wished them well.
“Beauty and the Beast”
What fairy tale is about a beautiful snob and
an ugly monster?
“‘Snooty’ and the Beast”
What did Beauty break in the castle without
even touching it?
the witch’s spell
“Chicken Little”
What did Foxy Loxy say to Chicken Little and
her friends?
“It’s a pleasure to ‘eat’ you.”
“Cinderella”
Why does spending nights in the fireplace
make Cinderella feel rested?
She “sleeps like a log.”
What’s big and gray and wears glass slippers?
“Cinderella-phant”
What size is Cinderella’s slipper?
one foot long
What did Cinderella wear at bedtime?
glass bunny slippers
What did Cinderella wear when she went to
the beach?
glass “flippers”
Why wasn’t the prince allowed to pitch for
Cinderella’s baseball team?
He threw too many “balls.”
See also “Any Sport” in chapter 14.
“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
What did the antelope emperor want?
“gnu” clothes
What did the maid call the palace windows
when she had to wash them all?
royal “panes”
Fin M’Coul, by Tomie dePaola
What would you get if you crossed an Irish
giant with an ice cube?
Fin “M’Cool”
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 75
“The Fisherman and His Wife”
How did the fisherman keep in touch with the
magic fish?
He dropped it a “line.”
“The Frog Prince”
What kind of candy turns frogs into princes?
Hershey’s Kisses
What time was it when the witch turned the
prince into a frog?
“spring-time”
What happened after the Frog Prince married
the princess?
They lived “hoppily” ever after.
See also “Wild Animals”—“Frogs and Toads” in
chapter 10.
“The Gingerbread Man”
What did the gingerbread man get from his
eye doctor?
contact raisins
What did the gingerbread man need after
twisting his ankle?
a candy “cane”
What does the gingerbread man put on his bed?
cookie “sheets”
Why did the gingerbread man go to the doctor?
He felt “crumb-y.”
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
What fairy-tale character is never warm?
“Cold-ilocks”
What did the three bears put on their door to
keep out unwanted guests?
“Goldi-locks”
What do the three bears put on bagels?
“Goldi-lox”
What did the three bears eat when they ran
out of money?
“poor-ridge”
Why didn’t Mama want to eat cold porridge?
She couldn’t “bear” it.
“Hansel and Gretel”
What was the saddest candy in the witch’s gingerbread
house?
the “glum-drops”
What did the witch use for making Hansel’s
cage?
chocolate “bars”
Where did Hansel and Gretel’s witch sleep?
her “ginger-bed”
Why did Hansel and Gretel’s witch need to
move?
They ate her out of house and home.
How are Hansel and Gretel doing after surgery?
They’re not “out of the woods” yet.
Itching and Twitching, by Patricia C.
McKissack
Why do monkeys always scratch themselves?
No one else knows where they itch.
76 The Riddles
“Jack and the Beanstalk”
What fairy tale tells about a boy who chats
with vegetables?
“Jack and the ‘Beans Talk’”
What did Jack get when he planted his Easter
candy?
a “jellybean-stalk”
What bunny climbed a giant beanstalk?
a “Jack-rabbit”
What grew on Jack’s beanstalk?
“climb-a” beans
Why did Jack climb the beanstalk?
It didn’t have an elevator.
How did the giant find out about his surprise
birthday party?
Jack “spilled the beans.”
See also “Any Giant Story.”
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato, by
Tomie dePaola
What did Jamie O’Rourke do when he got a
job in a bakery?
“loafed” around
King Arthur (Any Version)
Where could King Arthur buy an animal with
two humps?
a “camel lot”
What did King Arthur call his sword when it
got frozen in a block of ice?
“Excali-brrrr”
What was baby Lancelot before he learned to
walk?
a “knight” crawler
What made Sir Lancelot tired every morning?
working the “knight” shift
What made Sir Lancelot wake up screaming?
“knight-mares”
Create new riddles substituting “knight” for
“night.”
“The Little Red Hen”
How is an embarrassed chicken like the fairytale
character who did things herself?
She’s a little “red” hen.
Why did it take the Little Red Hen a long
time to make bread?
She started from “scratch.”
Why did the banker help the Little Red Hen
make bread?
She liked working with “dough.”
“Little Red Riding Hood”
Why did Little Red Riding Hood take a basket
of goodies to her grandmother?
The basket wouldn’t take itself.
Who wears a red cloak, takes goodies to her
grandmother, and makes rules that all have to
obey?
Little Red Riding “Should”
Who wears a red cloak, takes goodies to her
grandmother, and got into a car accident?
Little “Wreck” Riding Hood
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 77
“Paul Bunyan”
Who’s extremely tall, cuts down trees, and has
sore feet?
Paul “Bunion”
What would you get if you crossed Sleeping
Beauty with Paul Bunyan?
a “slumber-jack”
What does Paul Bunyan do with his blue ox, Babe?
He tries to cheer her up.
“The Pied Piper of Hamelin”
What did the Pied Piper say when he lost his
flute?
“Oh, rats!”
What happened when the Pied Piper ate lemons?
He played “sour” notes.
“The Princess and the Pea”
What letter of the alphabet kept a princess
awake all night?
a “p”
What fairy tale tells about a royal girl and the
noisy chickens that kept her awake?
“The Princess and the ‘Peeps’”
How did the princess feel when she couldn’t
fall asleep?
“pea-ved”
“Puss in Boots”
What baby kitten helped the miller’s son
marry the king’s daughter?
Puss in “Booties”
What story tells about a pirate cat and its treasure?
“Puss ’n’ ‘Booty’”
What storybook cat played a trumpet?
Puss ’n’ “Toots”
“Rapunzel”
What fairy-tale character liked playing with
words?
“Ra-pun-zel”
What upsets Rapunzel more than anything
else?
bad hair days
Why was Rapunzel annoyed with the prince?
He got in her hair.
Robin Hood (Any Version)
Why did Robin Hood rob the rich?
The poor had nothing to steal.
Who stole from the rich, gave to the poor, and
made rules that all had to obey?
Robin “Should”
Was Robin Hood nervous
about entering the
archery contest in Nottingham?
No, but his arrows were all in a “quiver.”
Who kept Sherwood Forest clean?
“Maid” Marian
Where did Robin Hood buy flowers for Maid
Marian?
Sherwood “Florist”
78 The Riddles
“Rumpelstiltskin”
What fairy-tale character never irons his
clothes?
“Rumpled-stiltskin”
Who has a funny name, spins straw into gold,
and complains all the time?
“Grumble-stiltskin”
What did Rumpelstiltskin eat while turning
straw into gold?
“spin-ach”
“The Shoemaker and the Elves”
What did the elves sing while making shoes?
“sole” music
“Sleeping Beauty”
What would you get if you crossed Sleeping
Beauty with Paul Bunyan?
a “slumber-jack”
Who hosted the world’s longest slumber
party?
Sleeping Beauty
What fairy tale tells about a lovely princess
who cleaned a castle for 100 years?
“‘Sweeping’ Beauty”
What fairy tale tells about a lovely frog that
fell asleep for 100 years?
“‘Leaping’ Beauty”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“sleeping.”
Why did Sleeping Beauty sleep for 100 years?
Her alarm clock was broken.
What made Sleeping Beauty wake up with
chocolate smeared all over her mouth?
a Hershey’s Kiss
“Snow White”
Who has dark hair and white skin, lives with
seven little men, and weighs 300 pounds?
Snow “Wide”
What did Snow White say when she dropped
off film to be developed?
“Someday my ‘prints’ will come.”
Why do [name a sport] teams want Snow
White to referee their games?
She’s the “fairest” one of all.
What did the seven dwarfs’ rake say to their hoe?
“Hi, ‘hoe.’”
Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola
What would you get if you crossed an Egyptian
queen with Strega Nona’s magic pot?
“Cleo-pasta”
“The Three Billy Goats Gruff”
Where did the troll make sketches?
under a “draw-bridge”
What bridge is too small for a troll to live under?
the “bridge” of your nose
Who threatened to knock the troll off the
bridge but would never have hurt him?
the Big Billy Goat “Bluff”
What does the Big Billy Goat Gruff use for
making sandwiches?
“troll” wheat bread
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 79
Why can’t his brothers have a conversation
when the Big Billy Goat Gruff is around?
He “butts” in.
“The Three Little Pigs”
What would you call the three little pigs if
they’d built houses in the middle of a highway?
“road hogs”
Why did the three little pigs hire a maid?
Their house was a pigsty.
What did the first little pig say when he put
the finishing touch on his house?
“That’s the last straw.”
What did the second little pig use to build a
house by the river?
“fish-sticks”
What would you get if you crossed the third
little pig with a hen?
a “brick-layer”
What did the third little pig call his high-rise
apartment building?
a “sty-scraper”
How could the third little pig tell that the wolf
was angry?
He left in a “huff.”
“Tom Thumb”
How can the inch-high fairy-tale character tell
when his watermelons are ripe?
Tom thumps.
How did the police know Tom Thumb stole
the museum’s valuable statue?
His “Thumb-prints” were on it.
“The Tortoise and the Hare”
What did the hare drink during the race with
the tortoise?
“running” water
How can you get the lazy hare to finish the
race with the tortoise?
Jump-start him.
What did the tortoise’s opponent say after losing
the race?
“I’m having a bad ‘hare’ day.”
What would you call the hare after losing the
race to the tortoise?
a “cross”-country runner
What race can neither the tortoise nor the
hare ever win?
the “human race”
Fiction
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by
Mark Twain
What bedtime story should you read your pet
fish?
The Adventures of Huckleberry “Fin”
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark
Twain
Where did Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher
buy supplies to explore McDougal’s cave?
“Cave-Mart”
80 The Riddles
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by
Lewis Carroll
In what famous fantasy does a girl dream
about visiting an unusual place where everyone
makes mistakes?
Alice’s Adventures in “Blunder-land”
Amelia Series, by Marissa Moss
What does Marissa Moss’s Amelia use for
writing stories about streams?
a “note-brook”
Anne of Green Gables, by L. M.
Montgomery
What classic novel tells the story of an
orphaned insect that went to live on a Canadian
farm?
“Ant” of Green Gables
Babe and Me, by Dan Gutman
What legendary baseball slugger was still in
diapers?
“Baby” Ruth
Babe: The Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith
What does Dick King-Smith’s gallant pig have
in common with a famous baseball slugger?
the first name Babe
What did Fly say to get the sheep’s attention?
“Hey, ‘ewe’!”
How did Babe fool the sheep?
He pulled the wool over their eyes.
See also Babe and Me.
Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson
What book did Robert Lawson write about a
famous American visiting a butcher shop?
Ben and “Meat”
What book did Robert Lawson write about a
famous American practicing scales in music class?
Ben and “Mi”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by
Roald Dahl
What tree owns a magical chocolate factory?
“Willow” Wonka
What kind of motorcycle does Willy Wonka ride?
a “Charlie-Davidson”
What did Violet chew when she was sad?
“bubble-glum”
Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White
Why was Wilbur grateful to Charlotte?
She’d “saved his bacon.”
What does E. B. White’s Charlotte like to
read every month?
Spider magazine
Why won’t Fern let Wilbur sleep with her?
He’s a “bed hog.”
Why were Fern and Wilbur suspicious when
Templeton started using cologne?
They “smelled a rat.”
What did Charlotte say when Wilbur told her
he’d taken a bath?
“Hogwash!”
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 81
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
What would you get if you crossed a lobster
with Ebenezer Scrooge?
a “shellfish” person
Why did Ebenezer Scrooge like finding coal
in his stocking on Christmas morning?
It saved money on heat.
What did Ebenezer Scrooge wear when he
played ice hockey?
“cheap-skates”
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis
What do Narnia’s residents wear over their
pajamas?
“ward-robes”
Cracker Jackson, by Betsy Byars
What storybook character goes well with soup?
Cracker Jackson
What does Cracker Jackson’s classmate chew?
“Bubba-gum”
The Cricket in Times Square, by George
Selden
What does George Selden’s Chester like to
read every month?
Cricket magazine
Where did Chester Cricket learn how to multiply?
“Times-Table” Square
Doctor Dolittle Series, by Hugh Lofting
Who’s so busy talking to animals that he
rarely accomplishes anything?
Dr. “Do-Little”
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis
Stevenson
What did Dr. Jekyll like to play?
“Hyde”-and-seek
Where does Dr. Jekyll go to get away from it
all?
his “Hyde-away”
Dracula, by Bram Stoker
Who has Transylvania’s most dangerous job?
Count Dracula’s dentist
See also “Vampires” in chapter 12.
Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown
What would happen if a piano fell on Jeff
Brown’s Stanley?
He would “B flat.”
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Why did Dr. Frankenstein stop feeling lonely?
He made new friends.
What does Dr. Frankenstein drive?
a “monster truck”
Where did Dr. Frankenstein get his monster a
new hand?
a “second-hand” store
What did the monster do when Dr. Frankenstein
asked for help?
gave him a hand
What did the monster do when Dr. Frankenstein
wanted to talk about his troubles?
lent him its ear
82 The Riddles
Why was Frankenstein’s monster missing a
part of itself after music class?
It “sang its heart out.”
See also “Reading” in chapter 7.
Goosebumps Series, by R. L. Stine
What would you call a book that combined
nursery rhymes with R. L. Stine’s scary stories?
Mother “Goose-bumps”
What does R. L. Stine have on the front and
back of his car?
“Goosebump-ers”
Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling
What do you call a man who makes clay dishes
and never shaves?
“hairy” potter
Who is a student at Hogwarts, plays Quidditch,
and turns into a werewolf when the
moon is full?
“Hairy” Potter
Who goes to Hogwarts, plays Quidditch, and
has long ears?
“Hare-y” Potter
Who has a magic wand, plays Quidditch, and
lives in the sea?
Harry “Otter”
What’s yellow with black stripes, makes
honey, and goes to Hogwarts?
a “spelling” bee
Why does Harry Potter always carry a dictionary?
It helps him “spell.”
What did Harry Potter get after riding the
merry-go-round all day?
dizzy “spells”
What did Harry Potter do when he got tired
of April showers?
He cast a dry “spell.”
What did Harry Potter do when he got tired
of the heat wave?
He cast a cold “spell.”
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
Why did the chicken sit on Brian’s ax?
to “hatch-et”
Why didn’t the hatchet go to Brian’s birthday
party?
It wasn’t “axed.”
“The Headless Horseman”
See “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Heidi, by Joanna Spyri
What game do children in the Swiss Alps play?
“Heidi”-and-seek
How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas
Rockwell
What did Alan make Billy eat in the library?
a “book-worm”
The Hundred and One Dalmatians, by
Dodie Smith
Why don’t the hundred and one Dalmatians
enjoy playing hide-and-seek?
They’re always “spotted.”
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 83
What did the woman who stole the Dalmatian
puppies drink on hot summer days?
“Cruel-Aid”
Judy Moody Saves the World, by Megan
McDonald
How did Judy Moody try to save the world?
She took her globe to the bank.
Junie B. Jones Series, by Barbara Park
Who stars in a funny series of books, has a
baby brother named Ollie, and makes honey?
Junie “Bee” Jones
What did Junie B. Jones want to be when the
bakers got married?
their “flour” girl
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by
Washington Irving
Why did Washington Irving’s famous horseman
always do his best at school?
to get “a head” (ahead)
What did Washington Irving’s famous horseman
do when he panicked?
He lost his head.
Little House Series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
What popular book tells the story of a pioneer
rodent?
Little “Mouse” on the Prairie
What would you get if you crossed Laura
Ingalls Wilder with a cow?
Little House on the “Dairy”
The Littles Series, by John Petersen
What do the Littles eat for breakfast?
“Wee-ties” (Wheaties)
See “St. Patrick’s Day” in chapter 13, substituting
“the Littles” for “leprechauns” when answers
involve being short.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J. R. R.
Tolkien
Why do people want to read all of Tolkien’s
books over and over again?
They’re “Hobbit-forming.”
What did the Tolkien fan name his telephone
answering service?
Lord of the “Rings”
Magic Tree House Series, by Mary Pope
Osborne
Where do Jack and Annie get all the candy
they can eat?
The Magic “Treat” House
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by
Robert C. O’Brien
What does NIMH call its annual track meet?
the “rat race”
Peter Pan, by James M. Barrie
What Chinese bear doesn’t want to grow up?
Peter “Pan-da”
What did Tinker Bell use for cooking?
a Peter “pan”
84 The Riddles
What did Peter Pan call his fairy when she
stopped taking baths?
“Stinker Bell”
Raggedy Ann Series, by Johnny Gruelle
What would you get if you crossed a fictional
girl detective with Raggedy Ann?
Nancy “Droop”
What happened to the movie about Raggedy
Ann?
It “flopped.”
Ramona Series, by Beverly Cleary
What storybook character do ghosts like best?
“Ra-moan-a”
What did Beezus call Ramona when she sat on
the stairs?
her “step-sister”
Make this fit other books by substituting the names
of other fictional siblings.
What would Beezus and Ramona have been if
their aunt had held her wedding in a bakery?
“flour” girls
Ribsy, by Beverly Cleary
What’s the skeleton’s favorite dog story?
“Rib-sy”
“Rip Van Winkle,” by Washington Irving
What storybook character slept in his clothes?
Rip Van “Wrinkled”
What star is named after a famous storybook
character?
Rip Van “Twinkle”
Why was Rip Van Winkle scared of going to
the library after his twenty-year nap?
His books were way overdue.
The Search for Delicious, by Natalie
Babbitt
What day of the week was it when everyone
agreed that “water” was the best definition for
“delicious”?
“Thirst-day”
Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
What Newbery Award winner did Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor write about a bashful dog?
“Shy-loh”
Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Where does Tarzan keep in shape?
the “jungle gym”
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis
Stevenson
How did Jim Hawkins say good-bye to the
pirate captain?
“So long, John Silver.”
See also “Pirates” in chapter 16.
The Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White
What did E. B. White’s Louie win a medal for
at the swimming meet?
swan dives
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 85
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the
Sea, by Jules Verne
Why does Twenty Thousand Leagues under the
Sea give readers a lot to think about?
It’s very “deep.”
What did Jules Verne call his novel about a
submarine full of frogs?
Twenty Thousand “Leaps” under the Sea
Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots, by
Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
What did the vampire do when she became a
teacher?
She gave “blood tests.”
See also “Vampires” in chapter 12.
Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne
What does Winnie-the-Pooh have in common
with Alexander the Great?
the same middle name
What did Christopher Robin name his pet skunk?
Winnie-the-“Pew”
Who likes honey, has a friend named Christopher
Robin, and can disappear without a trace?
Winnie-the-“Poof”
What did Eeyore have when Winnie-the-
Pooh gave him a boomerang for his birthday?
“many happy returns of the day”
What did guests play at Eeyore’s birthday party?
“Pin the Tail on the Host”
Why won’t Christopher Robin accept checks
from Tigger?
They might “bounce.”
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank
Baum
Why did the critic think The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz was amazing?
It blew her away!
What’s cold-blooded, has scales and a long
tail, and lives in the Emerald City?
the “lizard” of Oz
What wiggled and jiggled when Dorothy and
her friends walked on it?
the “Jell-O” Brick Road
What card was the Tin Woodman hoping to
draw when he played Crazy Eights?
He wanted a “heart.”
What did Dorothy’s cowardly lion friend eat
on his birthday?
a “yellow” cake
What happened when Dorothy sent the witch
a warm and loving valentine?
She melted her heart.
Who plays croquet with a broomstick?
the “Wicket” Witch of the West
Mystery Series
In General
Fill in the blanks with any fictional detective’s name.
How does [name a fictional duck] solve the
mysteries he/she reads?
by “de-duck-tion”
What does _____ put on his/her toothbrush?
“sleuth-paste”
86 The Riddles
How did _____ find the lost train?
He/she followed its “tracks.”
Why should _____ carry potatoes when he’s/
she’s looking for clues?
They keep their eyes “peeled.”
What vegetable helped _____ solve a mystery?
a “clue-cumber”
Why did _____ go to the zoo to study his/her
notes on the case?
He/she needed to read between the “lions.”
What does _____ do at bedtime?
He/she goes “under covers.”
Why did _____ figure the Tupperware saleswoman
couldn’t have committed the crime?
She had an airtight alibi.
Why did _____ sit on his/her luggage?
He/she was on the “case.”
What case did _____ have to sleep on?
the “pillow case”
What did _____ say when he/she found out
who stole the museum’s mummy?
“That ‘wraps’ up the case.”
Cam Jansen Series, by David A. Adler
Who solves mysteries, has a photographic
memory, and lives in the sea?
“Clam” Jansen
Nancy Drew Series, by Carolyn Keene
What did Nancy do when George and Bess
asked her to sketch the crime scene?
Nancy “drew.”
What fictional girl detective has poor posture?
Nancy “Droop”
Nate the Great Series, by Marjorie
Weinman Sharmat
What’s round and purple and solves mysteries
with his dog, Sludge?
Nate the “Grape”
See also mystery riddles under “Authors” in
chapter 7.
Nonfiction
Guinness World Records
Why did the tornado get mentioned in Guinness?
It set a “whirl” record.
What book keeps track of how many car
crashes take place around the world?
Guinness World “Wreck-ords”
Why did the girl who accidentally dropped
her grandma’s old phonograph album get into
Guinness?
She broke a “record.”
Humphrey, the Lost Whale: A True Story,
by Wendy Tokuda
What would you get if you crossed Humphrey
with a bottle of Clorox?
a “bleached” whale
The Magic School Bus Series, by Joanna
Cole
What happened when one of Ms. Frizzle’s students
tied everyone’s shoelaces together?
They went on another class “trip.”
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 87
What’s yellow with black stripes, makes
honey, and takes Ms. Frizzle’s students on
amazing trips to beehives and flower gardens?
The Magic School “Buzz”
Nursery Rhymes
Mother Goose
Who made many mistakes while writing nursery
rhymes?
Mother “Goofs”
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep”
What bleats, has three bags of wool, and is
dull and boring?
“Blah, Blah, Black Sheep”
“Georgie Porgie”
What would you get if you crossed a piece of
chocolate candy with Georgie Porgie?
a Hershey’s Kiss
“Hey, Diddle, Diddle”
See reproducible Mother Goose riddles for dish
puppets in appendix C.
“Hickory, Dickory, Dock”
Who takes care of the mouse that ran up the
clock when it’s sick?
the hickory-dickory “doc”
Where does the mouse that ran up the clock
park its boat?
the hickory-dickory dock
How will we know if the mouse runs up the
clock again?
“Time will tell.”
How did the clock feel when the mouse
insulted it?
“ticked off”
Why doesn’t Mother Goose leave the clock at
the top of the stairs?
It might “run down.”
“Humpty Dumpty”
What happened when Humpty Dumpty set
off firecrackers on the wall?
He fell down and went boom.
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
His favorite team won the World Series.
How did Humpty Dumpty get started on a
new hobby?
He “fell into it.”
What happened when all the king’s horses and
all the king’s men played an April Fools’ Day
joke on Humpty Dumpty?
He “fell for it.”
Why is Humpty Dumpty getting terrible grades?
He’s “falling behind.”
Why did the criminals ask Humpty Dumpty
to help them rob a bank?
They wanted a “fall guy.”
Why did Humpty Dumpty go to the library?
to borrow a “yolk” book
What happened when Humpty Dumpty read a
riddle book?
He “cracked up.”
Why does Humpty Dumpty need to borrow
money from Mother Goose?
He’s “broke.”
88 The Riddles
Why does Humpty Dumpty enjoy eating in
Chinese restaurants?
He likes egg drop soup.
See also “Eggs” in chapter 16.
“Jack and Jill”
What do Jack and Jill drink to stay healthy?
“well” water
What did Jack and Jill get when they threw
jogging shoes into the well?
“running” water
Why did Jack and Jill win a blue ribbon in
gymnastics?
They’re good at “tumbling.”
“Jack Be Nimble”
How can Mother Goose tell when Jack Be
Nimble is really happy?
He jumps for joy.
What would you get if you crossed Jack Be
Nimble with what another Jack traded for a
cow?
jumping beans
What would you get if you crossed Jack Be
Nimble with a vine?
a jump rope
What does the nursery rhyme character who
leaps over candlesticks do in PE?
jumping Jacks
“Jack Sprat”
Why did Jack Sprat and his wife eat on a seesaw?
to “balance” their diet
What did Jack Sprat and his wife eat after they
got a platter having four sides of equal length?
“square meals”
“Little Bo Peep”
How did Little Bo Peep call for her missing
sheep?
“Where are ‘ewe’?”
Who lives in Mother Goose Land, has a flock
of sheep, and cheats at hide-and-seek?
Little Bo “Peeps”
Why did the police suspect Little Bo Peep had
taken part in the big sheep robbery?
She’d last been seen with a “crook.”
What’s harder to find than Little Bo Peep’s
lost sheep?
a needle in Little Boy Blue’s haystack
“Little Boy Blue”
Who blows a horn, sleeps under a haystack,
and haunts Mother Goose Land?
Little Boy “Boo!”
What happened when the nursery rhyme
character who fell asleep under a haystack had
a stuffy nose?
Little Boy “blew.”
What nursery rhyme character held his breath
too long?
Little Boy Blue
Why does Mother Goose have trouble holding
a conversation around Little Boy Blue?
He “horns” in.
Laughing at “Our-shelves” 89
When will Mother Goose ask Little Boy Blue
to blow his horn?
on New Year’s Eve
See also “Little Bo Peep.”
“Little Jack Horner”
What did Little Jack Horner eat in geometry
class?
his Christmas “pi”
What did Little Jack Horner pull out of his sink?
a plumber
Why couldn’t the mouse escape from Little
Jack Horner?
He “cornered” it.
“Little Miss Muffet”
Who lost the baseball game for Mother
Goose’s team?
Little Miss “Muffed-it”
What does Mother Goose order when she eats
breakfast at McDonald’s?
Egg “McMuffets”
Why did Little Miss Muffet need a map?
She lost her “whey.”
Why did Little Miss Muffet think the spider
was a nuisance?
It got in her “whey.”
What did Little Miss Muffet tell the spider
when it asked for a bite of her food?
“No ‘whey’!”
Why did Wee Willie Winkie always carry
around a bowl of Miss Muffet’s food?
Where there’s a “Will,” there’s a “whey.”
When did the spider sit down beside Miss Muffet?
when it “spied-’er”
“Mary Had a Little Lamb”
What did the little lamb ride on when it followed
the girl to an amusement park?
the “Mary-go-round”
Why do the little lamb and the girl it follows
enjoy December every year?
They always have a “Mary” Christmas.
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”
What did contrary Mary have when she buried
money in her garden?
“rich” soil
“Old King Cole”
What merry old soul is never warm?
Old King “Cold”
What merry old soul lives underground?
Old King “Coal”
“Old Mother Hubbard”
What seven letters did Old Mother Hubbard
say when she saw that her cupboard was bare?
“O I C U R M T.”
What did the dog get from Old Mother Hubbard’s
freezer?
an ice-cream “bone”
“Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”
Why will the old woman and her children
have to move out of the shoe?
It’s being “soled” (sold).
90 The Riddles
What kind of music does the old woman who
lives in the shoe enjoy?
“sole” music
“Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater”
What did Peter, Peter’s wife use to mend the
crack in her wall?
a pumpkin “patch”
“The Queen of Hearts”
What would the Queen of Hearts have if she
put firecrackers in her pastries?
Pop!-Tarts
“Rub-a-Dub-Dub”
What happened to the three men in the tub
when it overturned?
They got wet.
How did the baker get rich?
He made lots of “dough.”
Why do the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick
maker want to lose weight?
They’re “tubby.”
“Three Blind Mice”
Where can the three blind mice get new tails?
a “re-tail” store
Why can’t the three blind mice be authors?
They have no “tales.”
“Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son”
How did the police know that the piper’s son
stole the pig?
The pig “squealed.”
“Wee Willie Winkie”
What nursery rhyme character wears a nightgown,
runs around town, and keeps blinking
one eye?
Wee Willie “Winker”
See also “Little Miss Muffet.”
91
9 The Loony Library
Riddles for Loony Library
Bulletin Boards and Games
These silly imaginary books by pretend authors
work with bulletin boards in chapter 1 as well as
card games, “Find Your Partner,” and “The Loony
Library Book Hunt” in chapter 3. If necessary,
change call numbers to fit your classification system.
(See the cards in appendix C for more titles and
authors.)
Who wrote Animals of the Desert? (591.909 A)
Jack R. Abbott
Who wrote The Life and Works of Beatrix Potter?
(B POT)
Peter R. Abbott
Who wrote Playing Keyboard Instruments?
(786.19 A)
P. Anno
Who wrote All about the Sun? (523.7 A)
Ray D. Ant
Who wrote All about Michigan? (977.4 A)
Ann Arbor
Who wrote The Man behind the Lord of the
Rings? (B TOL)
Bill Bo Baggins
Who wrote Delicious Cakes for You to Make?
(641.865 B)
Bea A. Baker
Who wrote Historic Farm Buildings? (631.22 B)
Red Barnes
Who wrote Henry Ford and the Model T? (B FOR)
Otto Moe Beal
Who wrote Where the Tide Comes In? (574.92 B)
Sandy Beech
Who wrote Danger in the Ocean? (551.3 B)
I. C. E. Berg
Who wrote Making Christmas Wreaths?
(745.594 B)
Holly Berry
92 The Riddles
Who wrote Cycling across the United States?
(F BIK)
Rhoda Bike
Who wrote The Curse of the Werewolf ?
(F BOD)
Harry Boddy
Who wrote Crossing the River? (624.2 B)
I. Ron Bridges
Who wrote Insects in Your Yard? (595.7 B)
June Bugg
Who wrote My Life as a Lumberjack? (B BUR)
Tim Burr
Who wrote Feathered Friends in Your Backyard?
(598.072 B)
Jay Byrd
Who wrote What My Dog Likes to Do?
(E CAR)
Chase A. Carr
Who wrote What Do Teachers Do? (372.11 C)
Ed U. Cate
Who wrote The Mystery in the Sandwich Shop?
(F CAT)
Del I. Catessen
Who wrote Learn How to Draw? (743 C)
Art Class
Who wrote My PE Teacher Is an Alien?
(F CLA)
Jim Class
Who wrote When I Got Glasses? (617.7 C)
I. Seymour Clearly
Who wrote Storms in the Midwest? (551.55 C)
Cy Clone
Who wrote Snakes of South America? (597.96 C)
Anna Conda
Who wrote Conversations with Award-
Winning Illustrators? (741.642 C)
Cal D. Cott
Who wrote When I Get Mad? (E CRO)
I. M. Cross
Who wrote The Story of Clara Barton? (B BAR)
Red Cross
Who wrote Exploring the Everglades?
(975.9 D)
Flora Da
Who wrote What Beavers Do? (599.37 D)
Bill D. Dam
Who wrote Just a Light Rain? (551.57 D)
Misty Day
Who wrote How to Plant a Tree? (635.977 D)
R. Burr Day
Who wrote Let’s Go Fly a Kite? (E DAY)
Wynn D. Day
Who wrote My Best Friend? (F DEE)
Bud Dee
Who wrote Singing in Harmony? (783 D)
Mel O. Dee
Who wrote I’ll Try Anything? (B DEW)
Will Dew
The Loony Library 93
Who wrote On the Job with a Construction
Worker? (690 D)
Bill Ding
Who wrote My Life as an Illustrator? (741.642 D)
I. Drew
Who wrote The Visitor from Outer Space?
(F ENN)
A. Lee Enn
Who wrote The Scariest Stories You’ve Ever
Read? (F FID)
Tara Fide
Who wrote Mr. Bell and His Invention?
(B BEL)
T. Ella Fone
Who wrote Norman Bridwell and His Big Red
Dog? (B BRI)
Cliff Ford
Who wrote The Golden State? (979.4 F)
Cal I. Fornia
Who wrote The Biggest Animal on Land?
(599.67 F)
Ella Funt
Who wrote Creatures of the Swamp? (597.98 G)
Allie Gator
Who wrote My Favorite Color? (E GRE)
Kelly Green
Who wrote Living in a Pigsty? (636.4 H)
Ima Hogg
Who wrote Camping in an RV ? (F HOM)
Moe Bill Home
Who wrote At Home with the Third Little Pig?
(E HOW)
B. Rick Howes
Who wrote Felines of the World? (636.8 K)
Kitty Katz
Who wrote Riding Horses to Win? (798.4 K)
Jock Key
Who wrote You Can Be a Comedian?
(792.7028 K)
Joe King
Who wrote Things to Do with Rope? (623.88 K)
Ty Knotts
Who wrote The Smallest State in the Union?
(974.5 L)
Rhoda I. Land
Who wrote The Colors of Fall? (508.2 L)
Autumn Leaf
Who wrote Vegetables Are Good for You?
(613.2 L)
Brock O. Lee
Who wrote Without a Cent? (F LES)
Penny Less
Who wrote Identifying Wildflowers? (635.9 L)
Vi O. Letts
Who wrote Yummy Desserts for You to Make?
(641.8 L)
Dee Licious
Who wrote Songs to Sing at Christmas?
(782.28 L)
Carol Ling
94 The Riddles
Who wrote King Arthur’s Knights? (398.2 L)
Lance A. Lott
Who wrote Communicating through Computers?
(384.34 M)
E. Mail
Who wrote All about Amphibians? (597.8 M)
Sally Mander
Who wrote The Race Is about to Begin?
(E MAR)
Anya Marks
Who wrote When Santa Claus Comes? (E MAS)
Chris T. Mas
Who wrote How They Make Cartoons?
(791.43 M)
Anna Mate
Who wrote What You Need for Wrestling?
(796.8 M)
Jim Matt
Who wrote My Life Underground? (B MIN)
Cole Miner
Who wrote How to Get Smart? (371.3 M)
Reed Moore
Who wrote Animals of Madagascar? (599.83 M)
Lee Murr
Who wrote Tracking Twisters? (551.55 N)
Torey Nado
Who wrote How Bees Help Flowers? (582 N)
Polly Nation
Who wrote Sounds in a Haunted House?
(F NIN)
Moe Ning
Who wrote The Land of Lincoln? (977.3 N)
Ella Noy
Who wrote Riding Bulls and Roping Calves?
(791.8 O)
Roe D. Oh
Who wrote What We Get from the Sun? (523.7 O)
Ray O’Sunshine
Who wrote Doing It Over? (F PET)
Ria Pete
Who wrote I Was an Illustrator? (B PIC)
Drew Pictures
Who wrote Using Good Manners? (395 P)
Mae I. Please
Who wrote Where Penguins Live? (919.8 P)
S. Pole
Who wrote The Amazing Adventures of
Spider-Man? (F POW)
Sue Purr Powers
Who wrote Trees in the Swamp? (574.5 P)
Cy Press
Who wrote Yellowstone National Park?
(917.87 R)
Forrest Ranger
Who wrote Making Your Own Bracelets?
(745.594 R)
Jewel Ree
The Loony Library 95
Who wrote How to Jump Double Dutch?
(796.2 R)
Skip N. Rope
Who wrote Prehistoric Reptiles? (567.9 S)
Dinah Saur
Who wrote Lots of Games for Kids to Play?
(790 S)
Simon Says
Who wrote Traveling through China? (915.1 S)
Rick Shaw
Who wrote Fancy Basketball Plays? (796.323 S)
T. Rick Shott
Who wrote All about Blizzards? (551.55 S)
Lotta Snow
Who wrote The Wizard of Menlo Park?
(B EDI)
Ed I. Son
Who wrote The Mystery in the Stables?
(F STA)
Horace Stahl
Who wrote The Kid Who Went to Hollywood?
(E STA)
Bea A. Starr
Who wrote Confessions of a Shoplifter? (B STE)
I. Steel
Who wrote A Cowboy’s Job? (978 S)
Brandon Steers
Who wrote The Most Frightening Book You’ve
Ever Read? (F STO)
S. Carrie Story
Who wrote Behind the Scenes at the Ballet?
(792.8 S)
Dan Surr
Who wrote Cinderella and Other Princess Stories?
(398.2 T)
Faye Ria Tales
Who wrote The Biggest Ship Ever? (910.9 T)
Ty Tannic
Who wrote How to Solve Crimes? (652.8 T)
Dee Tective
Who wrote Preparing for Quizzes? (371.26 T)
Tess Ting
Who wrote Growing What You Eat? (635 T)
Tom A. To
Who wrote Ballerina for a Day? (792.8 T)
Anya Toes
Who wrote How a Lightbulb Works? (621.3 T)
E. Lex Tricity
Who wrote The Bluegrass State? (976.9 T)
Ken Tucky
Who wrote The Most Suspenseful Story You’ve
Ever Read? (F TUR)
Paige Turner
Who wrote A Holiday in February? (394.2618 T)
Val N. Tyne
Who wrote Emily and the Blackbird? (E VEN)
Ray Venn
96 The Riddles
Who wrote When Brother Fought Brother?
(973.7 W)
Cybil War
Who wrote Traveling the Oregon Trail? (978 W)
Wes T. Ward
Who wrote Let’s Go to an Amusement Park?
(791.068 W)
Ferris Wheel
97
10 Merry Menagerie
Riddles about
Animals and Zoos
Generic Animal Riddles
Fill in the blanks with the animals’ names.
Any Animal
What follows a _____ wherever it goes?
its tail
What does a _____ have that no other animal
has?
baby _____s
What is a baby _____ after it’s five days old?
six days old
What side of a _____ has the most fur [feathers,
scales]?
the outside
When do _____s have eight legs?
when there are two of them
Any Animal That Hops
What do _____s eat for breakfast?
“Hop-Tarts”
What would you call a _____ that got stuck in
the mud?
“un-hoppy”
What do _____s like best about fairy tales?
the “hoppy” endings
What would you get if you crossed a _____
with a snake?
a jump rope
Why do _____s make poor decisions?
They “jump” to conclusions.
Why will the basketball referee blow the whistle
on the tired _____?
It’s out of “bounds.”
98 The Riddles
Any Animal with Spots
Why did the _____ have red spots?
It had chicken pox.
Why don’t _____s like to play hide-and-seek?
They’re always “spotted.”
Why will the _____ go to the eye doctor?
It’s seeing spots.
Why will the _____ take its coat to the cleaners?
It’s covered with spots.
Create new riddles with “spot” in the answer.
Any Amphibian
What would you call a _____ that tells lies?
an “am-fib-ian”
What kind of amphibian has three legs?
a “toad-stool”
What game do tired amphibians play?
“sleep” frog
What do amphibians read every day?
the “newts-paper”
Any Fish or Reptile
Why did the _____ do well in music class?
It already knew its “scales.”
Why is it easy to weigh a _____?
They have their own “scales.”
Any Mammal
Why do _____s have fur coats?
Plastic raincoats don’t come in their size.
What did the _____ plant on Arbor Day?
a “fur” (fir) tree
Any Reptile
What do _____s put on their kitchen floors?
“rep-tiles”
Birds
Why do [name a kind of bird] forget everything?
They’re “bird-brains.”
What would you get if you crossed a Scottish
sea creature with a bird’s home?
the Loch “Nest” Monster
How do we know that birds take risks?
They’ll “go out on a limb.”
Why do bad-tempered birds always get plenty
to eat?
The “surly” bird catches the worm.
Why don’t most readers understand the book
about how birds fly?
It’s over their heads.
What do you call a [name a kind of bird] when
it’s ten below zero?
a “brrrr-d”
What did the early bird catch at the library?
a “book-worm”
Creepy Crawlies
In General
What do the insects call their pet rabbit?
“bugs’ bunny”
Merry Menagerie 99
Why did the spies hire an exterminator?
Their room was “bugged.”
Where can you buy insects?
“flea” markets
What has six legs and wings, flies, and can’t
stand Christmas?
a “hum-bug”
What kinds of insects have two legs, no wings,
and make a mess?
“litter-bugs”
Ants
What insects are very old and valuable?
“ant-iques”
What’s the world’s biggest insect?
a “gi-ant”
What insect has a long, gray trunk?
an “eleph-ant”
Create new riddles with “ant” in the answer.
Get ideas from Cathi Hepworth’s ANTics! and
Bernard Most’s There’s an Ant in Anthony.
Where do ants play football?
in a “sugar bowl”
Bees
When might your report card sting you?
when it’s all “bees”
What do bees like to chew?
“bumble-gum”
What’s yellow with black stripes, makes
honey, and drops the football all the time?
a “fumble-bee”
What’s yellow with black stripes, makes
honey, and trips over flowers?
a “stumble-bee”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“bumble.”
Why did the bumblebee go to the doctor [or
dermatologist]?
It had “hives.”
Why do beekeepers have sticky heads?
They use “honey-combs.”
What insects are fun to play with?
“Fris-bees”
Where do honeybees sleep at night?
flower “beds”
What would you call two bees, a wasp, and a
hornet playing musical instruments?
a “sting” quartet
Butterflies and Caterpillars
What’s beautiful, has six legs, and tastes good
on toast?
“butter-flies”
Why did eating caterpillars make the bird nervous?
It got butterflies in its stomach.
Fireflies
Why do fireflies get As in school?
They’re very “bright.”
How do fireflies learn arithmetic?
with “flash” cards
100 The Riddles
What helps fireflies see in the dark?
“flash-lights”
What must little fireflies do before they’re
allowed to go out at night?
“glow” up
What did the hungry lizard call the firefly?
a “light” snack
What would you call a lightning bug that lost
its job?
a “fired-fly”
See also chapter 15.
Ladybugs
What insects have good manners?
“lady-bugs”
What kind of insects do Boy Scouts help
across the street?
“old lady-bugs”
See also “Any Animal with Spots.”
Spiders
What do frogs and toads drink in the fall?
apple “spider”
What scatterbrained creature climbed up the
waterspout?
the itsy, “ditzy” spider
Why did the spider go to the doctor?
It caught a “bug.”
What was the spider doing in the outfield?
catching “flies”
What do spiders eat with hamburgers?
french “flies”
What should you do if you find a tarantula in
your sneakers?
Wear your flip-flops.
What will you get if a spider makes its home
on your shoes?
“webbed” feet
What will you get if a spider makes its home
in your library book?
“web pages”
What do spiders eat at summer cookouts?
corn on the “cob-web”
What computer class did the spider teach at
the library?
Building Your Own “Web Page”
Why do spiders spin webs?
They can’t crochet.
How did the spider do on its spinning test?
It got a “bee.”
What goes “ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch,
ouch, ouch, ouch”?
a spider whose shoes are too tight
What do you say to a spider before it acts in a
play?
“Break a leg, leg, leg, leg, leg, leg, leg, leg.”
Worms
What did the early bird catch at the library?
a “book-worm”
Merry Menagerie 101
What’s worse than finding a worm in your
apple?
finding half a worm
Why do we measure worms in inches?
They have no feet.
What animal hates the metric system?
an inchworm
What worm [or annelid] can make you blackand-
blue?
a “pinch-worm”
What’s wiggly, has no legs, and tried to steal
Christmas?
a “Grinch-worm”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“inch.”
What kind of worms served in King Arthur’s
court?
“knight” crawlers
What do night crawlers do when they get into
trouble?
“worm” their way out
Why do smart earthworms sleep in?
to avoid early birds
Where do earthworms get mail?
the “compost” office
What kind of gum do earthworms chew?
“Wiggly’s” Spearmint
See also bookworm riddles under “Books”—
“Reference Books”—“Dictionary” and “Libraries”
in chapter 7.
Dinosaurs and Pterodactyls
Where did dinosaurs sleep?
on “bed-rock”
What kind of fossils lie in bedrock?
“lazy bones”
Why didn’t the dinosaur cross the road?
There weren’t any roads.
What prehistoric reptiles were black-andblue?
“dino-sores”
What prehistoric reptiles made noise while
they slept?
“dino-snores”
Why did the apatosaurus eat the factory?
It was a “plant” eater.
What prehistoric animals flew around scaring
everybody?
“terror-dactyls”
What did stegosauruses do during volleyball
games?
“spiked” the ball
What dinosaur had its own dishes?
Stegosaurus had “plates.”
What slogan did the three-horned dinosaur
use to advertise the shirts she made?
“Try Sarah’s Tops.”
What dinosaurs never stopped spinning
around?
“tricera-tops”
102 The Riddles
Why did prehistoric animals have trouble
holding conversations around a triceratops?
It “horned” in.
How did a triceratops make noise on New
Year’s Eve?
It blew its “horns.”
What dinosaur played golf?
“Tee-rex”
What dinosaur made a mess out of everything?
Tyrannosaurus “wrecks”
Dragons
What did the knight get when the dragon
sneezed?
out of the way
What did the fire-breathing dragon call the
brave knight?
“toast”
What did the dragon call the knight in shining
armor?
canned food
When did the dragon get full?
around “mid-knight”
What time is it when a dragon captures a
princess?
“knight-time”
Pets
Any Pet in a Cage
What did the baseball slugger buy his pet
_____?
a “batting cage”
Any Small Rodent
What happened when the kids put their _____
in their remote-controlled plane?
They watched the fur fly.
Birds
Any Pet Bird
How did the sick _____ get to the vet?
It “flu.”
What did the veterinarian give the sick _____?
“tweetment”
What did the silly kids do when they wanted a
pet _____?
They planted birdseed.
What kind of fish lives in birdcages?
a “perch”
Canaries
Why is the canary afraid of the vet?
It’s “yellow.”
What do canaries eat for breakfast?
Cream of “Tweet”
Merry Menagerie 103
Why did the kids save money when they
bought a canary?
It was going “cheep.”
What did the canary call its Rollerblades?
“cheep skates”
Parrots
What does Polly want on the Fourth of July?
a “fire-cracker”
What did the hungry parrot say?
“Long time, no ‘seed.’”
When are your teeth like a talkative parrot?
when they “chatter”
What would you get if you crossed a parrot
with a poisonous reptile?
a “prattle-snake”
What would you get if you crossed a parrot
with the post office?
voice mail
What would you get if you crossed a parrot
with a yak?
a yakkety-yak
Cats
Why is it hard to talk when your kitten bites
the middle of your sneaker?
The cat’s got your “tongue.”
Why did the cat win the race?
It was good in the long “stretch.”
Why do cats have whiskers?
Without hands, it’s hard to shave.
Which kitten cheated on the test?
the “copy-cat”
Where do cats go when they want to have fun?
“a-mew-sement” parks
What would you call a flying saucer filled with
cats from outer space?
a “Mew-FO”
Create new riddles with “mew” in the answer.
What did the cat say when someone stepped
on its tail?
“Me-OW!”
What kind of cat helps the school nurse?
the first-aid “kit”
How can you tell if a cat burglar visited your
house?
Your cat is missing.
What’s a contented cat’s favorite color?
“purr-ple”
What do cats wear when they want to smell
nice?
“purr-fume”
Create new riddles with “purr” in the answer.
What do black cats eat for breakfast?
“Un-Lucky” Charms
What did the cats say when they saw the
skateboarding mice?
“Look! Meals on Wheels!”
What did the polite cat say when it met a
mouse?
“It’s a pleasure to ‘eat’ you.”
104 The Riddles
What would you call a cat that eats lemons?
a “sour-puss”
What kind of cat has eight legs?
an “octo-puss”
What kind of cats actually like water?
“cat-fish”
What would you call your couch if your cat
shed on it?
“furr-niture”
What did the cat lose when the little girl
stood up?
her lap
How do space cats drink milk?
from flying “saucers”
What’s special about the new postage stamp
with a picture of a cat on it?
It licks itself.
See also “Summer” in chapter 13 and the pet
bookmark in appendix C.
Dogs
What should you tell your young dog if it
barks too much?
“Hush, puppy.”
How can you sneak your puppy into a restaurant?
Hide it in a “doggie” bag.
Why did the dog scratch after shopping with
its owners?
They’d gone to “flea” markets.
Why couldn’t the dog turn in its homework
for obedience school?
Its master ate it.
What kind of dog does a vampire have?
a bloodhound
What dogs get into the most fights?
“boxers”
What kind of pet picks on puppies?
a “bully-dog”
What breed of dog can tell time?
“clocker” spaniels
What does Lassie put in her cakes?
“collie-flour”
How can you tell when wiener dogs enjoy
their food?
They eat with “relish.”
What dogs keep fire stations clean?
“dal-maid-tians”
Why doesn’t the police dog look like a police
dog?
It’s undercover.
What happened when the watchdog ate garlic
and onions?
Its bark was much worse than its bite.
Why did the watchdog go to the vet?
It had “ticks.”
How is a puppy on a summer day like something
you roast over a bonfire?
It’s a “hot dog.”
Merry Menagerie 105
How can you make your dog laugh?
Give it a “funny bone.”
What do you call a puppy that chews shoes?
“gnaw-ty”
What should you do if your dog chases everyone
on a bike?
Take away its bike.
What do lazy dogs chase?
parked cars
Why is the dog named Matches lonely?
No one’s allowed to play with it.
What did the dog say when it sat on sandpaper?
“‘Ruff. Ruff.’”
See also “Dogsled Racing” in chapter 14 and the
pet and jester bookmarks in appendix C.
Ferrets
Who collects the baby teeth that little weasels
lose?
the Tooth “Ferret”
What amusement park ride do pet weasels
enjoy?
the “ferrets’” wheel
Fish
What bedtime story should you read to your
pet fish?
The Adventures of Huckleberry “Fin”
What kind of pet does Ronald McDonald
have?
a “clown-fish”
How did King Midas get his pet goldfish?
He touched a shark.
What did one fish in the tank say to the other
fish in the tank?
“Got any idea how to drive this thing?”
Where do goldfish play football?
in the “super bowl”
Guinea Pigs
What pet rodents are greedy?
“gimme” pigs
Hamsters
What would you get if you crossed a frog with
Lynne Reid Banks’s Houdini (or Betty G. Birney’s
Humphrey)?
“green legs and ham-ster”
What did the history students call their pet
rodent?
“Abra-hamster” Lincoln
Horses
Why is the colt eating cough drops?
It’s a little “horse” (hoarse).
Where do horses go to college?
“Hay U”
What do farmers say when they feed their
horses?
“‘Hay,’ you.”
What makes the horse sneeze after every
meal?
“hay fever”
106 The Riddles
Why was the king’s horse hungry whenever
Rumpelstiltskin was around?
He spun its supper into gold.
What would you get if you crossed [name a
fictional horse] with a chameleon?
a horse of a different color
Why didn’t the little horse get permission to
play at a friend’s house?
Its mother could only say “neigh” (nay).
What do you call horses whose stalls are next
door to each other?
“neighhhhhhhh-bors”
How can you keep a nervous
horse from bolting
out of the barn?
“Stall” it.
Why can the sick horse go home from the animal
hospital?
It’s in “stable” condition.
What does the farmer call the horse that keeps
begging for food?
an old “nag”
Why couldn’t the horse draw the wagon?
It didn’t have a pencil.
What fruit should you eat when you’re riding
a horse?
“canter-lope”
See also chapter 15.
Mice
Why are pet mice noisy after you give them a
bath?
They’re “squeaky clean.”
What games can you play with your pet mice?
hide-and-“squeak” and “squeak-a-boo”
How can you keep in touch with your pet
mouse when you’re away from home?
Send “squeak-mail.”
Why should you give your pet mouse string
cheese for dessert?
to floss its teeth
Rabbits
What pets snatch food out of your hands when
you feed them?
“grabbits”
What’s the best way to raise rabbits?
Pick them up.
Why is breeding rabbits nerve-wracking?
It’s a “hare-raising” experience.
Why does taking care of rabbits make you
tired?
They keep you “hopping.”
What do the insects call their pet rabbit?
“bugs’ bunny”
What kinds of rabbits live under your bed?
“dust bunnies”
What should you read your pet rabbit at bedtime?
“cotton-tales”
Turtles
How can you keep in touch with your pet
turtle when you’re away from home?
Use “shell” phones.
Merry Menagerie 107
See the activity sheet “Can You Fill In the
Blanks?” and the pet bookmark in appendix C for
more pet riddles.
Wild Animals
Any Animal with Stripes
What happened when the _____ was courtmartialed?
It lost its stripes.
Any Ocean Animal
Why did the _____ cross the ocean?
to get to the other “tide”
How can you contact a _____ by computer?
Send “sea-mail.”
Where do _____s sleep at night?
in water beds
What do _____s eat for dessert?
“sponge” cake
Alligators and Crocodiles
How did the alligator feel when it got too
much homework?
“swamped”
Who goes bowling in the swamp?
“alley-gators”
Who brought the alligator a cool drink on a
hot day?
its “Gator-aide”
What did the alligator/crocodile do when it
felt overwhelmed?
It “snapped.”
What will you always get if you ask an alligator/
crocodile a question?
a “snappy” answer
Antelopes
What do antelopes read every day?
the “gnus-paper”
What do antelopes get for the first day of
school?
“gnu” clothes
What kind of cookies do antelopes like?
Fig “Gnu-tons”
Create new riddles with “gnu” in the answer.
What has antlers, lives in Africa, and delivers
presents on Christmas Eve?
“Santa-lope”
Ants
See “Creepy Crawlies.”
Bats
What holiday do flying mammals celebrate on
March 17th?
St. “Bat-rick’s” Day
Who was a famous queen, lived in ancient
Egypt, and hung upside down in a cave all
day?
“Cleo-bat-ra”
What do you call a flying mammal that takes
gymnastics lessons?
an “acro-bat”
What did the bat say to the witch’s hat?
“You go on ‘a head.’ I’ll ‘hang around’ here.”
108 The Riddles
What do bats like to do with their friends?
“hang out”
Bears
Why didn’t the bear eat the camper wearing a
Hawaiian shirt, plaid pants, and loud socks?
He had “bad taste.”
What do young bears like to eat for dessert?
“cub-cakes”
Why do bears sleep all winter?
They can’t afford alarm clocks.
What would you call it if a bear slept in a treetop
all winter?
“high-bernation”
What would you call a panda without any
teeth?
a “gummy” bear
What Chinese bear never wants to grow up?
Peter “Pan-da”
Why did the police arrest the polar bear?
It robbed the snow “bank.”
What do polar bears put on their beds?
“sheets” of ice
What do polar bears eat for breakfast?
“Ice” Krispies
What do polar bears eat at McDonald’s?
“iceberg-ers”
What do polar bears eat in Mexican restaurants?
“brrr-itos”
See also snow riddles in chapter 16 and
reproducible riddles for snowmen puppets
in appendix C. Substitute “polar bears” for
“snowmen” where appropriate.
Beavers
What would you get if you crossed a beaver
with a telephone?
a busy signal
What did the tree get when the beaver chewed it?
a “gnawing” feeling
What did Aladdin’s lamp give the beaver?
“tree” wishes
What did the beaver order in the fancy restaurant?
a “tree-course” meal
Bees
See “Creepy Crawlies.”
Camels
What would you call a camel’s clone?
its “spitting” image
What helps a dromedary hide in the desert?
“camel-flage”
Cheetahs
Why do cheetahs eat at McDonald’s?
They like fast food.
What would you get if you crossed a cheetah
with a beach?
“quick-sand”
Merry Menagerie 109
Chimpanzees
What kind of cookies do apes like best?
chocolate “chimp”
What would you get if you crossed an ape
with a flower?
a “chimp-pansy”
Crocodiles
See “Alligators and Crocodiles.”
Deer
Why did the female deer need a loan from the
bank?
She didn’t have a “buck.”
Why did the male deer go to the orthodontist?
It had “buck” teeth.
What would you get if you crossed a storm
cloud with Rudolph?
a “rain-deer”
Dolphins
How do dolphins like their bathwater?
“fluke-warm”
What ocean animals play football?
the Miami Dolphins
Elephants
What’s sicker than an elephant with a stuffy
nose?
a giraffe with strep throat
Why do elephants have trunks?
They don’t have glove compartments.
What would you get if you crossed goldfish
with elephants?
swimming trunks
What happened when the elephant jumped in
the pool?
It made a big splash.
What would you get if you crossed an elephant
with a dictionary?
“big words”
What would you get if you crossed an elephant
with a skunk?
a “big stink”
Create new riddles with “big” in the answer.
What’s big and gray and really stinks?
a “smell-ephant”
What’s big and gray and visits people in hospitals?
the “get well–ephant”
Who’s big and gray and wears glass slippers?
“Cinderella-phant”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“el.”
Why do elephants need loud alarm clocks?
They’re “heavy” sleepers.
See also “Any Giant Story” in chapter 8.
Fish
Why do fish swim in salt water?
Pepper makes them sneeze.
What kind of school has no teachers, no students,
and no classrooms?
a “school” of fish
110 The Riddles
How did the fish get to be so smart?
It’s always in “school.”
Why is the fish swimming at the bottom of the
sea?
It dropped out of “school.”
What would you get if you crossed goldfish
with elephants?
swimming “trunks”
Where do fish keep all their money?
river “banks”
Why did the police arrest the fish?
It robbed the river “bank.”
What has a bright red nose, wears big, floppy
shoes, and lives in the sea?
a “clown-fish”
Who grants wishes for fishes?
fairy “cod-mothers”
What kind of fish lives in birdcages?
a “perch”
What fish made it big out in Hollywood?
the “star-fish”
What’s the difference between a piano and a
fish?
You can’t “tuna” fish.
Have you ever seen fish cry?
No, but I’ve seen whales “blubber.”
See also “Any Fish or Reptile” and “Pets”—
“Fish.”
Foxes
What did the fox do when it moved next door
to the rabbit?
had its neighbor for supper
Frogs and Toads
What do frogs and toads drink in the fall?
apple “spider”
What do frogs eat with hamburgers?
french “flies”
What was the frog doing in the outfield?
catching “flies”
What’s mean and green and picks on little
tadpoles?
a “bully-frog”
Who delivers colored eggs and candy to tadpoles
each spring?
the Easter “Ribbit”
Why can’t frogs and toads be authors?
They have no “tales.”
What magazine do toads like to read?
“Warts” Illustrated
What game did the toads play with rope in
PE?
“tug-of-warts”
What science fiction movie is about toads in
outer space?
Star “Warts”
See also “Any Animal That Hops,” as well as “The
Frog Prince” in chapter 8.
Merry Menagerie 111
Giraffes
Why don’t giraffes need to eat a lot?
They make a little go a long way.
Why did it take a long time for the giraffe to
apologize?
It had to swallow its pride first.
Why do giraffes have long necks?
Their feet really stink.
Why has the giraffe been in the bathtub for
ten hours?
It’s washing its neck.
How can you tell that giraffes are brave?
They stick their necks out.
What’s sicker than an elephant with a stuffy
nose?
a giraffe with strep throat
Why do giraffes sing soprano in the chorus?
They can reach the high notes.
What do giraffes like to read?
“tall tales”
Gorillas
When do gorillas fall out of the sky?
during “Ape-ril” showers
Groundhogs
See “Groundhog Day” in chapter 13.
Hippos
What’s big, lives in Africa, and is very cool?
the “hip-popotamus”
What’s big, lives in Africa, and never stops
eating?
a “hippo-bottomless”
What’s big, lives in Africa, and has chicken pox?
a “hippo-spot-amus”
Hyenas
What would you get if you crossed a laughing
hyena with a cat?
a giggle puss
See also “Zoos.”
Kangaroos
Why do mother kangaroos hate when it rains?
Their kids have to play inside.
What do you call little kangaroos that never
play outside?
“pouch” potatoes
Why did the kangaroo put Band-Aids on its
pouch?
It babysat a porcupine.
See also “Any Animal That Hops” and “Zoos.”
Koalas
Why do mother koalas have pouches?
Pushing strollers in trees is impossible.
Leopards
See “Any Animal with Spots.”
Lions
Why did the lion cross the savannah?
to get to the other “pride”
112 The Riddles
Why shouldn’t you make fun of a lion family?
You’ll hurt their “pride.”
What steps should you take if you see an
escaped lion?
very long ones
Why can’t you believe everything the king of
the jungle tells you?
He’s always “lyin’.”
How does the king of the jungle catch prey?
by “lyin’” in wait
Where do lions live?
on “Mane” Street
What does the ringmaster call the circus’s
lion-taming act?
“our ‘mane’ attraction”
Why do lions eat raw meat?
They can’t read cookbooks.
What happened when the lion read a riddle
book?
It “roared” with laughter.
Mice
Why are mice never safe during thunderstorms?
It “rains cats and dogs.”
How did the mouse do on the test?
It “squeaked” by.
When does a mouse weigh as much as an
elephant?
when the scale is broken
What kind of mouse doesn’t like cheese?
a computer “mouse”
What do mice eat on their birthdays?
“cheese-cake”
Why did the mouse follow the photographer?
It heard her say, “Cheese!”
What animal is gray and has a trunk?
a mouse on summer vacation
See also “Cats” and “Mice” under “Pets.”
Monkeys
Where do monkeys keep in shape?
the “jungle gym”
Why are the bananas afraid of the monkey?
They’re “yellow.”
See also “Zoos,” as well as “Curious George Series”
in chapter 8.
Octopuses
What would you get if you crossed an eightarmed
sea creature with a cat?
an “octo-puss”
What would you get if you crossed an electric
eel with an eight-armed sea creature?
a “shocked-opus”
What has eight arms, lives in the ocean, and
tells time?
a “clock-topus”
What can bang on your door with eight arms?
a “knock-topus”
Merry Menagerie 113
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with “ock.”
Why does an octopus have suckers?
It’s allergic to chocolate.
What would you get if you crossed a jacket
with an octopus?
a “coat of arms”
Why isn’t the octopus afraid to go into battle?
It’s “well-armed.”
Otters
Who has a magic wand, plays Quidditch, and
lives in the sea?
Harry “Otter”
Porcupines
What animals are always broke?
“poor-cupines”
What would you get if a porcupine sat on your
sofa?
a pincushion
What do porcupines put on their hamburgers?
dill “prickles”
Why don’t porcupines have birthday parties?
They’d pop the balloons.
Why did the kangaroo put Band-Aids on its
pouch?
It babysat a porcupine.
Rabbits
What bunnies fix flat tires?
“jack-rabbits”
How are rabbits like cornstalks?
They have big “ears.”
What would you get if you poured boiling
water down a rabbit hole?
“hot, cross bunnies”
What keeps rabbits cool in summer?
“hare-conditioning”
What did the rabbit have when it got up on
the wrong side of the bed?
a bad “hare” day
Why did the bald man put a rabbit on his
head?
to have a full head of “hare”
What would you call a row of rabbits hopping
backward?
a receding “hare-line”
Who goes to Hogwarts, plays Quidditch, and
has very long ears?
“Hare-y” Potter
Create new riddles using “hare” for “hair.”
How did the rabbit feel when somebody stole
its carrots?
“hopping mad”
How do you know carrots are good for your
eyes?
Rabbits never wear glasses.
What did the rabbit call the carrot that
insulted it?
a “fresh” vegetable
What do rabbits like to read?
“cotton-tales”
114 The Riddles
See also “Any Animal That Hops” and “Pets”—
“Rabbits,” as well as chapter 15.
Rats
Why is the rat sad?
It’s down in the dumps.
What rodents can help you get ready to move?
“pack” rats
What do rodents call their marathon?
the “rat race”
Rhinoceroses
What lives in Africa, has a horn, and fusses all
the time?
a “whine-oceros”
See also “Dinosaurs and Pterodactyls,” substituting
“rhino” for “triceratops” where appropriate.
Seals
Why is making pancakes easy for seals?
They have their own “flippers.”
What’s round, lives in the Oval Office of the
White House, and eats fish?
the presidential “seal”
What lives in the ocean, eats fish, and claps its
flippers when something is good?
the “seal” of approval
See also “Circuses” in chapter 16.
Sharks
How did King Midas get his pet goldfish?
He touched a shark.
Why was the shark smart?
It ate “schools” of fish.
What’s worse than seeing a shark’s fin heading
toward you when you’re swimming?
seeing its tonsils
What do you call a man who stuck his right
arm in a shark’s mouth?
“Lefty”
Why won’t sharks eat clowns?
They taste “funny.”
Why won’t the shark eat the overweight diver?
It’s trying to eat less fat.
Why won’t the shark eat the millionaire?
It’s trying to give up rich food.
Why won’t the shark eat the garbage collector?
It’s stopped eating “junk food.”
What do sharks spread on toast?
“jelly-fish”
What do sharks eat for dessert?
“fish cakes”
What did the shark get when it swallowed a
key ring?
lockjaw
What has fins and sharp teeth, can swim very
fast, and takes care of sick fish?
a nurse shark
Why can you believe everything a shark tells
you?
They’re very “tooth-full.”
Merry Menagerie 115
How would you feel if you argued with a
shark?
“chewed out”
What would you get if you crossed a blizzard
with a shark?
frostbite
Skunks
How can you keep a skunk from smelling?
Hold its nose!
Where do skunks go to college?
“P.U.”
Why won’t the skunk make the football team?
It’s too “pew-ny.”
What would you call an argument between
skunks?
a “dis-pew-te”
What do you call skunks when they go to
school?
“pew-pils”
What did Christopher Robin call his pet skunk?
Winnie-the-“Pew”
What would you get if you crossed a martial
arts expert with a skunk?
kung “phew”
What did the bratty little skunk do when it
didn’t get its own way?
raised a “big stink”
What would you get if you crossed an elephant
with a skunk?
a “big stink”
What would you get if you crossed a skunk
with an ocean animal?
a “stink-ray”
What did the critic say about the skunk’s autobiography?
“It stinks.”
What would you get if you crossed a skunk
with a big, gray animal that has a trunk?
a “smell-ephant”
What do skunks like to read?
best “smellers”
What’s a skunk’s favorite candy?
“smelly-beans”
Two raccoons and a skunk sat on a bridge. The
raccoons jumped off. Why didn’t the skunk?
It had more “scents.”
Create new riddles using these patterns.
Snakes
What’s a snake’s favorite candy?
Hershey’s “Hisses”
Why is it hard to fool a snake?
You can’t pull its leg.
Why did the snake lose the argument?
It didn’t have a leg to stand on.
What would you get if you crossed a kangaroo
with a snake?
a jump rope
Where does the snake keep its outgrown
skins?
a “shed”
116 The Riddles
Why don’t snakes need silverware?
Their tongues are “forked.”
What do snakes like to read?
“hiss-tory” books
What’s long, slithers on the ground, and goes
“hith, hith”?
a snake with a lisp
Why did the little python give an apple to its
teacher?
It had a “crush” on her.
What’s very long, crushes its victims, and
wears a trench coat and dark glasses?
a “spy-thon”
What slithers on the ground, has sharp fangs,
and likes to tell on everybody?
a “tattle-snake”
What slithers on the ground, has sharp fangs,
and never stops talking?
a “prattle-snake”
What slithers on the ground, has sharp fangs,
and throws tantrums?
a “brat-tlesnake”
What slithers on the ground, has sharp fangs,
and is too nervous
to think straight?
a “rattled-snake”
What did the baby snake get for its birthday?
a “rattle”
Spiders
See “Creepy Crawlies.”
Squirrels
Why do squirrels live in trees?
They can’t afford condos.
Where do squirrels store their winter clothes?
in tree “trunks”
What did the squirrel use for building its
house?
“wall-nuts”
Who’d want a nutcracker for Christmas?
a toothless squirrel
Where do squirrels go when they want to read
books?
“branch” libraries
How do we know that squirrels will take risks?
They’ll “go out on a limb.”
Tigers
See “Any Animal with Stripes.”
Toads
See “Frogs and Toads.”
Turtles
What was the turtle doing on the highway?
about one mile per hour
Why do turtles live in shells?
They can’t afford apartments.
Why is being a turtle great?
You never have far to walk home.
Merry Menagerie 117
What’s worse off than a giraffe with a sore
throat?
a turtle with claustrophobia
See also Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories in
chapter 8.
Unicorns
What would you get if you crossed a female
sheep with a mythical horned animal?
a “ewe-nicorn”
What did mythical horned animals eat at summer
cookouts?
“uni-corn on the cob”
Whales
Why did the little whale get in trouble with its
mother?
It “spouted” off.
What whales wear uniforms, tie knots, and go
camping?
Boy “Spouts”
What whales wear green uniforms, go camping,
and sell cookies?
Girl “Spouts”
What do Boy “Spouts” and Girl “Spouts” use
to make campfires?
“fish sticks”
What kind of sandwiches do whales eat?
“krilled” cheese
What do whales do when they’re sad?
“blubber”
What kinds of whales weigh the least?
“ba-lean” whales
What are black and white, swim in the ocean,
and write suspense novels?
“thriller” whales
What would you call killer whales that play
musical instruments?
an “orca-stra”
What authors live in the ocean?
“write” whales
Worms
See “Creepy Crawlies.”
Zebras
What has black-and-white stripes and can
swing through the trees?
a “chimpan-zebra”
See also “Any Animal with Stripes.”
Zoos
What do zookeepers put in their soup?
animal crackers
What’s a zookeeper’s favorite vegetable?
“zoo-chini”
Why can’t the zoo vet operate on the laughing
hyena?
It’s already in “stitches.”
Why did caring for the kangaroos wear the
zookeeper out?
They kept her “hopping.”
118 The Riddles
What does the zookeeper use to open the door
to the primate house?
a “mon-key”
How did the snakes escape from the zoo?
They “scaled” the walls.
119
11 “‘Hoppy’ Birthday!”
Riddles about
Birthdays
Birthdays in General
Were any famous men and women born on
your birthday?
no, only little babies
What does the president of the United States
always get on his birthday?
a year older
What goes up but never comes down?
your age
How did the silly twins try to make time fly
the week before their birthday?
They threw a clock out the window.
When do kangaroos celebrate their birthdays?
in “leap” year
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
He had a birthday party in October.
Birthday Cards and Greetings
Why did the silly kid wrap the birthday card
in a scarf before mailing it?
to send warm wishes
Why didn’t the envelope say anything when
someone put a birthday card in it and licked its
flap?
It “shut up.”
Who sent the pig a birthday card?
her “pen” pal
How do frogs [or kangaroos or rabbits] greet
each other on their birthdays?
“‘Hoppy’ Birthday!”
How can you wish a fish a happy birthday?
Drop it a “line.”
How can you wish a slice of bread a happy
birthday?
“Toast” it.
120 The Riddles
Why didn’t the owl wish its friend a happy
birthday?
It didn’t give a hoot.
Why did the hummingbird hum while everyone
else sang “Happy Birthday”?
It didn’t know the words.
Planning the Party
What did the actress have after breaking her
leg on her birthday?
a “cast” party
What do baseball pitchers do on their birthdays?
“throw” parties
How do soccer players celebrate their birthdays?
They have a “ball.”
Where do geologists celebrate their birthdays?
“rock” concerts
What do you call kittens who go bowling on
their birthdays?
“alley” cats
Where’s the coolest place to hold your birthday
party?
the South Pole
Why won’t the farmer tell the pigs about his
wife’s surprise birthday party?
They might “squeal.”
How did the giant find out about his surprise
birthday party?
Jack “spilled the beans.”
Why did the silly kid put lipstick on her forehead
before deciding whom to invite to her
birthday party?
to “make up” her mind
Why would it be fun to invite young goats to
your birthday party?
They’d “kid” around.
Why would it be fun to invite surgeons to
your birthday party?
They’d keep you in “stitches.”
Why shouldn’t you invite pigs to your birthday
party?
They’d “hog” the food.
Why shouldn’t you invite turkeys to your
birthday party?
They’d “gobble” the food.
Why don’t trees invite the woodpecker to
their birthday parties?
It “bores” them.
Why didn’t the hatchet go to the birthday party?
It wasn’t “axed” (asked).
Before the Party
How did the tree prepare for the birthday party?
It “spruced” up.
What did the dentists use to get to the birthday
party on the other side of the river?
the tooth “ferry”
Why did the silly kids bring dynamite to their
friend’s birthday party?
They’d been asked to help “blow up” balloons.
“‘Hoppy’ Birthday!” 121
How can you tell when guests have arrived for
your birthday party?
You sense their “presents” (presence).
How can you make sure your birthday party
starts on time?
Sit on your watch.
Party Games
Why did the kittens play follow the leader at
the birthday party?
They’re “copy-cats.”
What do librarians play at birthday parties?
follow the “reader”
What do gardeners play at birthday parties?
follow the “weeder”
What do sharks play at birthday parties?
“swallow” the leader
What do groundhogs play at birthday parties?
shadow tag
What do monsters play at birthday parties?
musical “scares”
What do polar bears play at birthday parties?
freeze tag
What do bees play at birthday parties?
“hive”-and-seek
What do young ghosts [or witches] play at
birthday parties?
hide-and-“shriek”
What do mice play at birthday parties?
hide-and-“squeak”
Why don’t chickens play hide-and-seek at
birthday parties?
Someone always “peeps.”
Why don’t leopards play hide-and-seek at
birthday parties?
They’re always “spotted.”
Why couldn’t the ship’s crew play cards at the
captain’s birthday party?
Somebody sat on the “deck.”
What rope game do toads play at birthday
parties?
tug-of-“warts”
What do tornadoes play at birthday parties?
Twister
Entertainment
Why didn’t the shark eat the clowns who
entertained at its birthday party?
They tasted “funny”!
What did the duck do when the clown entertained
at its birthday party?
It “quacked” up.
Why did the teddy bear need mending after
the clown act at the birthday party?
It split its sides laughing.
What kind of music do baseball sluggers play
at birthday parties?
“hit” songs
122 The Riddles
Drinks
What shouldn’t you drink around your birthday
balloons?
“pop”
What do boxers drink at birthday parties?
“punch”
What do bullies drink at birthday parties?
“Cruel-Aid”
What do cool guys drink at birthday parties?
Mountain “Dude”
What did guests drink at Little Red Riding
Hood’s birthday party?
“Cloak”-a-Cola
What do sopranos drink at birthday parties?
“High-C”
What kind of cats drink lemonade at birthday
parties?
“sour-pusses”
Why did the elephant sit on an ice cube at the
birthday party?
It didn’t want to fall in the punch.
See also “Fall” in chapter 13. Substitute “drink at
birthday parties” for “drink in the fall.”
Cake
Where can you find a really delicious birthday
cake?
It depends on where you left it.
What baseball player makes the tastiest birthday
cakes?
the best “batter”
What do baseball pitchers enjoy most about
making birthday cakes?
licking the “batter”
What did Tinker Bell use to make her friend a
birthday cake?
a Peter “pan”
What did the chicken bake for her friend’s
birthday?
a “layer” cake
What did Lassie put in her birthday cake?
“collie-flour” (cauliflower)
What does Old Man Winter put on top of his
birthday cake?
Jack “Frost-ing”
Why couldn’t the tennis player light her birthday
candles?
She’d lost her “matches.”
What should hundred-year-old people do
before lighting their birthday candles?
call the fire department
What do basketball players do before blowing
out their birthday candles?
make a “swish”
Why will the birthday candles dress up?
They’re “going out.”
Why won’t the teddy bear eat ice cream and
cake at the birthday party?
He’s already “stuffed.”
What’s the best thing to put in your birthday
cake?
your teeth
“‘Hoppy’ Birthday!” 123
What did the polite teeth say to the birthday
cake?
“It’s a pleasure to ‘eat’ you.”
Why did the silly twins eat their birthday cake
on the way home from the bakery?
They came to a “fork” in the road.
What do baseball players use to eat birthday
cake?
“pitch-forks”
What do skeletons use for serving ice cream
and cake at their birthday parties?
“bone china”
How many pieces of birthday cake can you eat
on an empty stomach?
One. After that, your stomach isn’t empty.
What kind of birthday cake would you have if
you didn’t wash your hands before eating it?
“germ ’n’” chocolate (German chocolate)
What do carpenters eat on their birthdays?
“pound” cake
What do deep-sea divers eat on their birthdays?
“sponge” cake
What did Dorothy’s cowardly lion friend eat
on his birthday?
a “yellow” cake
What do geologists eat on their birthdays?
“marble” cake
What do ghosts in Dallas eat on their birthdays?
Texas “sheet” cake
What do mice eat on their birthdays?
“cheese-cake”
What do rabbits eat on their birthdays?
carrot cake
What do sharks eat on their birthdays?
“fish cakes”
What did the rubber ducky eat on its birthday?
a “cake” of soap
Do monsters eat birthday cake with their fingers?
No. They eat their fingers separately.
What did the leopard say after eating its birthday
cake?
“That ‘hit the spot.’”
Why did the absentminded professor get
heartburn after eating his birthday cake?
He’d forgotten to take off the candles.
What happened when the prisoner ate chocolate
cake on his birthday?
He “broke out.”
Why will the birthday cake go to the doctor?
It feels “crumb-y.”
Ice Cream
What did Ernie say when his friend asked, “Do
you want ice cream with your birthday cake?”
“‘Sure, Bert.’”
Why couldn’t Mother Goose eat ice cream on
her birthday?
Her dish ran away with her spoon.
124 The Riddles
What did Curious George become after eating
a carton of ice cream on his birthday?
a “chunky monkey”
What kind of ice cream do ghosts eat on their
birthdays?
“boo-berry”
What kind of ice cream do sea monsters eat on
their birthdays?
chocolate “ship”
What do witches eat at birthday parties?
ice “scream” and cake
What do cats eat at birthday parties?
“mice” cream and cake
Why are guests disgusted about having to eat ice
cream and cake in the birthday girl’s tree house?
They’re “fed up.”
Other Kinds of Refreshments
What do garbage collectors eat at birthday
parties?
“junk” food
What do he-men eat at birthday parties?
“machos” and cheese
Why does Goldilocks like the refreshments at
Baby Bear’s birthday party?
They’re just right.
Presents
What did the birthday gift say when the
teacher took attendance?
“Present.”
Why don’t oysters give each other birthday
presents?
They’re “shellfish.”
Why do mummies make good birthday presents?
They’re gift wrapped.
What’s a silly thing to give a kangaroo on its
birthday?
a trampoline
What’s the world’s most useless birthday present?
a solar-powered flashlight
Why did the silly aunt give her nephew three
socks for his birthday?
She heard he’d grown another “foot.”
What did the baby snake get for its birthday?
a “rattle”
What did the boy say when he put his watch
in the remote-controlled airplane he got for
his birthday?
“Time flies when you’re having fun.”
What did the bald man say when he got a
comb for his birthday?
“I’ll never part with it.”
What did the rude skunk say when it got a
birthday present it didn’t like?
“It stinks!”
What would happen if you spent all of your
birthday money on candy?
You’d put your money where your
mouth is.
“‘Hoppy’ Birthday!” 125
After the Party
How did the skeleton feel after its all-day
birthday party?
“bone tired”
Why did the vacuum cleaner resent the
mother who was cleaning up after her child’s
birthday party?
She pushed it around.
Why do you have to go to bed at the end of
your birthday?
Your bed won’t come to you.
126
12 Frightfully Funny
Riddles about
Creepy Creatures
Ghosts
How do ghosts amuse themselves around a
campfire?
They tell people stories.
What authors make up the scariest stories?
“ghost-writers”
Why is it easy to have ghosts spend the night?
They bring their own sheets.
Why can’t you tell when a ghost feels faint?
It’s always white as a sheet.
When do ghosts appear?
just before somebody screams
What do actors get if they see a ghost?
stage fright
What happened when the horse saw a ghost?
It “spooked.”
What would you have if a ghost moved into
your closet?
“scaredy-pants”
What would you call it if you got a computer
message from a ghost?
“eek!-mail”
What time of year do ghosts like best?
the dead of winter
What game do little ghosts play with their
friends?
hide-and-“shriek”
How can you get in a haunted house when the
door is locked?
Use a “spook-key.”
What do ghosts do during baseball games?
“boo” the umpire
Frightfully Funny 127
Why did the little ghost ask the school nurse for
a Band-Aid?
It had a “boo-boo.”
What do baby ghosts play with their parents?
“shriek-a-boo”
Who blows a horn, sleeps under a haystack, and
haunts Mother Goose?
Little Boy “Boo!”
What kind of pants do ghosts wear?
“boo!” jeans
Create new riddles using “boo” instead of “blue.”
Why were the silly kids scared when their
teacher talked about school spirit?
They thought the school was haunted.
What do the [name a team] call the ghost in
their locker room?
the team “spirit”
What ghost wears a red hat and says, “Ho, ho, ho”?
the Christmas “spirit”
What do you call ghosts that haunt skyscrapers?
high “spirits”
Why don’t ghosts like to go out in the rain?
It dampens their “spirits.”
Why do ghosts enjoy riding in elevators?
It lifts their “spirits.”
What was the ghost family’s motto?
“Scare and scare alike.”
What storybook character do ghosts like best?
“Ra-moan-a” Quimby
See also the reproducible riddles for ghost puppets in
appendix C.
Mummies
What did King Tut grow in his flower garden?
“chrysanthe-mummies”
What do mummies talk about?
old times
Why can’t the mummy answer the phone?
It’s “tied up.”
Why are mummies always late?
They get “tied up.”
How do mummy [name any sport] games
always end?
in a “tie”
What do mummies use to disguise themselves?
“mask-ing” tape
What happened when the little mummy got
into trouble?
It was sent to its “tomb.”
Why are mummies always tense?
They never “unwind.”
Why do mummies enjoy their jobs?
They’re “wrapped up” in their work.
Why don’t mummies make good friends?
They’re “wrapped up” in themselves.
Why do mummies make good spies?
They keep things under “wraps.”
128 The Riddles
What did the mummy detective say when it
solved the mystery?
“That ‘wraps’ up the case.”
What happened when the mummy got a really
bad cold?
It couldn’t stop “coffin.”
Vampires
Why did the little vampire get in trouble at
school?
He had a “bat” attitude.
What happened when the vampire forgot to
brush his teeth?
He got “bat” breath.
What do vampires wear over their pajamas?
“bat-robes”
Create new riddles using the word “bat.”
What will the vampire do at the track meet?
grab a quick “bite”
What would you get if you crossed the Abominable
Snowman with a vampire?
frostbite
Why doesn’t the actress in the horror movie
like her role as the vampire’s victim?
It’s a “bit” part.
Why do vampires drink blood?
Root beer makes them burp.
How do we know that vampires are very competitive?
They’re always out for blood.
What did the vampire do in art class?
He “drew” blood.
What do little vampires study for in school?
“blood tests”
What would you get if you crossed a vampire
with a beagle?
a bloodhound
What would you get if you crossed a vampire
with a car?
a bloodmobile
What would you get if you crossed a vampire
with a credit union?
a “blood bank”
What did the vampire do at the blood bank?
He made a withdrawal.
What happened when the vampire got a really
bad cold?
He couldn’t stop “coffin.”
How are vampires like false teeth?
They come out at night.
Why do vampires sleep all day?
Who wants to wake them up?
Werewolves
What happened when the werewolf read a
riddle book?
It “howled” with laughter.
Why do readers laugh at the book about werewolves?
It’s a “howl.”
Frightfully Funny 129
What’s hairy and scary and uses bad language
[or profanity]?
a “swear-wolf”
What’s hairy and scary and keeps its eye out
for danger?
a “beware-wolf”
Who’s a student at Hogwarts, plays Quidditch,
and turns into a werewolf when the
moon is full?
“Hairy” Potter
Who helped the werewolf go to the ball?
its “hairy” godmother
Witches
What do you call someone who takes care of
sick sorceresses?
witch doctors
Why do witches fly on brooms?
Vacuum cleaner cords are too short.
What happened when the witch flew her
broomstick through the car wash?
She made a “clean sweep.”
What do witches ask for [or request] when
they stay in hotels?
“broom” service
What do witches in Australia ride?
“broom-erangs”
Why don’t witches ride their brooms when
they’re angry?
They might fly off the handle.
What do witches wear on their wrists?
“charmed” bracelets
What do witches eat for breakfast?
“Scream” of Wheat
What do witches put on bagels?
“scream” cheese
What do witches eat at birthday parties?
ice “scream” and cake
What did the bat tell the witch’s hat?
“You go on ‘a head.’ I’ll ‘hang around’
here.”
Where do witches have their hair done?
ugly parlors
Why do witches wear green eye shadow?
It matches their teeth.
How do witches keep in shape?
They “hex-ercise.”
What time is it when a witch turns a prince
into a frog?
“spring-time”
What do tired witches do?
They rest a “spell.”
Who casts spells at the haunted beach?
“sand-witches”
See also “Ghosts,” substituting “witches” for
“ghosts” when “shriek” is part of the answer,
as well as “Harry Potter Series” in chapter 8,
substituting “witch” for “Harry Potter” when the
answer involves spells.
130
13 “‘Hoppy’ Holidays!”
Riddles about
Holidays and Seasons
New Year’s Day
What always needs changing on January 1st?
Baby New Year
What do caterpillars do on January 1st?
turn over a new leaf
How can you make sure you’ll stick to your
list of New Year’s resolutions?
Pour glue on it.
How are New Year’s resolutions like eggs?
They’re easy to break.
Why did the [name a geometric shape] resolve
to exercise more in the coming year?
to get in “shape”
How do frogs greet each other on January 1st?
“‘Hoppy’ New Year!”
How do reporters greet each other on January
1st?
“Happy ‘News’ Year!”
How do amphibians greet each other on January
1st?
“Happy ‘Newt’ Year!”
How do cows greet each other on January 1st?
“Happy ‘Moo’ Year!”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“new.”
What do gardeners use for arranging flowers
on New Year’s Day?
a rose bowl
Chinese New Year
When can a monkey turn into a rooster?
at Chinese New Year
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 131
Adapt this by finding out what the current year
is and what the new year will be. See www
.chinapage.com/newyear.html for exact dates,
which vary from January 21 to February 21.
Groundhog Day
Why did the brave groundhog mess up the
weather predictions?
It wasn’t afraid of its shadow.
What game do groundhogs play on February
2nd?
shadow tag
What would you call a young woodchuck
whose parents won’t let him leave his burrow?
a “grounded-hog”
What would you call Charlie Brown if he
became a lumberjack?
a “wood-Chuck”
What would you call a groundhog that refused
to look for its shadow on February 2nd?
a “wouldn’t-chuck”
Valentine’s Day
What do you call a very small card for February
14th?
a “valen-tiny”
Why should you open your valentines quickly?
to get to the “heart” of the matter
What happened when Dorothy sent the witch
a warm and loving valentine?
She melted her heart.
What happened when the girl left her chocolate
valentine on top of the stove?
It melted her heart.
Why did the boy give giant valentines to
everyone on February 14th?
He’s “big-hearted.”
Why did the boy stick his valentines in the
freezer?
He’s “cold-hearted.”
Why did the girl wrap her valentines in a
scarf?
She’s “warm-hearted.”
Why did the girl paint Valentine’s Day messages
on rocks?
She’s “hard-hearted.”
Why did the boy write Valentine’s Day messages
on marshmallows?
He’s “tender-hearted.”
How did the girl feel when she accidentally
dropped the glass valentine her boyfriend gave
her?
“broken-hearted”
What would you get if you accidentally spilled
sugar on your valentines?
“sweet-hearts”
How do two valentines talk?
“heart to heart”
How did the bat feel when the baseball player
gave it a sentimental valentine?
all “choked up”
132 The Riddles
Why did the girl python give the boy python a
valentine?
She had a “crush” on him.
Why did the apple give a valentine to the
orange?
It had an “Orange Crush.”
Who gave the bird a dozen red roses on Valentine’s
Day?
her “tweet-heart”
Who gave the pig a fancy heart-shaped box of
chocolates on February 14th?
her “valen-swine”
Who gave the piece of string a fancy card on
February 14th?
her “valen-twine”
What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine’s
Day?
“rock candy”
What did the tomcat give his girlfriend on
Valentine’s Day?
“purr-fume”
What do pandas give each other on Valentine’s
Day?
bear hugs
Where does Robin Hood buy roses for Maid
Marian on Valentine’s Day?
Sherwood “Florist”
Why do skunks enjoy Valentine’s Day?
They’re “scent-imental.”
Leap Day
When are most kangaroos born?
leap year
What would you get if you crossed a frog with
a calendar?
leap year
What would you get if you crossed the sandman
with a calendar?
“sleep” year
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
(March 2nd)
See chapter 8 for riddles about Dr. Seuss’s books
and chapter 11 for birthday riddles you can adapt.
St. Patrick’s Day
What’s green and Irish and sits on your porch
every March 17th?
“Paddy O’ Furniture”
What holiday do flying mammals celebrate on
March 17th?
St. “Bat-rick’s” Day
What do leprechauns call artificial stones?
“sham-rocks”
What kind of music do leprechauns like?
“sham-rock”
What would you get if you crossed a leprechaun
with a purple dinosaur?
“Blarney”
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 133
Why don’t leprechauns form a baseball team?
They’d have too many “short-stops.”
Why do leprechauns always hurry?
They’re “short” of time.
How does the leprechaun feel after running a
mile?
“short” of breath
Why are the leprechauns behind in their
work?
They’re “short-handed.”
Why do leprechauns keep borrowing money?
They’re always “short.”
What did the leprechaun call his autobiography?
A “Short” Story
What do leprechauns like to read?
“short” stories
What’s a leprechaun’s favorite dessert?
strawberry “short-cake”
What kind of Girl Scout cookies do leprechauns
buy?
“short-bread”
What do you call a conversation between leprechauns?
“small talk”
Where do leprechauns play baseball?
in the “Little League”
What kind of seafood do leprechauns like?
shrimp
Spring
What season is it when you play on a trampoline?
“spring”
What time is it when a witch turns a prince
into a frog?
“spring-time”
Why did the mattress go to Florida?
for “spring” training
What did the mattress have when it ran a temperature?
“spring” fever
What happened when the bedbugs fell in love?
They got married in the “spring.”
What did March say to February when the
waiter brought their dinner check?
“I’ll ‘spring’ for it.”
April Fools’ Day
What storybook scientist played April Fools’
Day jokes on his monster?
Dr. “Prank-enstein”
What famous American enjoyed playing
April Fools’ Day jokes on the other Founding
Fathers?
Benjamin “Prank-lin”
What happened when all the king’s men
played an April Fools’ Day joke on Humpty
Dumpty?
He “fell for it.”
134 The Riddles
How can you play an April Fools’ Day joke on
a sheep?
Pull the wool over its eyes.
Why is it hard to play an April Fools’ Day joke
on a snake?
You can’t pull its leg.
Why do seabirds always fall for April Fools’
Day jokes?
They’re “gull-ible.”
Easter
What sport does the Easter Bunny play?
“basket-ball”
What does the Easter Bunny put on his peanut
butter sandwiches?
“jelly-beans”
What did the Easter Bunny have after getting
up on the wrong side of the bed?
a bad “hare” day
What does the Easter Bunny call his factory?
an “egg-plant”
How many colored eggs can the Easter Bunny
put into an empty basket that’s twelve inches
long, five inches tall, and six inches deep?
One. After that, it’s not empty.
Where did the Easter Bunny get off the highway?
the “eggs-it”
How can you tell where the Easter Bunny’s
been?
“Eggs” mark the spot.
Who delivers colored eggs and candy to tadpoles
each spring?
the Easter “Ribbit”
What would you get if you crossed a baby
chick with the Easter Bunny?
“Peeper” Cottontail
How did the silly farmers try to get colored
Easter eggs?
They fed their hens crayons.
Why do people paint Easter eggs?
Wallpaper doesn’t fit.
What do members of the orchestra eat on
Easter?
“harp-boiled” eggs
What Easter eggs are cowardly?
the “yellow” ones
What should you do with a blue Easter egg?
Cheer it up.
Where does the Easter Bunny get blue eggs?
sad chickens
What kind of candy do skunks get in their
Easter baskets?
“smelly-beans”
What did Jack get after planting his Easter
candy?
a “jellybean-stalk”
Where’s the best place to hide your Easter
candy?
in your mouth
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 135
Where did the police put the chocolate bunny
that stole Easter baskets?
behind candy “bars”
What do antelopes get for Easter?
“gnu” clothes
National Library Week
National Library Week is generally the second full
week in April; for exact dates, check the website for
the American Library Association at www.ala.org/
ala/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm. For appropriate
riddles, see “Libraries” in chapter 7.
D.E.A.R. Day (April 12th)
Who doesn’t like when it’s time to Drop
Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.)?
the owner of a china shop
For more riddles, see “Ramona Series” in chapter
8. For information about D.E.A.R. Day, visit its
website at www.dropeverythingandread.com.
Children’s Book Week
Children’s Book Week is the first or second week
of May; for exact dates, check the website for the
Children’s Book Council at www.cbcbooks.org. For
appropriate riddles, see chapter 7.
Summer
What did summer say to spring?
“Help! I’m going to ‘fall’!”
What did the surfers do when the temperature
hit 100 degrees?
They caught a heat “wave.”
What do chickens lay during heat waves?
hard-boiled eggs
What did the witch do when she got tired of
the heat wave?
She cast a cold “spell.”
How is a puppy on a summer day like something
you eat at a baseball game?
It’s a “hot dog.”
Who brought the alligator a cold drink on a
hot day?
its “Gator-aide”
What do bullies drink on hot summer days?
“Cruel-Aid”
What do really popular kids drink on hot summer
days?
“Cool-Aid”
What do cats drink on hot summer days?
“mice” tea
What do cats put in lemonade on hot summer
days?
“mice” cubes
Why will reading ghost stories help you cool
off on hot summer days?
They’re “chilling.”
What helps authors [or movie stars or sports
stars] cool off on hot summer days?
reading “fan” mail
What keeps rabbits cool when the weather
gets hot?
“hare-conditioning”
136 The Riddles
What goes “ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch,
ouch, ouch, ouch”?
a spider crossing a hot sidewalk
What do spiders eat at summer cookouts?
corn on the “cob-web”
What did mythical horned animals eat at summer
cookouts?
“uni-corn on the cob”
What do gymnasts put on corn on the cob in
July and August?
“somersault” (summer salt)
What will you get if you eat too much corn on
the cob at your summer cookout?
an “ear-ache”
What’s worse than having it rain cats and dogs
during your summer cookout?
having it “hail” taxis
What do young sorceresses make at summer
camp?
“witch-crafts”
What animal is gray and has a trunk?
a mouse on summer vacation
What do you call a rodent that’s getting ready
to go on vacation?
a “pack” rat
What did the boxer pack when he went on
vacation?
punching bags
What did the squirrel pack when it went on
vacation?
its tree “trunk”
How can you learn about hotels and motels
before you go on vacation?
Search the “Inn-ternet.”
Where do cats go when they take a vacation?
“Ber-mew-da”
Where do pet birds go when they take a vacation?
the Canary Islands
Where do eye doctors go when they take a
vacation?
the “see-shore”
Where does Santa stay when he goes on vacation?
a “ho-ho-hotel”
What did the bread do on its summer vacation?
“loafed” around
How can you make meat loaf?
Send it on summer vacation.
Why can’t basketball players ever go on vacation?
They’re not allowed to “travel.”
Why didn’t the skeleton go away on vacation?
It had “no body” to go with.
Fourth of July
Why does the Statue of Liberty stand in New
York Harbor?
She can’t sit down.
What happened when one of our Founding
Fathers told a joke near the Liberty Bell?
It “cracked” up.
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 137
Why do firecrackers look forward to the
Fourth of July?
They get a “bang” out of it.
What does Polly the parrot want on the
Fourth of July?
a “fire-cracker”
What did the silly kid put in his soup on the
Fourth of July?
“fire-crackers”
What do ducks light on the Fourth of July?
“fire-quackers”
What’s the best thing to drink when you’re
setting off firecrackers?
“pop”
What makes more noise than a firecracker on
the Fourth of July?
two firecrackers on the Fourth of July
What happened when Humpty Dumpty set
off firecrackers on the wall?
He fell down and went boom.
Why do stores that sell fireworks make lots of
money on the Fourth of July?
Business is “booming.”
Harry Potter’s Birthday
(July 31st)
See “Harry Potter Series” in chapter 8.
Library Card Sign-up Month
(September)
See “Libraries” in chapter 7.
Fall
What season do gymnasts like least? [Or
use these: What season’s most like Humpty
Dumpty? What’s the worst time of year for
skateboarding? What’s the best time of year
for skydiving?]
fall
When is a book like a tree in the fall?
when its “leaves” are turning
How were cattle thieves in the Old West like
autumn leaves?
They “rustled.”
Why is the maple leaf afraid to fall off the
tree?
It’s “yellow.”
Why did the leaf end up in the emergency
room?
It had a bad fall.
Why does the silly kid lay pillows under the
trees every autumn?
to cushion the leaves’ fall
Why couldn’t the tennis player burn her
leaves in the fall?
She’d lost her “matches.”
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
to make up for a miserable summer
What do computer programmers drink in the
fall?
apple “cyber”
What do baseball players drink in the fall?
apple “slider”
138 The Riddles
What do frogs and toads drink in the fall?
apple “spider”
What do secret agents drink in the fall?
apple “spy-der”
What did the maiden’s true love give her on
the last day of fall?
a partridge in a “bare” tree
Halloween
What would you have if the Easter Bunny
showed up on October 31st?
a “hoppy” Halloween
Why is Halloween a happy holiday?
It’s when “spirits” rise.
Why does the turkey wear the same Halloween
costume every year?
It’s always “a-gobblin’” (a goblin).
What do mummies wear to Halloween parties?
“mask-ing” tape
Who casts spells at the beach on Halloween?
“sand-witches”
What’s fun to roast around a bonfire on October
31st?
“Hallo-wieners”
What do computer programmers do at Halloween
parties?
bob for “Apples”
What did the doctor say on Halloween?
“Trick or ‘treat-ment’!”
What do canaries say on Halloween?
“Trick or ‘tweet’!”
What did the snake give out on Halloween?
Hershey’s “Hisses”
What did Snow White’s prince give out on
Halloween?
Hershey’s Kisses
What did the beaver give out on Halloween?
“Tree” Musketeers bars
Where’s the best place to hide your Halloween
candy?
in your mouth
See also chapter 12 and the pumpkin bookmark in
appendix C.
Thanksgiving
What do aquariums celebrate on the fourth
Thursday in November?
“Tanks-giving”
Who wrote The Pilgrims’ Voyage?
May Flower
If April showers bring May flowers, what do
May flowers bring?
Pilgrims
Why did the Pilgrims cross the ocean in the
Mayflower?
It was too far to swim.
How did the Pilgrims sleep on the Mayflower?
They closed their eyes.
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 139
What kind of vegetables didn’t the Pilgrims
want on the Mayflower?
“leeks”
What kind of music did the Pilgrims enjoy?
Plymouth “rock”
What do you call your Thanksgiving turkey
when it’s still in the freezer?
a “brrr-d”
Why did the silly cook have trouble dressing
her Thanksgiving turkey?
She couldn’t find clothes that fit.
What’s the best way to stuff a turkey on
Thanksgiving?
Feed it plenty of pizza.
Who’s never hungry for Thanksgiving dinner?
The turkey’s already “stuffed.”
What did the referee call the basketball player’s
Thanksgiving turkey?
a personal “fowl”
Where does the catcher sit during the baseball
team’s Thanksgiving dinner?
behind the “plate”
What will quarterbacks do during Thanksgiving
dinner?
“pass” the turkey
What did the rock band bring to the Thanksgiving
potluck?
“drumsticks”
What would you get if you crossed a turkey
with an octopus?
plenty of drumsticks on Thanksgiving
Why is the salad hiding behind the Thanksgiving
turkey?
It’s “dressing.”
What do geometry teachers eat for dessert on
Thanksgiving?
pumpkin “pi”
Where should you bury the bones after
Thanksgiving dinner?
a “gravy-yard”
Hanukkah
What Hanukkah game is really boring?
“drei-dull”
What would you get if you crossed a dreidel
with the storybook puppet that came to life?
“Spin-occhio”
What would you get if you crossed Mickey
Mouse’s creator with a spinning dreidel?
Walt “Dizzy”
What did one dreidel say to the other dreidel?
“We must be lost. We keep going in
circles.”
Why will the Hanukkah candles dress up?
They’re “going out.”
Winter
What time of year do ghosts like best?
the dead of winter
How can you learn more about the coldest
season of the year?
Search the “Winter-net.”
140 The Riddles
What does Old Man Winter put on his birthday
cake?
“Jack Frost-ing”
What falls in winter but never lands on the
ground?
the temperature
Why did the thermometer break?
The temperature dropped.
What has no teeth but still can bite?
the cold
Why do skeletons hate winter?
The cold goes right through them.
What would you get if your father shoveled
snow without wearing a coat?
ice-cold “Pop”
What keeps evergreen trees warm all winter?
“fir” (fur) coats
What keeps houses warm all winter?
“coats” of paint
Where do squirrels store their winter clothes?
in tree “trunks”
Why do birds fly south for the winter?
It’s too far to walk.
Why do bears sleep all winter?
They can’t afford alarm clocks.
What do you call it when a bear sleeps in a
treetop all winter?
“high-bernation”
Where can you always find tracks in winter?
railroad stations
Why shouldn’t you buy snow tires for your car
on sunny days?
They’ll melt before you get home.
What happens when you wear snowshoes?
You get cold feet.
What do you call pavement that’s covered
with ice?
a “slide-walk”
See also various winter sports in chapter 14 and
“Snow” in chapter 16.
Christmas
What ghost wears a red hat and says, “Ho, ho,
ho”?
the Christmas “spirit”
How do frogs [or kangaroos or rabbits] greet
each other in December?
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!”
What would you get if you accidentally spilled
salt and pepper on your Christmas cards?
“seasoned” greetings
What do you call an insect that can’t stand
Christmas?
“Hum-bug!”
How did the clock [or mummy] feel on
Christmas Eve?
all “wound up”
“‘Hoppy’ Holidays!” 141
What do astronauts hang in their doorways at
Christmas?
“missile-toe”
Why do the Christmas tree lights need to visit
the eye doctor?
They’re on the “blink.”
What Christmas tree is always sad?
a “blue” spruce
Why did Ebenezer Scrooge like finding coal
in his stocking on Christmas morning?
It saved on heat.
What has antlers, lives in Africa, and delivers
presents on Christmas Eve?
“Santa-lope”
What’s furry, says “meow,” and delivers presents
on Christmas Eve?
Santa “Claws”
How can you tell if Santa has come?
You sense his “presents” (presence).
What does Santa call his figurines?
“St. Nick-knacks”
What would you call Santa if he cut himself
shaving?
St. “Nicked”
What would you call Santa if he played basketball
for New York City?
St. “Knick”
Why do reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh?
Elephants would crash through the roof.
What would you get if you crossed a storm
cloud with Rudolph?
a “rain-deer”
When does Santa need an umbrella?
when “rain-deer” fly overhead
Which of Santa’s reindeer has a bright red
nose?
the one with a very bad cold
What’s the first thing Santa does when he gets
in his sleigh?
He sits down.
What does Santa tell his reindeer when they
land on a roof?
“Whoa!”
Where does Santa go after delivering the last
Christmas present?
ho-ho-home
What does Santa Claus do when he works in
his garden?
He “hoe-hoe-hoes.”
Create new riddles using words that start with
“ho.”
What does Santa use for catching fish?
the North “Pole”
Why does the martial arts instructor admire
Santa?
He has a black belt.
What did Santa’s elf need after twisting her
ankle?
a candy “cane”
142 The Riddles
What’s a nice treat to give to the person who
repairs your sink on Christmas Day?
“plumber” pudding
What ballerina ate too much Christmas
candy?
the Sugar “Plump” Fairy
Where do dancers keep their money while
performing in the Nutcracker?
the “Vaults” of the Flowers
Why do the little lamb and the girl it follows
enjoy December every year?
They always have a “Mary” Christmas.
Why does music fill the library at Christmastime?
Lewis “Carrolls”
How do stockings celebrate Christmas?
They “hang around.”
See also riddles about cards and presents in chapter
11, substituting “Christmas” for “birthday” where
appropriate.
Kwanzaa
What did the black candles in the kinara say to
the red and green candles in the kinara?
“Let’s go out tonight!”
What would you get if you crossed an African
American holiday with Harry Potter’s magic
stick?
“Kwand-zaa”
New Year’s Eve
What do people make on New Year’s Eve that
no one can see?
lots of noise
How do cows make noise on New Year’s Eve?
They blow their horns.
When will Mother Goose ask Little Boy Blue
to blow his horn?
on New Year’s Eve
See also party riddles in chapter 11, substituting
“New Year’s Eve” for “birthday” where
appropriate.
143
14 Fun(ny) and Games
Riddles about Sports
Any Sport
Fill in the blanks with the name of a sport.
Why was Cinderella a lousy _____ player?
She had a pumpkin for a coach.
Why did Cinderella get kicked off the _____
team?
She kept running away from the ball.
Why do _____ teams want Snow White to referee
their games?
She’s the “fairest” one of all.
What would you get if you crossed a _____
player with an automobile?
a “sports” car
Who plays _____ in your living room?
the “home” team
How did the chicken feel after playing _____?
“eggs-hausted”
What did the _____ players call the ghost in
their locker room?
the team “spirit”
What happened when the [name a team]
played the monsters’ team?
They got eaten alive!
How are winning _____ teams like fried eggs?
They can’t be beat.
How are losing _____ teams like scrambled eggs?
They’re always beaten.
Why don’t players on losing _____ teams ever
get sick?
They never “catch” anything.
144 The Riddles
Why are the _____ players all dressed up?
It’s a “tie” game.
What did the silly _____ player do when the
coach called time out?
He threw his watch off the _____.
(For example: What did the silly basketball
player do when the coach called time out?
He threw his watch off the court.)
What did the silly _____ players do when the
coach told them to warm the bench?
They spread blankets on it.
Baseball
Where do people play baseball underground?
the “miner” leagues
What army officer also plays professional
baseball?
“Major” Leaguer
What do you call a baseball stadium when the
home team loses?
a “bawl” park
When do baseball players wear armor?
“knight” games
Why did players know exactly what to do after
their coach spread blankets across the ball diamond?
He’d “covered” all the bases.
What did the baseball umpire say when the
clock made three strikes?
“Time out!”
Why did the outfielder catch a lot of flies during
the World Series?
He had a “frog” in his throat.
Why did the outfielder have the sniffles?
He’d “caught” a cold.
Why does the outfielder wear bright, colorful
clothes when she’s not playing baseball?
to “catch” the eye
What did the orchestra’s baseball team use for
home plate?
a “base” drum
How did the bat feel when the baseball player
gave it a sentimental valentine?
all “choked up”
Why did the baseball player need the Heimlich
maneuver?
She was “choking” on the bat.
Why has the baseball slugger made a lot of
money on the song he recorded?
It’s a “hit.”
What do baseball pitchers enjoy most about
making cakes?
licking the “batter”
What did Mickey Mouse’s friend do when he
saw a stray baseball coming right at him?
Donald ducked.
Why did the panty hose win the baseball
game?
They got a “run.”
Fun(ny) and Games 145
Why did the umpire kick the angry pitcher
out of the game?
He’d “thrown” a fit.
Why wasn’t the prince allowed to pitch for
Cinderella’s baseball team?
He threw too many “balls.”
Basketball
Why do basketball players need bibs to eat
soup?
They “dribble.”
What would you get if you crossed a kangaroo
with a basketball player?
a “jump” shot
Why can’t basketball players ever go on vacation?
They’re not allowed to “travel.”
What’s a cheapskate’s favorite part of playing
basketball?
getting “free” throws
What do basketball players put on their sandwiches?
“swish” cheese
What do basketball players do at breakfast?
“dunk” doughnuts
How did the silly hoops player sink the ball?
He threw it in the lake.
What did the circus dog do at the basketball
game?
It jumped through the hoops.
Why will the basketball referee blow the whistle
on the tired kangaroo?
It’s out of “bounds.”
Boxing
Why is the boxer drinking lots of fluids and
getting plenty of rest?
to “fight” a cold
What do boxers do the night before a test?
“hit” the books
Why has the boxer made a lot of money on
the song he recorded?
It’s a “hit.”
What do you call a banana that boxes?
a fruit “punch”
Why did the stand-up comedian hire boxers to
form a row behind her onstage?
She needed a “punch” line.
Why did the tenderhearted fighter strap pillows
around his boxing gloves?
to soften his blows
Why did the boxer want to fight the ice-cream
cone?
He knew he could “lick” it.
What did the badly defeated boxer put on his
pie?
“whipped” cream
What did the badly defeated boxer spread on
his crackers?
“creamed” cheese
146 The Riddles
How did the boxing match between artists end?
in a “draw”
Car Racing and Demolition
Derby
Why did the turkey become a race car driver?
to prove it wasn’t a “chicken”
What do race car drivers eat?
fast food
Why is the race car driver tired of his job?
It’s a “drag.”
How do we know the truck towing the race
car is sneaky?
It’s “pulling a fast one.”
What do demolition derby drivers eat with
gravy?
“smashed” potatoes
Dogsled Racing
What do sled dogs get for winning races?
“cold” medals
What did the driver feed his sled dogs?
“Mush!”
Football
What’s yellow with black stripes, makes
honey, and drops the football all the time?
the “fumble-bee”
Where do ants play football?
in a “sugar bowl”
Where do gardeners play football?
in the Rose Bowl
What do quarterbacks do in the forest?
take a “hike”
Why does the quarterback say “Hike” when
logging on to his computer?
That’s his “pass-word.”
Why did the quarterback need first aid?
He’d “passed” out.
Why did the quarterback toss a wristwatch to
his teammates before the game started?
to “pass” the time
Why did the silly football player throw fishing
gear at the quarterback?
to “tackle” him
Why did the silly football player carry a garbage
bag onto the field?
to “sack” the quarterback
What did the silly football player do when the
coach said to go deep?
He went scuba diving.
What happened when the eggs played football?
The game turned into a “scramble.”
Why do footballs enjoy being footballs?
They get a “kick” out of it.
What do footballs get from players who take
good care of themselves?
a health “kick”
How can you keep a mule from kicking?
Take away its football.
Fun(ny) and Games 147
Gymnastics
What sport appeals to people named James?
“Jim-nastics”
Why did Jack and Jill win a blue ribbon at the
gymnastics meet?
They’re good at “tumbling.”
Who won the gymnastics meet held in the
desert?
the “tumble-weed”
What do you call gymnasts who turn somersaults
so quickly they’re hard to see?
“tum-blurs”
How do gymnasts decide which team will go
first in a meet?
They “flip” for it.
Why did the gymnast carry her checkbook
when she performed on the beam?
to keep her “balance”
Ice Hockey and Skating
What did Ebenezer Scrooge wear to play ice
hockey?
“cheap-skates”
What do chickens wear to play ice hockey?
“cheep-skates”
What do Mickey and Minnie wear to play ice
hockey?
“mice” skates
Why did the magicians win the hockey championship?
They’re good at “hat tricks.”
How did the hockey player make friends with
the swimmer?
She “broke the ice.”
Why shouldn’t skaters [or name a skater] tell
jokes to the ice?
It might “crack up.”
Where do figure skaters swim?
“twirl-pools”
In-line Skating
What sport is just right for Madeline and her
friends?
in-line skating
What’s the hardest thing about learning to inline
skate?
the pavement
What would you call Ebenezer Scrooge’s
Rollerblades?
“cheap-skates”
What would you call a chicken’s Rollerblades?
“cheep-skates”
What would you call Mickey’s and Minnie’s
Rollerblades?
“mice” skates
Martial Arts
What did the karate expert call her paintings?
“martial art”
What martial art do bakers practice?
“ju-dough” and tae kwon “dough”
148 The Riddles
What martial art requires formal dress?
“tie” kwon do
Why does the martial arts instructor admire
Santa?
He has a black belt.
What did the farmer get when her pig took
karate lessons?
pork “chops”
What did the shepherd get when his sheep
took karate lessons?
lamb “chops”
Skateboarding
What do you call a Rollerblade with nothing
to do?
a “skate-bored”
Why did the chicken buy a skateboard?
It liked “eggs-treme” sports.
Why did the turkey go skateboarding?
to prove it wasn’t a “chicken”
Why don’t centipedes ride skateboards?
They can’t afford knee pads.
What did the cats say when they saw mice go
by on skateboards?
“Look! Meals on Wheels!”
Snowboarding
What winter sport is terribly dull?
“snow-bored-ing”
Soccer
Why did the grass have to leave the soccer
team?
It was “cut.”
How do soccer players solve problems?
They use their heads.
Why did the silly soccer player have trouble
eating a popcorn ball?
She thought she couldn’t use her hands.
See also “Football,” substituting “soccer ball” for
“football.”
Swimming
Where do ballerinas swim?
“twirl-pools”
Where do automobiles swim?
“car-pools”
What happened when the silly kid carried a
bowl of salsa to the Y?
He took a “dip” in the pool.
What do teachers do before they swim?
“test” the water
Why did the turkey jump off the high dive?
to prove it wasn’t a “chicken”
See also “Sports” in chapter 15.
149
15 Talking Turnips
Riddles for Talking Turnip
Bulletin Boards, Games,
and Story
Use these riddles by themselves or with the bulletin
boards in chapter 1, the games in chapter 3, and the
folktale in appendix A. (See the cards in appendix C
for more riddles about objects that talk.)
Animals
What did the antelope say when it heard the
latest gossip?
“That’s ‘gnus’ to me.”
What did the polite cat say when it met a
mouse?
“It’s a pleasure to ‘eat’ you.”
What did the cow say to her calf one night?
“It’s ‘pasture’ bedtime. Go to sleep.”
What did one cow say to the other cow?
“What’s ‘moo’ with you?”
How do polite cows greet each other?
“How do you ‘moo’?”
How do polite doves greet each other?
“How do you ‘coo’?”
What did the mother firefly ask at the parentteacher
conference?
“Is my child ‘bright’?”
What do fireflies say at the start of a race?
“Ready, set, ‘glow’!”
What did the firefly on guard duty say?
“Who ‘glows’ there?”
What did the angry hen say to the farmer?
“I’m tired of working for chicken feed.”
What did the hen say when it laid a square
egg?
“Ouch!”
What did the horse say as it finished its meal?
“This is the last straw.”
150 The Riddles
What did one sleepy horse say to the other
sleepy horse?
“Let’s hit the hay.”
What did the mouse pilot say to the passengers?
“This is your captain ‘squeaking.’”
What did the rabbit say when the teacher took
attendance?
“‘Ear’ I am.”
What do rabbits say when they’re calling on
friends?
“Is ‘any-bunny’ home?”
What did one female sheep say when it agreed
with the other female sheep?
“‘Ewe’ said it!”
Around the House
What did the bossy battery say to the other
batteries?
“I’ll take ‘charge.’”
What did the big candle say to the small
candle?
“You’re too little to go out at night.”
What did the checkerboard say when it was
asked to try something new?
“I’m ‘game.’”
What did the big chimney say to the little
chimney?
“You’re too young to smoke.”
What did one clock say to the other clock?
“Can you give me a hand?”
What did the big hand on the clock say to the
little hand?
“I’ll be back in an hour.”
What did the mother clock tell her shy son?
“Take your hands off your face.”
What did the computer ask the computer programmer?
“Please close my ‘Windows.’ It’s cold in
here.”
What did the computer say to the virus?
“Quit ‘bugging’ me.”
What did one plate in the cafeteria say to the
other plate in the cafeteria?
“‘Lunch is on me.’”
What did the tired dishcloth say to the sink?
“I’m ‘wiped out.’”
What did the carefree lamp say to the overly
serious lamp?
“‘Lighten up.’”
What did one match say to the other match?
“I’m ‘burned out.’”
What did the matchbook say to the match?
“Are you trying to start something?”
What did the painting tell the police when
they came to arrest it?
“I was ‘framed’!”
What did the mother piano say to the baby
grand?
“I don’t like your ‘tone,’ young man.”
Talking Turnips 151
What did the quilt say to the bed?
“I’ve got you ‘covered.’”
What did the seven dwarfs’ rake say to their hoe?
“Hi, ‘hoe.’”
What did the rope say to the phone?
“I can’t answer you now. I’m tied up.”
What did the mother sewing machine say to
her child?
“Because I said ‘sew,’ that’s why.”
What did the teddy bear say at the end of the meal?
“I’m ‘stuffed.’”
What did the tub say after everyone had taken
a bath?
“I’m ‘drained.’”
What did one watch say to the other watch?
“Got a minute?”
What did the window say to the doctor?
“I’m in ‘pane.’”
What did the window say to the shade?
“You’re ‘blinding’ me.”
Cars
What did one amusement-park car say to the
other amusement-park car?
“I’m glad I ‘bumped’ into you.”
What did the car say to the bridge?
“You’re making me ‘cross’!”
What did the car say when it met the road?
“‘Hi, way.’”
What did the bored race car say to the driver?
“This is a drag.”
What did the race car say to the tow truck?
“Now you’re ‘pulling a fast one.’”
What did one directional signal say to the
other directional signal?
“Now it’s my turn.”
What did the muffler say to the car?
“I’m ‘exhausted’!”
What did the tire jack say to the car?
“Can I give you a lift?”
What did one windshield wiper say to the
windshield wiper that couldn’t make up its
mind?
“Quit going back and forth.”
Clothes
What did the boots say to the firefighter?
“You ride on the truck. I’ll go on foot.”
What did one side of the seam say to the other
side of the seam?
“Let’s ‘split.’”
What did the panty hose say to the shoes?
“I have to ‘run.’”
Why won’t the shoes talk to the socks?
They’re “tongue-tied.”
What did the sock say to the foot?
“You’re ‘putting me on.’”
152 The Riddles
Food and Drinks
What did the bread say when someone left it
in the toaster too long?
“This ‘burns me up.’”
What did the bread dough say to the baker?
“It’s nice to be ‘kneaded.’”
What did the bubblegum say to the math
book?
“I’m ‘stuck’ on a problem.”
What did the cake batter say to the troublemaking
spoon?
“Stop ‘stirring things up.’”
What did one cherry in the pie say to the
other cherry in the pie?
“Isn’t this the ‘pits’?”
What did one cornstalk say when the other
cornstalk had exciting news?
“I’m all ‘ears.’”
What did the egg say to the comedian?
“You ‘crack me up.’”
What did one egg say to the other egg?
“Want to hear a ‘yolk’?”
What did the scrambled egg say to the piggybank?
“Will you please lend me money? I’m
‘broke.’”
What did the hot dog say when it rode the
roller coaster?
“Wheeeeeeeeee!-ner.”
What did the lemonade say to the ice cube?
“You’re ‘cool.’”
What did the potato say when the farmer lost
his hoe?
“I’ll keep my eyes ‘peeled’ for it.”
What did one potato chip say to the other
potato chip?
“Let’s go for a ‘dip.’”
What did one sandwich say when it disagreed
with the other sandwich?
“You’re full of baloney!”
What did the salad say to the refrigerator?
“Close the door. I’m ‘dressing.’”
What did the strawberry say to the jar?
“Help me, please! I’m in a ‘jam.’”
What did one sesame seed say to the other
sesame seed?
“Don’t stop now; we’re on a ‘roll.’”
What did the sweet potato say when the
teacher took attendance?
“Here I ‘yam.’”
What did the tired vegetable say?
“I’m ‘beet’!”
What did the vegetables say to the stew meat?
“We’re all going to ‘pot.’”
Sports
What did the bowling pins say to the bowling
ball?
“Please ‘spare’ us.”
Talking Turnips 153
What did the bowling ball say to the bowling
pins?
“I can’t stop now; I’m on a roll.”
What did the football say to the football
player?
“Stop kicking me around.”
What did one soccer shoe say to the other soccer
shoe?
“We’re going to have a ‘ball.’”
154
16 Odds and Ends
Riddles about
Popular Subjects
Ballet
Why are ballerinas always ready to learn new
dance steps?
They’re always “on their toes.”
Why did the ballerina wear a tutu?
The “one-one” was too small and the
“three-three” was too big.
Why don’t elephants dance ballet?
They’re “tutu” (too, too) big for the costumes.
Where do ballerinas swim?
“twirl-pools”
How do you make a strawberry swirl?
Teach it ballet.
See also the Nutcracker riddles under “Christmas”
in chapter 13.
Circuses
Why did the circus hire an artist?
to “draw” crowds
Why did Jack and Jill become circus acrobats?
They’re good at “tumbling.”
What does the ringmaster call the tumblers
who throw tantrums?
“acro-brats”
What do bareback riders do when they wait
for their turns?
“hold their horses”
Why did the circus horse think the bareback
rider was picking on him?
She “got on his back.”
Why do people who’ve seen ghosts often
become clowns?
They’re “scared silly.”
Odds and Ends 155
What do clowns get when they stand in front
of mirrors?
“funny looks”
What makes contortionists so helpful?
They’ll “bend over backward” for you.
What did the circus dog do at the basketball
game?
It “jumped through the hoops.”
What did the ringmaster call the lion-taming
act?
“our ‘mane’ attraction”
Why doesn’t anything ever get past the performing
seal?
It’s always “on the ball.”
How did the performing seal help the circus
accountant?
It “balanced” the books.
Why do tightrope walkers carry their checkbooks?
to keep their “balance”
What did the tightrope walker say to the
tightrope?
“‘Hi, wire.’”
Where do tightrope walkers learn their act?
“high” school
How do trapeze artists feel at the end of their
act?
“let down”
Why did the trapeze artist lose her job?
She couldn’t “catch on.”
Eggs
If an egg came floating down the Mississippi,
where did it come from?
a chicken
Where do giant condors come from?
eggs
Where does the chicken always come before
the egg?
in dictionaries
What did the chicken grow in its garden?
“egg-plant”
What did the hen name her egg?
Shelly
How did the silly kids try getting egg rolls?
They put their chicken on top of a slide.
How did the silly kids try to get hard-boiled eggs?
They bathed their chickens in hot water.
What did the bullfighter say to his hen?
“‘Oh, lay!’”
Why did the hen get booed off the stage during
the talent show?
She “laid an egg.”
Why do chickens lay eggs?
The eggs would break, if they dropped them.
What lays eggs, clucks, and lives in the ocean?
“chicken of the sea”
Why did the chicken stop in the middle of the
road?
to “lay it on the line”
156 The Riddles
How did the chickens build a wall around
their coop?
by “laying” bricks
What would you get if you crossed the third
little pig with a hen?
a “brick-layer”
What did the chicken bake on her friend’s
birthday?
a “layer” cake
Why has the hen stopped laying eggs?
She’s tired of working for chicken feed.
What happens when a chicken stops giving eggs?
It’s “laid off.”
What happened when the chicken ate a yo-yo?
It kept laying the same egg!
What do hens lay when they’re sitting on pillows?
soft-boiled eggs
What do chickens lay during heat waves?
hard-boiled eggs
What did the hen lay while sitting on top of
the slide?
egg rolls
What do stolen chickens lay?
“poached” eggs
What do hens lay during earthquakes?
scrambled eggs
What did the eggs do when they saw a ghost
in the kitchen?
They “scrambled” out of the pan.
What happened when the eggs played football?
The game turned into a “scramble.”
What does Tinker Bell use when she’s scrambling
eggs?
a Peter “pan”
How are losing [name any sport] teams like
scrambled eggs?
They’re always “beaten.”
How are fried eggs like a winning [name any
sport] team?
They can’t be “beat.”
Why did the eggs scream at the cook?
He “beat” them.
Why did the silly kid run away from the cookbook?
It said, “Crack an egg and ‘beat it.’”
Where do eggs make friends?
at “mixers”
How are New Year’s resolutions like eggs?
They’re easy to break.
Why does the egg need a loan from the bank?
It’s “broke.”
What does the chicken get at the gym?
“eggs-ercise”
What happened to the chickens that fought in
school?
They got “eggs-pelled.”
Why did the chicken buy a skateboard?
It liked “eggs-treme” sports.
Odds and Ends 157
Create new riddles substituting “eggs” for “ex.”
How do we know that egg yolks are cowardly?
They’re “yellow.”
Why didn’t the omelet laugh?
It didn’t get the “yolk.”
Why did the bacon laugh?
The eggs cracked a “yolk.”
What happened when the chicken read her
eggs riddles?
They “cracked up.”
How do clowns enjoy their eggs?
“funny-side” up
What do pilots use for cooking eggs?
“flying” pans
Why don’t airline pilots put anything on their
eggs?
They like them “plane.”
What’s the best way to make an egg roll?
Push it down a hill.
See also “Easter” in chapter 13 and “Food and
Drinks” in chapter 15.
Pirates
What does the pirate call his paintings?
“arrrrrrrrt”
What did the pirate get on his report card?
seven “Cs”
What did it cost pirates to get their ears
pierced?
a “buccaneer” (buck an ear)
Why did Peg-Leg Pete lose control over his
pirate crew?
He couldn’t put his foot down.
Why will the pirate save money when he buys
a new ship?
There’s a “sail” (sale) on it.
What part of a pirate ship is worth twenty-five
cents?
the “quarter-deck”
What do pirates order at Godfather’s?
“pizzas” (pieces) of eight
Where do pirates go when they join the army?
“booty” camp
What story tells about a pirate cat and its treasure?
“Puss ’n’ ‘Booty’”
Rain
What goes up when rain comes down?
umbrellas
What would you get if you crossed a light rain
with [name a fictional bear]?
a “drizzly bear”
What do you call it when chickens, turkeys,
and ducks fall out of the sky?
“fowl” weather
When does money fall out of the sky?
when there’s “change” in the weather
When do gorillas fall out of the sky?
during “Ape-ril” showers
158 The Riddles
When do booties, rattles, and diapers fall out
of the sky?
during baby “showers”
What did the silly kids do when the meteorologist
predicted showers?
They took soap outside.
What should you do if it starts raining when
you’re working on the computer?
Close the “Windows.”
What would you get if you crossed a storm
cloud with Rudolph?
a “rain-deer”
What should you use to paint pictures of rain?
“water-colors”
Why don’t ghosts like to go out in the rain?
It dampens their “spirits.”
What’s the best way to keep dry when it rains?
Stay inside.
Why do mother kangaroos hate when it rains?
Their kids have to play inside.
What happens when rain beats on your windows?
They have “panes.”
Why are veterinarians busiest during thunderstorms?
It “rains cats and dogs.”
What’s worse than having it rain cats and dogs?
having it “hail” taxis
Where do flowers sleep when it rains?
water “beds”
How do we know that raindrops are clumsy?
They fall a lot.
Why did the raindrop need first aid?
It fell.
What would you get if you crossed a jogger
with a raindrop?
“running” water
What do raindrops eat for breakfast?
“Plop-Tarts”
What’s the longest stretch of wet weather in
the history of England?
Queen Victoria’s “reign”
Snow
When is a boat like a pile of snow?
when it’s “adrift” (a drift)
What did the weather forecaster get when he
didn’t button his coat before going out in a
blizzard?
a cold “front”
Why shouldn’t you wear snowshoes?
They’ll melt when you come inside.
Why can’t snowmen remember things?
They’re “flaky.”
Why was the snowman in trouble?
It “got in hot water.”
What do snowmen like to play?
“freeze tag”
Odds and Ends 159
What did the police officer say to the snowman
who was robbing the bank?
“Freeze!”
What do snowmen eat with spaghetti?
snowballs
What kind of salad do snowmen enjoy?
“cold-slaw”
What did the snowman win at the Olympics?
a “cold” medal
What do snowmen use to pay their bills?
“cold cash”
What did Frosty give the bullies who teased him?
the “cold shoulder”
What would you get if you crossed the snowman
that came to life with a shark?
“Frost-bite”
What do you call a snowman on a sunny day?
a puddle
See also reproducible riddles for snowman puppets
in appendix C.
Space
Aliens
Why do Martians grow beautiful flowers?
They have little green thumbs.
What do aliens eat for breakfast?
flying “sausages”
What do aliens put in cocoa?
“Martian-mallows”
What chickens come from outer space?
“eggs-traterrestrials”
What did the alien say to the library book?
“Take me to your ‘reader.’”
What did the alien say to the garden?
“Take me to your ‘weeder.’”
What’s the best way to see flying saucers?
Trip the waitress.
What would you call a flying saucer filled with
sheep from outer space?
a “Ewe-FO”
What would you call a flying saucer filled with
cats from outer space?
a “Mew-FO”
How do space cats drink their milk?
from flying “saucers”
Astronauts
What do astronauts take when they’re sick?
space “capsules”
What did the astronaut see in the skillet?
unidentified “frying” objects
What do astronauts use for eating?
satellite “dishes”
What kind of tea can’t astronauts drink on
space missions?
“gravi-tea”
What do you call an astronaut who takes naps
near the sun?
a “light” sleeper
160 The Riddles
What did the astronaut call her poems about
outer space?
“uni-verse”
What did Neil Armstrong tie when he was a
Boy Scout?
“astro-knots”
See also “Reading” in chapter 7.
Astronomers and Planetariums
Why is the planetarium spectacular?
It’s an “all-star show.”
What happened when the telescope fell on the
astronomer’s head?
She saw “stars.”
Why are the astronomers happy about their
work?
It’s “looking up.”
Meteors
What keeps astronauts clean in space?
meteor “showers”
Milky Way
Why did the cow jump over the moon?
to get to the Milky Way
Moon
Why do the silly kids think that Africa is farther
away than the moon?
They can see the moon.
What holds up the moon?
“moon-beams”
Why couldn’t the astronauts get a reservation
at the lunar hotel?
The moon was “full.”
Which weighs more: a full moon or a crescent
moon?
The full moon is “lighter.”
How is the moon like a dollar bill?
It has four “quarters.”
What part of outer space can you buy for
twenty-five cents?
a “quarter” moon
Outer Space
Why can’t the students understand the lesson
about outer space?
It’s over their heads.
What part of our solar system has the most
trash?
“Pollute-o” (Pluto)
Why did Mickey Mouse want to go up in
space?
to find “Pluto”
Planets
Why did the silly astronaut claim she’d set
foot on Mars?
She’d stepped on a candy bar.
What kind of music do astronauts listen to on
space missions?
“Nep-tunes”
How can you contact life on Saturn?
Give them a “ring.”
Odds and Ends 161
What happens when Saturn takes a bath?
It leaves a “ring.”
Stars
What’s so great about stars?
They’re “out of this world.”
What would you get if you crossed a boulder
with a constellation?
“rock stars”
Why did the silly singer want to go up in
space?
to be a “star”
What does the Man on the Moon use to eat
soup?
a “Big Dipper”
What constellation makes a mess when it eats
soup?
the Big “Dripper”
What constellation do waiters and waitresses
look for?
the Big “Tipper”
Create new riddles using words that rhyme with
“dipper.”
What baseball game is played in outer space?
the “All-Stars” Game
Why do distant stars pass out?
They’re “faint.”
Sun
What do astronauts use for drinking?
“sun-glasses”
What holds the sun up?
“sun-beams”
What would you get if you crossed a bumblebee
with a sunbeam?
a “sting-ray”
How is a black eye like the sun?
It’s a “shiner.”
Why does the sun get all As in school?
It’s very “bright.”
What does the sun keep in its bank account?
daylight “savings”
What happens at the crack of dawn?
Day “breaks.”
Superheroes
What happened when Batman and his sidekick
went fishing?
Robin ate the worms.
What superhero wears a black cape, has a sidekick
named Robin, and throws tantrums all
the time?
“Brat-man”
What superhero wears a black cape, has a sidekick
named Robin, and gives wool?
“Baaaa-tman”
What does Spider-Man call his really delicious
large meatball sandwiches?
“super heroes”
What would you get if you crossed Superman
with mollusks?
strong “mussels”
162 The Riddles
Who can fly, wears an “S” on his chest, and
loves eating chicken broth?
“Soup-erman”
Who can fly, wears an “S” on his chest, and
dishes up ice cream faster than a speeding bullet?
“Scooper-man”
163
A A P P E N D I X
Folktale and
Puppet Skits
The Talking Turnip: A Folktale
One long-ago morning, when strange things still happened, a woman was
making some soup. One by one, she picked up the vegetables on her table
and tossed them into her pot.
When she reached for a turnip, however, it shouted, “Leave me alone!
I don’t want to be soup.”
Startled, the woman looked around to see who had spoken. When she
spied her dog lying near the pot, she asked him doubtfully, “Did you say
something?”
“No, it was the turnip. It doesn’t want you to eat it,” explained her cat.
The woman couldn’t believe her ears. Usually her cat never even
meowed—but now he was talking back to her. And so was a turnip!
As she swung her cooking spoon to swat the cat, a new voice stopped her.
“Don’t hurt him!” the pot commanded.
“What?” the old woman gasped and dropped the spoon.
“Ouch!” it yelped when it hit the floor.
“Aaaaaaaaah!” The woman fled her cottage, screaming so loudly she
scared the birds right out of the trees. Because people took their troubles to
the king in those days, she ran down the road toward the castle.
Whoops! She stumbled over a stone and went sprawling in front of a
boy taking geese to the market.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
The woman leaped to her feet before he could help her up. “No,” she
replied, panting.
164 Appendix A
“Why were you running?” asked the boy.
“I need to see the king right away!”
“Why?”
“Things in my cottage were talking to me! While I was making soup, a
turnip asked me to leave it alone. Then my cat said, ‘It doesn’t want you to eat
it.’ When I tried to swat my cat for talking back, the pot said, ‘Don’t hurt him.’
That scared me so badly, I dropped my spoon and it yelled, ‘Ouch!’ I need to
ask the king what I should do.”
“He probably won’t believe you,” the boy told her. “Why not go home and
save yourself the long walk to the castle?”
“Throw the turnip in the pot when you get there,” said the goose under
his left arm.
“Don’t let it boss you around,” added the goose under his right arm.
“Aaaaaaaaah!” screamed the boy, flinging his arms in the air. While the
geese flapped to freedom, the boy and the woman sped toward the castle as if
their heels were the ones that had wings.
Not far from the castle, the woman bumped into a woodcutter, jostling the
ax he carried over his shoulder.
“Watch where you’re going,” the woodcutter warned. “Why are you
hurrying, anyway?”
“We have to see the king right away!”
“Why?”
“Strange things keep happening! First a turnip asked me to leave it alone.
Then my cat said, ‘It doesn’t want you to eat it.’ I tried to swat my cat for
talking back, but the pot said, ‘Don’t hurt him.’ When I dropped my spoon, it
yelled, ‘Ouch!’”
Then the boy blurted, “When I told her to go home, one of my geese said,
‘Throw the turnip in the pot when you get there,’ and the other said, ‘Don’t
let it boss you around.’”
“Is that all?” the woodcutter asked scornfully. “Is that why you’re
running?”
“You’d run, too, if that happened to you,” said his ax.
“Aaaaaaaaah!” screamed the woodcutter, hurling his ax as far as he could.
All three raced to the castle and banged on its door.
A guard opened it. “Shh! The king is meeting with his advisors.”
“But we need to see him right away! It’s important!” cried the woman.
“You can’t disturb him now. You’ll have to wait.” The guard wouldn’t let
them into the throne room until the king’s advisors had left.
Weary and out of sorts from arguing with his advisors, the king was
dismayed to see three more people he’d have to deal with. “What brings you
here? Why aren’t you out working?” he demanded.
“I was working, Your Majesty! That’s when the trouble began!” cried the
woman.
Folktale and Puppet Skits 165
“What trouble?” asked the king.
“Everything started talking to me! First a turnip asked me to leave it
alone. Then my cat said, ‘It doesn’t want you to eat it.’ When I tried to swat
my cat for talking back, the pot said, ‘Don’t hurt him.’ I got so scared, I
dropped the spoon, and it yelled, ‘Ouch!’”
The boy spoke next. “My geese talked, too! One said, ‘Throw the turnip
in the pot when you get there,’ and the other said, ‘Don’t let it boss you
around.’”
“That’s not all!” added the woodcutter. “My ax said, ‘You’d run, too, if
that happened to you.’”
The king thundered, “How dare you bother me with ridiculous lies? Go
back to work before I punish you for wasting valuable time.”
Heads hanging, the woman, the boy, and the woodcutter slunk out of
the castle.
“You should have punished them, Your Majesty,” said the guard. “People
spouting nonsense like that are nothing but troublemakers.”
“Nonsense indeed! Whoever heard of a turnip that talks?” scoffed the
king’s crown.
The End
The Ghost Bridge: A Halloween Puppet Skit
CHARACTERS: Child (boy or girl; right hand); Ghost (left hand)
PROPS: pencil, sheet of paper
SCENE 1: A Day in October
PUPPETEER: It is a day in October. Pretend there’s a bridge on my left
side.
CHILD: (runs in stage right and crosses stage)
GHOST: (pops out from behind your back, stage left, shouting) Boo!
CHILD: (gasps and jumps back) You scared me!
GHOST: That’s what ghosts do. What do you do?
CHILD: I go to school.
GHOST: Why?
CHILD: My mother makes me.
GHOST: Why?
CHILD: She says she wants me to learn stuff so I’ll be smart, but I think
she just wants to get me out of the house all day.
GHOST: You’re probably right about that.
CHILD: Will you please move out of my way? I have to cross the bridge
because my new school’s on the other side. Today’s my first day
and I don’t want to be late.
GHOST: No one can cross this bridge.
166 Appendix A
CHILD: Why not?
GHOST: (mysteriously) Haven’t you heard the story of the ghost bridge?
CHILD: (shakes head) No.
GHOST: That’s funny. I thought it was a staple at campfires and sleepovers
for miles around.
CHILD: My mom and I just moved here. Back home we told stories about
the Headless Horseman and the haunted hitchhiker.
GHOST: Pooh! The story of the ghost bridge is much scarier.
CHILD: Why? What happens?
GHOST: (ominously) On a dark and stormy night, when the wind howled
like a banshee [howl] and the rain poured down in buckets, a
little girl and her mother were crossing this bridge. The girl
slipped on a puddle and tumbled headfirst into the raging waters.
Immediately, her mother plunged in to save her, but it was
hopeless. The black, inky depths swallowed them up. Their bodies
were never recovered.
CHILD: (gasps) How dreadful!
GHOST: Ever since, their ghosts have haunted the bridge and refused to let
anyone cross. On dark and stormy nights, you can still hear the
little girl’s terrified cry, “Mommy, helllllllllllp!” and her mother’s
anguished wail, “My baby! Oh, my baaaaaaaaaa-beeeeeeeeee!”
CHILD: And I thought starting a new school in the middle of the semester
was scary.
GHOST: You won’t be starting a new school, because I am the ghost of the
girl who drowned. If you try to cross the bridge, I’ll haunt you.
(flies around Child, moaning and wailing)
CHILD: If I don’t cross this bridge and go to school, my mom will take away
my cell phone. Then I can’t call my friends back home.
GHOST: Get out your stationery, kid. You’ll have to write letters to keep in
touch.
CHILD: (screams) Now that’s scary! (thinks a minute) Can we make a deal?
GHOST: What kind of deal?
CHILD: I’ll ask you a riddle. If you can answer it, I won’t cross your bridge.
If you can’t, I get to cross without your haunting me.
GHOST: What’s the riddle?
CHILD: Why does an elephant have a trunk?
GHOST: (puts hand to head and tips head slightly, as if thinking very hard)
Hmmmmmmmm. (straightens up and looks right at Child) What’s
an elephant?
CHILD: A big animal with a trunk.
GHOST: Oh. (thinks) Hmmmmmmmm.
CHILD: Give up?
GHOST: (crossly) Yes!
Folktale and Puppet Skits 167
CHILD: It doesn’t have a glove compartment. (jumps up and down) I win!
I win! I get to cross the bridge! (exits stage left)
GHOST: (wails and disappears behind your back)
SCENE 2: The Next Day
PUPPETEER: Now it’s the next day.
CHILD: (enters stage right and crosses stage) I hope that ghost isn’t here
today.
GHOST: (pops out from behind your back, at stage left) Boo!
CHILD: (gasps and jumps back)
GHOST: What are you doing here?
CHILD: I have to cross the bridge again.
GHOST: Why?
CHILD: I need to go to school.
GHOST: Why? You went yesterday.
CHILD: You don’t learn everything you need to know in just one day.
GHOST: Didn’t you learn enough to get by?
CHILD: My mother doesn’t think so.
GHOST: Speaking of mothers, mine heard us talking yesterday. She said I
shouldn’t let you ask me riddles, because you’re trying to fool me.
CHILD: Then why don’t you ask me a riddle instead?
GHOST: OK.
CHILD: (looks directly at Ghost)
GHOST: (looks back at Child)
CHILD: (moves closer to Ghost and looks directly at her)
GHOST: (looks back at Child)
CHILD: (moves closer to Ghost and looks directly at her)
GHOST: (looks back at Child)
CHILD: (moves right up to Ghost and puts face almost in hers)
GHOST: What? What? Why are you staring at me?
CHILD: I’m not staring. I’m just waiting for you to ask me a riddle.
GHOST: Oh, yeah. I have to ask you a riddle.
CHILD: (expectantly) Well?
GHOST: (irritably) Well, what?
CHILD: What’s the riddle?
GHOST: Oh, yeah . . . the riddle. (thinks first and then shakes head) I
don’t know any.
CHILD: I know a really, really hard one. (whispers in Ghost’s ear)
GHOST: (laughs) That one’s so hard, you might as well give up right now.
You could guess for a million, billion, trillion years and never
get the answer.
CHILD: Why don’t you ask me anyway?
168 Appendix A
GHOST: OK. But you’ll be sorry because this is really, really hard. How
many jellybeans can you put in an empty jar that’s nine and threefourths
inches high and three and one-sixteenth inches deep?
CHILD: Ooh, math. That is hard. (thinks)
GHOST: (laughs) I told you you’ll never get it. Do you give up?
CHILD: I guess so . . . No, wait! I just remembered: the size of the jar
doesn’t matter. You can put only one jellybean into an empty jar,
because after that it isn’t empty. I win! I win! I get to cross the
bridge! (exits stage left)
GHOST: (wails and disappears behind your back)
SCENE 3: The Third Day
PUPPETEER: Now it’s the third day.
CHILD: (enters stage right, carrying pencil and piece of paper, and crosses
stage) I hope that ghost isn’t here today, but I’m ready if she is.
GHOST: (pops out from behind your back, stage left) Boo!
CHILD: (gasps and jumps back)
GHOST: Why did you come back?
CHILD: My mother’s still making me go to school to learn stuff.
GHOST: And my mother and I still don’t want you to cross our bridge.
CHILD: Would you like to ask me another riddle?
GHOST: No! Your riddles make my mother mad. She heard us yesterday,
and she said you fooled me again because you knew the answer to
that riddle before you told it to me.
CHILD: OK, no riddles, but how about this? Name a color, any color. If I
can write that color with my pencil, I get to cross the river.
GHOST: And if you can’t, you’ll go away forever?
CHILD: Yes.
GHOST: Can I pick any color?
CHILD: Yes.
GHOST: Even a weird color, like fuchsia or puce?
CHILD: Yes.
GHOST: (suspiciously) Is that some kind of special trick pencil?
CHILD: No. See for yourself. (holds pencil out toward Ghost)
GHOST: (looks at both sides of the pencil very closely and carefully) It looks
like an ordinary pencil.
CHILD: Then do we have a deal? You name a color and I’ll write it with this
plain, ordinary pencil.
GHOST: You mean you’ll try.
CHILD: Right. What color do you want me to write?
GHOST: (thinks) Magenta!
Folktale and Puppet Skits 169
CHILD: (writes each letter in the color’s name on paper) M-a-g-e-n-t-a!
(holds up paper) See? I win! I win! I get to cross the bridge.
(exits stage left)
GHOST: (wails and disappears behind your back)
SCENE 4: The Fourth Day
PUPPETEER: Now it’s the fourth day.
CHILD: (enters stage right and crosses stage) I hope that ghost has given up.
GHOST: (pops out from behind your back, stage left) Boo!
CHILD: (gasps and jumps back)
GHOST: You came back again, eh?
CHILD: Yes. My mother still says I have to go to school and learn stuff.
GHOST: You know what my mother says?
CHILD: (fearfully) What?
GHOST: She says that your mother is right. School does make you smart,
so she’s making me go learn stuff, too. (puts arm around Child)
Come on, kid, let’s go. (they both exit stage left)
The Riddle Book: A Puppet Skit
CHARACTERS: Miggs (left hand); Jiggs (right hand)
PROPS: riddle book you’ve made
HOW TO PREPARE: To make a riddle book, photocopy this script.
Punch three holes along the left-hand side and put it into a folder that
fastens with clasps or a three-ring binder. Write “Big Book of Riddles” on
the cover. Add tabs to the script to make turning pages easier. (Or trim
their margins and glue pages onto dividers before putting them into the
folder or binder.)
Lay the riddle book in your lap or on a stage. Make Miggs appear to be
reading.
MIGGS: (reads and laughs)
JIGGS: (enters stage right) What’s so funny?
MIGGS: I’m reading riddles. See? (holds up book)
JIGGS: Read some to me. I like to laugh.
MIGGS: OK. (reads) Pretend you’re dreaming that your house is on fire.
JIGGS: That’s not a dream; that’s a nightmare!
MIGGS: Don’t interrupt. You have only enough time to save either your
mother or your father. What should you do?
JIGGS: Ooh, that’s hard. I’d want to save both.
MIGGS: According to this riddle, though, you can save only one. What
will you do?
170 Appendix A
JIGGS: I don’t know. What do you think I should do?
MIGGS: Wake up. It was only a dream. (laughs)
JIGGS: Thank heavens. Ask me another riddle, but don’t make it so scary.
MIGGS: OK. (reads) When can you carry water in your bare hands?
JIGGS: All the time.
MIGGS: You cannot!
JIGGS: Sure, I can. I carry a water bottle around in my bare hands all the
time.
MIGGS: I’m not talking about water in a bottle. I’m talking about water
that’s not in any kind of container.
JIGGS: Oh. I can’t do that. I tried once, but the water kept slipping
through my fingers. That’s why I bought a water bottle.
MIGGS: You can carry water in your bare hands—if you freeze it first.
JIGGS: I wouldn’t want to do that. Carrying ice would make my hands
cold.
MIGGS: Don’t be so literal. (reads) What can you break without even
touching it?
JIGGS: My mother’s vase.
MIGGS: That’s not the answer.
JIGGS: But I did break my mother’s vase without touching it. I was
wearing my backpack and that brushed against the vase and
knocked it off the table.
MIGGS: That may be, but the answer to the riddle is “a promise.”
JIGGS: Huh?
MIGGS: When you don’t do what you say you’ll do, you break your
promise.
JIGGS: Oh, yeah. Now it’s my turn to ask you a riddle.
MIGGS: OK.
JIGGS: What’s purple, hangs from the ceiling, and whistles?
MIGGS: I have no idea.
JIGGS: (shouts) A catfish!
MIGGS: That doesn’t make any sense. A catfish isn’t purple.
JIGGS: It is if you paint it.
MIGGS: A catfish doesn’t hang from the ceiling.
JIGGS: It does if you put it there.
MIGGS: A catfish doesn’t whistle.
JIGGS: I know. I just threw that in to make the riddle harder to guess.
MIGGS: You made that up, didn’t you?
JIGGS: (sounds surprised) How did you know? Now I’m going home to
see if my parents can figure it out.
MIGGS: They’ll never guess. Why don’t you ask this one instead? (reads)
Who is my father’s son and my mother’s son but isn’t my brother?
JIGGS: Of course, it can’t be your brother. You don’t have any.
Folktale and Puppet Skits 171
MIGGS: I know.
JIGGS: And it can’t be your sister either, because you don’t have any.
MIGGS: That’s right.
JIGGS: But you have lots of cousins. Is it one of them?
MIGGS: Nope.
JIGGS: Your uncle?
MIGGS: No.
JIGGS: Your grandpa?
MIGGS: No!
JIGGS: Your great-grandpa?
MIGGS: Stop. You’re just guessing.
JIGGS: (sounds surprised) How did you know?
MIGGS: The answer is “I.”
JIGGS: You?
MIGGS: Yes, “I.”
JIGGS: Before I ask my parents, let me see if I have it right. Who is my
father’s son and my mother’s son but isn’t my brother?
MIGGS: That’s the question. Do you remember the answer?
JIGGS: Yes. You.
MIGGS: No!
JIGGS: But you said you were the answer!
MIGGS: That was when I was asking the riddle. If you’re asking it, the
answer is you.
JIGGS: That’s what I said: “You.”
MIGGS: You’re not supposed to say “you,” because you’re the answer
when you’re asking.
JIGGS: If you’re the answer, why can’t I say “you”?
MIGGS: Because when you say “you,” you mean me, and the answer
when you’re asking is you.
JIGGS: I said “you.”
MIGGS: You’re not supposed to say “you.”
JIGGS: But you said “you’re the answer.” I’m confused.
MIGGS: You certainly are. Why don’t you go to the library and borrow a
riddle book to read to your parents? You can’t mess that up too
much.
JIGGS: I’ll go right now. I love visiting the library. ’Bye. (exits stage
right)
MIGGS: (addresses audience) I know a riddle no one will ever be able to
answer: How does Jiggs manage to get so confused? I think I’ll
go to the library, too, and get another riddle book. Hope you’ll
visit it soon. ’Bye. (exits stage right)
172 Appendix A
The Punch Line: A Puppet Skit
CHARACTERS: Miggs (left hand); Jiggs (right hand)
PROPS: none
MIGGS: Hi, Jiggs. Would you like some riddles?
JIGGS: No, thanks. I just ate lunch.
MIGGS: (sounds confused) What does eating lunch have to do with riddles?
JIGGS: I’m so full, I couldn’t eat another bite.
MIGGS: You don’t eat riddles.
JIGGS: Then what do you do with them?
MIGGS: You use them to make people laugh.
JIGGS: Oh, you tickle people with them.
MIGGS: No!
JIGGS: But tickling makes people laugh. (tickles Miggs)
MIGGS: (drops down on stage or in your lap and rolls around, laughing)
Stop, stop.
JIGGS: (stops)
MIGGS: (stands up) You don’t tickle people with riddles. Riddles are
questions you ask.
JIGGS: I’m good at asking questions. Why is the sky blue? Why does the
moon change shape? What makes it snow? (sounds really puzzled)
Why aren’t you laughing?
MIGGS: Because those questions aren’t riddles. Their answers are facts.
Riddles are pretend questions that have funny answers.
JIGGS: I don’t get it.
MIGGS: Let me ask you a riddle, and you’ll see what I mean. What would
you get if you poured boiling water down a rabbit hole?
JIGGS: (angrily) I’d never do that! That’s mean!
MIGGS: I know.
JIGGS: Then why are you talking about it?
MIGGS: It’s just for fun.
JIGGS: It’s not fun for the rabbits.
MIGGS: I promise that no rabbits will get hurt. Now please say, “I don’t
know, Miggs, what would you get if you poured boiling water
down a rabbit hole?”
JIGGS: I don’t want to know. I still think it’s a mean thing to do.
MIGGS: Come on, Jiggs. Please ask.
JIGGS: (sighs heavily) OK, but only because it means so much to you.
“What would you get if you poured boiling water down a rabbit
hole?”
MIGGS: “Hot, cross bunnies.”
JIGGS: The bunnies wouldn’t be the only cross ones. I imagine the SPCA
would be angry, too.
Folktale and Puppet Skits 173
MIGGS: Jiggs, you missed the point. I’m not really going to pour hot
water down a rabbit hole. I just said that to set up the punch
line.
JIGGS: You’re serving punch? I don’t see anyone lining up for punch.
(looks around) I don’t see any punch either.
MIGGS: A punch line isn’t a row of people waiting for a drink. A punch
line is a funny answer to a riddle.
JIGGS: What’s funny about poor, scalded bunnies?
MIGGS: There aren’t really any poor, scalded bunnies. “Hot, cross
bunnies” is just a play on “hot-cross buns.”
JIGGS: Oh, you’re serving buns with the punch? But I already told you,
I’m not hungry.
MIGGS: Jiggs, let’s forget about the rabbit joke.
JIGGS: Good. It wasn’t funny.
MIGGS: Here’s another riddle. Why do bears sleep all winter?
JIGGS: They wouldn’t be able to find enough food in the snow.
MIGGS: That’s not the right answer.
JIGGS: Yes, it is. My teacher told me that.
MIGGS: I’m sure she did. But that’s not the answer to the riddle.
JIGGS: (heatedly) Are you calling my teacher a liar?
MIGGS: No.
JIGGS: Good, because my teacher would never lie. If she says bears
sleep all winter because there’s no food for them to eat, then
that’s why they sleep.
MIGGS: Of course, that’s why bears really sleep all winter. But this is a
riddle. I’m not looking for a real, logical reason. I’m looking for
a silly answer.
JIGGS: That’s silly. Why would you look for pretend answers when you
know the real ones?
MIGGS: It’s just so we can laugh. Please say, “I don’t know, Miggs, why
do bears sleep all winter?”
JIGGS: (sighs heavily) OK, if it will make you happy. “Why do bears
sleep all winter?”
MIGGS: Their alarm clocks are broken.
JIGGS: I don’t think bears have alarm clocks.
MIGGS: Of course, they don’t.
JIGGS: Then why did you say they did?
MIGGS: Because it’s a funny way to answer the riddle.
JIGGS: You don’t know much about animals, do you? You should go to
the library and read books about them.
MIGGS: Let’s try one more riddle, Jiggs. This one won’t be about
animals.
JIGGS: Good.
174 Appendix A
MIGGS: A penny and a quarter sat on a bridge. The penny jumped off.
Why didn’t the quarter?
JIGGS: It didn’t have legs.
MIGGS: That’s not the answer.
JIGGS: But quarters don’t have legs.
MIGGS: Well, pennies don’t have legs either.
JIGGS: That’s right. So the penny couldn’t have jumped off the bridge.
MIGGS: Of course, a penny can’t really jump off a bridge. But this is
supposed to be a joke. Pretend a penny could jump off a bridge.
JIGGS: You mean, the way I’m supposed to pretend that bears have alarm
clocks?
MIGGS: That’s right.
JIGGS: You have a strange imagination.
MIGGS: It’s just for fun, Jiggs. Now, the reason that the quarter didn’t jump
off the bridge when the penny did is because the quarter has a lot
more “cents.”
JIGGS: Huh?
MIGGS: Don’t you get it? The quarter is worth twenty-five cents. The
penny is worth only one cent. So the quarter has a lot more cents
than the penny, right?
JIGGS: If you say so. I’m not very good with money and math.
MIGGS: You’re not very good with wordplay either. The word c-e-n-t-s
sounds a lot like s-e-n-s-e. It doesn’t make s-e-n-s-e sense to jump
off a bridge. That’s why the quarter didn’t jump.
JIGGS: I still don’t think a quarter or a penny could jump. They could
roll off if someone happened to kick them though. Is that what
happened?
MIGGS: (sounds exasperated) I give up. I’m not going to ask you any more
riddles. You just don’t understand how to play with words for fun.
JIGGS: (indignantly) I do so know how to play with words! I’d take them
to the park.
MIGGS: (laughs) That’s a good one, Jiggs! That’s really funny!
JIGGS: (sounds doubtful) It is?
MIGGS: Sure, you just made a play on the word “play.” You made up your
own riddle.
JIGGS: I did?
MIGGS: Sure, you did. What’s the best way for writers to play with words?
Take them to the park. Well, excuse me, Jiggs. I have to go write
that down before I forget. (exits stage left, laughing)
JIGGS: (looks out at the audience and shakes his head) I don’t know why
Miggs was laughing so hard. Playing in the park really is fun. Oh,
well. All this talking’s made me thirsty. I’m going to look for that
punch line Miggs talked about. ’Bye. (exits stage right)
175
B A P P E N D I X
Recommended
Riddle Books
Not every riddle in these books will make readers roar with laughter,
but of the many collections I read that are still in print, I liked the
following titles best. Except for Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg’s
riddle books for Dial, I don’t recommend buying whole series. Titles vary in
quality, and some contain more jokes than riddles. These books were all available
through Bound to Stay Bound, Follett, or Perma-Bound in November
2006. Titles marked with an asterisk (*) index riddles by topic; titles marked
with a dagger (†) group riddles into chapters by subject matter.
Stories with Riddles
Mooser, Stephen. Smell That Clue! Grosset and Dunlap, 2006. (easy
chapter book)
A young detective tries to answer a riddle and find an important paper.
Pfeffer, Susan Beth. The Riddle Streak. Henry Holt, 1993. (easy chapter book)
Amy wants to beat her big brother at something. When she can’t find
a riddle he doesn’t already know, she makes some up.
Thaler, Mike. The Substitute Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic,
2005. (picture book)
The fearsome-looking substitute teacher doesn’t seem so scary when
he lets the class make a state riddle book during geography. Consider
making your own riddle books after reading this. (See “Mini Ha-Ha’s”
in chapter 2.)
What happened when the lion read a riddle book?
It “roared” with laughter.
176 Appendix B
Wolff, Patricia Rae. The Toll-Bridge Troll. Harcourt, Brace, 2000. (picture
book)
A boy uses riddles to outwit a troll.
For Beginning Readers
Each book has either one or two color illustrations per simple riddle.
Brown, Marc Tolon. Spooky Riddles. Beginner Books, 1983.
Cerf, Bennett. Riddles and More Riddles! Random House, 1999.
Dahl, Michael. Alphabet Soup: A Book of Riddles about Letters. Picture
Window Books, 2004.
———. Animal Quack-Ups: Foolish and Funny Jokes about Animals. Picture
Window Books, 2003.
———. Chewy Chuckles: Deliciously Funny Jokes about Food. Picture Window
Books, 2003.
———. Galactic Giggles: Far-Out and Funny Jokes about Outer Space. Picture
Window Books, 2003.
———. Laughs on a Leash: A Book of Pet Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2004.
———. Monster Laughs: Frightfully Funny Jokes about Monsters. Picture
Window Books, 2003.
———. School Buzz: Classy and Funny Jokes about School. Picture Window
Books, 2003.
———. Three-Alarm Jokes: A Book of Firefighter Jokes. Picture Window
Books, 2004.
———. Under Arrest: A Book of Police Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2004.
———. Zoodles: A Book of Riddles about Animals. Picture Window Books,
2004.
Hall, Katy, and Lisa Eisenberg. Stinky Riddles. Dial, 2005. (Their other
riddle books for Dial and Puffin are OK, too.)
For Grades 2–4
Each page has several riddles. Many pages have a small color picture to
illustrate one of their riddles.
Cole, Joanna. Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? And Other Riddles, Old
and New. Morrow Junior Books, 1994. (Unlike the others, this has
line drawings.)
Dahl, Michael. Roaring with Laugher: A Book of Animal Jokes. Picture
Window Books, 2005.
———. Sit! Stay! Laugh! A Book of Pet Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2005.
Recommended Riddle Books 177
Donahue, Jill L. Artful Antics: A Book of Art, Music, and Theater Jokes.
Picture Window Books, 2007.
———. How Do You Get There? A Book of Transportation Jokes. Picture
Window Books, 2007.
———. Silly Sports: A Book of Sports Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2007.
———. What’s in a Name? A Book of Name Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2007.
Horsfall, Jacqueline. Funny Riddles. Sterling, 2006.*
Moore, Mark. Beastly Laughs: A Book of Monster Jokes. Picture Window
Books, 2005.
———. Creepy Crawlers: A Book of Bug Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2004.
———. Spooky Sillies: A Book of Ghost Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2004.
Peterson, Scott K., et al. Let the Fun Begin: Wacky What-Do-You-Get Jokes,
Playful Puns, and More. Carolrhoda, 2005.
Rissinger, Matt and Philip Yates. Wacky Jokes. Sterling, 2003.*
Rosenberg, Pam. Animal Jokes. Child’s World, 2005.
———. Historical Jokes. Child’s World, 2005.
———. Holiday Jokes. Child’s World, 2004.
———. Riddles. Child’s World, 2004.
———. School Jokes. Child’s World, 2005.
Rosenbloom, Joseph. School Jokes. Sterling, 2003.*
———. Spooky Jokes. Sterling, 2005.*
Schultz, Sam. Game-Day Gigglers: Winning Jokes to Score Some Laughs.
Carolrhoda, 2004.
Swanson, June. Punny Places: Jokes to Make You Mappy. Carolrhoda, 2004.
Walton, Rick, and Ann Walton. Magical Mischief: Jokes That Shock and
Amaze. Carolrhoda, 2005.
———. The Sky’s the Limit: Naturally Funny Jokes. Carolrhoda, 2005.
Ziegler, Mark. Chitchat Chuckles: A Book of Funny Talk. Picture Window
Books, 2006.
———. Critter Jitters: A Book of Animal Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2004.
———. Giggle Bubbles: A Book of Underwater Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2005.
———. Goofballs: A Book of Sports Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2005.
———. Lunchbox Laughs: A Book of Food Jokes. Picture Window Books,
2005.
———. Nutty Names: A Book of Name Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2006.
———. School Kidders: A Book of School Jokes. Picture Window Books, 2005.
———. Wacky Wheelies: A Book of Transportation Jokes. Picture Window
Books, 2005.
178 Appendix B
For Grades 4 and Up
Every page contains many riddles. Most books have only a few line drawings.
Fox, Lori Miller. Riddle Riot. Sterling, 2003.*†
Grambs, Alison. Totally Silly Jokes. Sterling, 2003.*†
Horsfall, Jacqueline. Joke and Riddle Ballyhoo. Sterling, 2005.*†
———. Super Goofy Jokes. Sterling, 2004.*†
Rosenbloom, Joseph. Biggest Riddle Book in the World. Sterling, 1976.*† (If
you could buy only one book, I’d recommend this. It has a wealth of
riddles for all ages. A few are outdated.)
Thomas, Lyn. Ha! Ha! Ha! 1,000+ Jokes, Riddles, Facts, and More. Owl
Books, 2001.*†
Books Referred to in the Text
Anderson, Dee. Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays. ALA Editions, 1997.
Bernstein, Joanne E. Fiddle with a Riddle: Write Your Own Riddles. Dutton,
1979.
Burns Marilyn. The Hink Pink Book; or, What Do You Call a Magician’s Extra
Bunny? Little, Brown, 1981.
Cerf, Bennett. Riddle-De-Dee. 1964; repr., Random House, 1994.
Chocolate, Deborah M. Newton. Talk, Talk: An Ashanti Legend. Troll
Associates, 1993.
Hepworth, Cathi. ANTics! An Alphabetical Anthology. Putnam, 1992.
McCall, Francis X. A Huge Hog Is a Big Pig: A Rhyming Word Game.
Greenwillow, 2002.
Most, Bernard. There’s an Ant in Anthony. HarperTrophy, 1992.
Rasinski, Timothy V. The Fluent Reader. Scholastic Professional Books,
2003.
Terban, Marvin. Eight Ate: A Feast of Homonym Riddles. Clarion, 2007.
———. Funny You Should Ask: How to Make Up Jokes and Riddles with
Wordplay. Clarion, 1992.
Thaler, Mike. Funny Side Up! How to Create Your Own Riddles. Scholastic,
1985.
Wolff, Patricia Rae. The Toll-Bridge Troll. Harcourt, Brace, 2000.
Buying Riddle Books to Give Away
or Supplement Your Collection
School book fairs carry riddle books, some for only ninety-nine cents.
School book clubs sometimes offer riddle books. Check teacher offers as
Recommended Riddle Books 179
well as student order forms. Quality varies, but you can stock up on the
cheapest ones to give away in drawings or fill a heavy demand.
Shop thrift shops, yard sales, and library sales for riddle books in good
condition. Look for old copies of Highlights and Ranger Rick, too, because
every issue has riddles.

181
C A P P E N D I X
Reproducibles
and Samples
Patterns for Bulletin Board Cutouts 182
Talking Turnip Playing Cards 184
Loony Library Playing Cards 187
Activity Sheets 190
Bookmarks 198
Riddles for Dish Puppets 206
Riddles for Paper Bag Puppets 207
Also visit the book’s website for downloadable versions of these reproducibles:
www.ala.org/editions/extras/Anderson09577.
182 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 183
184 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
What did the
mother broom
say to her
little broom?
“Good night,
‘sweep’ tight.
Don’t let the
bedbugs bite.”
What did the
pencil sharpener
say to the pencil?
“I’ve always
‘looked up’
to you.”
How did the
needle say
good-bye to the
thread?
“‘Sew’ long.”
“Let’s get
to the ‘point.’”
What did the
scissors say
to the hair?
What did the
kitchen floor say to
the ceiling?
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 185
“It won’t be
long now.”
What did the
vacuum cleaner
say to the maid?
“I’ll meet
you at the
corner.”
What did
one wall say to
the other wall?
“Let’s ‘catch
some rays.’”
What did the tie
say to the hat?
What did one
baseball glove
say to the other
glove on a sunny
day?
“You go on
‘a head.’ I’ll
‘hang around’
here.”
“I don’t like when
you push me
around!”
186 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
What did the
football say
to the football
player?
“Stop kicking
me around!”
How did
the ocean
say hello to
the beach?
“You go ahead.
I’ll ‘ketchup’
(catch up).”
YOU WIN!
What did the
bubblegum say
when it flunked
the test?
It “waved.” “I ‘blew it’!”
What did
one tomato
say to the
other tomato?
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 187
America’s
National Bird
598.942
by
E. Gull
The Little
Tattletale
E
by
Moe Grass
How Chocolate
Is Made
641.3374
by
Candy Barr
by
I. Will Tell
Weeds
in Your Backyard
583
Make Money
This Summer
650.12
188 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
by
Dan D. Lyons
Animals
in Winter
591.56
by
Nan E. Goat
Animals on
the Farm
636
by
April Showers
Your Pet Dog
636.7
One Rainy
Spring Day
E
by
Kay Nine
by
Hi Burr Nation
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 189
Working for the
Post Office
383.145
by
Lotta Snow
Spring Gardening
635
by
Mae Flowers
by
May L. Carrier
YOU WIN!
A Day at
the Beach
E
by
C. Shores
All About
Blizzards
551.55
Biggest
Riddle
Book
in the
World
190 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
a. parrot
b. mice
c. fish
Match each animal to its riddle.
1. What do ________________ do when they get into trouble?
“weasel” their way out
2. Why did the _______________ get in trouble at the library?
It chased the computer mouse.
3. What did Christopher Robin name his pet ______________?
Winnie-the-“Pew”
4. What would you get if you crossed a centipede with a ________________?
a walkie-talkie
5. What did the baseball slugger buy for his pet ____________?
a batting cage
6. Why did the ________________ get splinters in its tongue?
It ate table scraps.
7. How can you learn how to care for your pet _____________?
Search the “Fin-ternet.”
8. How can you keep your pet _____________ from squeaking?
Oil them.
Can you fill in the blanks?
d. cat
e. dog
f. skunk
g. ferrets
h. canary
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 191
Who Said That?
Match each question on the left side to its answer on the right side.
a. “I don’t like when you push me
around!”
b. “You go on ‘a head.’ I’ll ‘hang
around’ here.”
c. “‘Sew’ long.”
d. It “waved.”
e. “I’ll meet you at the corner.”
f. “Good night, ‘sweep’ tight. Don’t let
the bedbugs bite.”
g. “Let’s ‘catch some rays.’”
h. “I’ve always ‘looked up’ to you.”
i. “Let’s get to the ‘point.’”
j. “It won’t be long now.”
1. What did the mother broom say to her
little broom?
2. What did the kitchen floor say to the
ceiling?
3. What did the pencil sharpener say to
the pencil?
4. How did the needle say good-bye to
the thread?
5. What did the scissors say to the hair?
6. How did the ocean say hello to the
beach?
7. What did one wall say to the other wall?
8. What did one baseball glove say to the
other glove on a sunny day?
9. What did the tie say to the hat?
10. What did the vacuum cleaner say to the
maid?
192 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
Who Wrote That?
Match each pretend book on the left side with its
imaginary author on the right side.
1. Who wrote America’s National Bird? (598.942)
2. Who wrote Make Money This Summer? (650.12)
3. Who wrote Your Pet Dog? (636.7)
4. Who wrote Animals on the Farm? (636)
5. Who wrote All about Blizzards? (551.55)
6. Who wrote A Day at the Beach? (E)
7. Who wrote How Chocolate Is Made? (641.3374)
8. Who wrote Animals in Winter? (591.56)
9. Who wrote Weeds in Your Backyard? (583)
10. Who wrote The Little Tattletale? (E)
a. Nan E. Goat
b. Hi Burr Nation
c. C. Shores
d. Moe Grass
e. Dan D. Lyons
f. I. Will Tell
g. Kay Nine
h. Lotta Snow
i. Candy Barr
j. E. Gull
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 193
CRACK THE CODE!
Can You Figure Out the Secret Answers?
Write the letter that comes after each letter in the answers. For example, the first answer starts
with “f” because “f” comes after “e” in the alphabet. Write “a” after every “z.”
1. What do clowns get when they stand in front of mirrors?
“__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __”
2. What would you get if you crossed an athlete with
an automobile?
__ “__ __ __ __ __ __” __ __ __
3. What would you call a panda without any teeth?
__ “__ __ __ __ __” __ __ __ __
4. Who can fly, wears an “S” on his chest, and dishes up
ice cream faster than a speeding bullet?
“__ __ __ __ __ __ __ – __ __ __”
5. What was the spider doing in the outfield?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ “__ __ __ __ __”
6. Why did the hair call the beautician a bully?
__ __ __ “__ __ __ __ __ __” __ __.
7. What invention lets people walk through walls?
__ __ __ __ __
“etmmx knnjr”
z “ronqsr” bzq
z “ftllx” adzq
“Rbnnodq-lzm”
bzsbghmf “ekhdr”
Rgd “sdzrdc” hs.
cnnqr
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
194 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
Sample handout for back of Crack the Code! activity sheet
LAUGH It UP WITH RIDDLE BOOKS
from
[your library’s
name]
For Beginning Readers
Brown, Marc. Spooky Riddles
Cerf, Bennett. Riddles and More Riddles!
Dahl, Michael. Alphabet Soup
_____. Animal Quack-Ups
_____. Chewy Chuckles
_____. Laughs on a Leash
_____. Monster Laughs
Hall, Katy. Batty Riddles
_____. Sheepish Riddles
_____. Turkey Riddles
For Older Children
Dahl, Michael. Roaring with Laughter
_____. Sit! Stay! Laugh!
Fox, Lori Miller. Riddle Riot
Grambs, Alison. Totally Silly Jokes
Horsfall, Jacqueline. Super Goofy Jokes
Moore, Mark. Beastly Laughs
_____. Creepy Crawlers
Rosenberg, Pam. School Jokes
Rosenbloom, Joseph. Biggest Riddle Book in the World
Schultz, Sam. Game-Day Gigglers
Thomas, Lyn. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Ziegler, Mark. Giggle Bubbles
_____. Goofballs
Find more by looking for call number 818.54.
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Cool Things You Can Do with
Your Quad-LINC Library Card
Check out materials • from ANY Quad-LINC
library!
• Return Quad-LINC materials to ANY Quad-
LINC library! (Return materials at the location
that’s most convenient for you.)
• Reserve Quad-LINC library materials from home!
(Arrange to have them sent to the library where it’s
most convenient for you to pick them up.)
• Use computers in the library!
If you don’t already have a free library card, apply
for one soon at your hometown’s library!
Bring two forms of ID that show
your current address.
Use the Library at Home
with Quad-LINC’s Website!
http://qls.rbls.lib.il.us
• Check your account!
See what materials you have checked out.
See when your materials are due.
See if you have fines.
• Find out what materials libraries have!
• Renew your materials!
• Reserve books!
How to Reserve a Book
on the Computer
• Click on the Place Hold button at the left.
• Enter bar code # on your library card.
• Enter last four digits of bar card # as PIN.
• Scroll down to the name of the library where
you want to pick up books.
• Click on that library’s name.
• Click on Place Hold.
• Click on OK.
The staff at the library you chose as the
pickup site will contact you when your
requests become available.
This is a free service!
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 195
WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO THE LI BRARY ?
Find out what awaits you at [your library’s name].
Copy the underlined letters—in order—in the blanks below.
Why did the boxer go to the library?
Why did the basketball player go to the library?
Why did the elf go to the library?
Why did the skeleton go to the library?
Why did the cat go to the library?
Why did the cow go to the library?
Why did Humpty Dumpty go to the library?
Please visit [your library’s name] soon and find
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
to “hit the books”
to read “tall tales”
to read “short stories”
to “bone up” for a test
to chase the computer mouse
to get “an-udder” book
to borrow “yolk” (joke) books
196 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
Sample handout for back of Why Should You Go to the Library? activity sheet
WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY?
To Borrow Our Treasures
We have thousands of books, magazines, recorded books,
books with recordings, CDs, DVDs, audiocassettes, videocassettes,
puppets, puzzles, and art reproductions.
[List all types of materials your library circulates.
Tell how to apply for a library card and supply information about loan
policies, e.g., the length of the circulation period, fines for overdue
materials, and renewal procedures.]
To Get Information
Reference librarians are always on duty to answer your questions.
This is a free service!
To Use Our Computers
Search the Internet, read your e-mail,
and play with educational software.
To Enjoy Our Free Programs
We regularly schedule story times and other
programs for children and adults.
[Include descriptions and times of specific programs.]
To Shop for Bargains
Browse our sale room to find used books and magazines at very low prices.
[Add reasons that fit your own library.]
[Dress up this flyer by superimposing a picture of an animal
or person mentioned in the riddles over a photograph of your library.]
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 197
Can You Fill in the Blanks?
1. g
2. d
3. f
4. a
5. h
6. e
7. c
8. b
Who Said That?
1. f
2. h
3. i
4. c
5. j
6. d
7. e
8. g
9. b
10. a
Who Wrote That?
1. j
2. d
3. g
4. a
5. h
6. c
7. i
8. b
9. e
10. f
Crack the Code!
1. “funny looks”
2. a “sports” car
3. a “gummy” bear
4. “Scooper-man”
5. catching “flies”
6. She “teased” it.
7. doors
Answers To Activity Sheets
198 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
SMILE! YOU CAN “BRUSH UP”
ON TEETH AT YOUR LIBRARY
Taking Care of Your Teeth (617.6)
Katz, Bobbi—Make Way for Tooth Decay
Rowan, Kate—I Know Why I Brush My
Teeth
Going to the Dentist (617.6)
Johnston, Marianne—Let’s Talk about
Going to the Dentist
Radabaugh, Melinda Beth—Going to
the Dentist
Picture Book Stories (E)
Gomi, Taro—The Crocodile and the
Dentist
Olson, Mary W.—Nice Try, Tooth Fairy
Steig, William—Doctor De Soto
Chapter Books (F)
Dadey, Debbie—Hercules Doesn’t Pull
Teeth
Greenburg, Dan—Dr. Jekyll,
Orthodontist
Park, Barbara—Junie B., First Grader:
Toothless Wonder
How to Find Others
Search the library’s catalog for
“dental care,” “dentistry,” “teeth,”
and “tooth fairy.”
You
and
Your
Teeth
LAUGH WITH YOUR LIBRARY
Why are the teeth scared to go to the
dentist?
They’re “yellow.”
What do dentists put on hamburgers?
“drill” pickles
Who collects the baby teeth that little
weasels lose?
the Tooth “Ferret”
Why do people talk more when they’re
cold than they do when they’re hot?
Their teeth “chatter.”
Why do witches wear green eye shadow?
It matches their teeth.
What do you call George Washington’s
false teeth?
“presi-dentures”
What do you call dentures that cost a
dollar?
“buck” teeth
Why will the pie crust go to the dentist?
to get a “filling”
You’ll find more riddles at
YO UR LIBRARY’S NAME
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Visit Soon!
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 199
SMILE! YOUR LIBRARY HAS
BOO KS ABOUT GOIN G TO
THE DOCTOR
For Younger Children
Johnston, Marianne—Let’s Talk about
Going to the Doctor
Mattern, Joanne—I Use Math at the
Doctor’s
Radabaugh, Melinda Beth—Going to
the Doctor
Rogers, Fred—Going to the Doctor
For Older Children
Brazelton, T. Berry—Going to the
Doctor
Woods, Samuel—The Pediatrician
You’ll find more books by looking at
call numbers 610 and 618.92.
YO UR LIBRARY’S NAME
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Visit Soon!
LAUGH WITH YOUR LIBRARY
Why did the spider go to the doctor?
It caught a “bug.”
When are people rude to their
doctors?
when they stick out their tongues
Why did the silly kid call his doctor a
thief?
She “took” his temperature.
What did the doctor tell the patient
who had a banana in each ear, a
raisin in each eye, and a carrot
sticking out of her nose?
“You’re not eating right.”
What did the doctor say to the patient
who felt like a pair of curtains?
“Pull yourself together.”
What did the doctor say to the patient
who felt like a rubber band?
“Snap out of it!”
Why did the doctor prescribe perfume
for her patient with a stuffy nose?
It made him smell better.
Why did the silly patient have trouble
when the doctor told him to
drink water thirty minutes before
bedtime?
He was full after drinking for five
minutes.
Find more riddles
in books
at your library!
Going
to
the
Doctor
200 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
SMILE! YOUR LIBRARY HAS
BOOKS ABOUT GETTING
GLASSES
Picture Books
Brown, Marc—Arthur’s Eyes
Brown, Marc—Glasses for D.W.
Willson, Sarah—Hocus-Focus
Chapter Books
Brinson, Cynthia—Seeing Sugar
Park, Barbara—Junie B., First Grader
(at Last!)
Information Books
Dooley, Virginia—I Need Glasses:
My Visit to the Optometrist
Shaughnessy, Diane—Let’s Talk about
Needing Glasses
Information about Eye Care
Curry, Don L.—Take Care of Your Eyes
Nelson, Robin—Seeing and Hearing Well
How to Find Others
Search the library’s catalog
for “eye juvenile literature”
and “eyeglasses fiction.”
Browse nonfiction sections
for call numbers 611.84,
612.84, and 617.7.
LAUGH WITH YOUR LIBRARY
How did the eye doctor know her
patient needed glasses before
examining him?
He came in through the window.
Why did the leopard go to the eye
doctor?
It kept seeing spots.
Why didn’t the silly kid want to have
her eyes checked?
She preferred them plain blue.
What will you get if you never clean
your glasses?
“dirty looks”
What will your glasses become if you
never clean them?
“specked-tacles”
What happened when the optician fell
into the lens-grinding machine?
She made a “spectacle” of herself.
Where did the eye doctor build an
office?
on a “site” for sore eyes
What do eye doctors like to eat?
“see-food” (seafood)
You’ll find more riddles in books at
YO UR LIBRARY’S NAME
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Visit Soon!
You
and
Your
Eyes
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 201
LAUGH WITH YOUR LIBRARY
What do cats order at Dairy Queen?
“mice-cream” cones
Why do cats have whiskers?
Without hands, it’s hard to shave.
What do you call robbers who steal
cats?
“purr” snatchers
What’s soft and furry and says “Beow”?
a cat with a cold
What happened when the dog went to
the flea circus?
It “stole the show.”
Why shouldn’t you force napping
puppies to tell the truth?
Let sleeping dogs “lie.”
Why did the attack dog miss obedience
school yesterday?
It took a “sic” (sick) day.
Why don’t Dalmatians like to play
hide-and-seek?
They’re always “spotted.”
Find many more riddles and stories at
YO UR LIBRARY’S NAME
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Visit Soon!
SMILE!
YO UR LI BRARY HAS
BOOKS ABOUT PETS
Picture Books about Pets
Calhoun, Mary—Henry the Cat series
Galdone, Paul—Puss in Boots
Meddaugh, Susan—Martha series
Pilkey, Dav—Dog Breath
Pilkey, Dav—Kat Kong
Zion, Gene—Harry the Dirty Dog
Chapter Books about Pets
Alexander, Lloyd—Time Cat
Alexander, Lloyd—Town Cats and
Other Tales
Birney, Betty—Humphrey series
Bunting, Eve—The Summer of Riley
Graeber, Charlotte—Fudge
Howe, James—Bunnicula series
King-Smith, Dick—Harry’s Mad
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds—Shiloh series
Swallow, Pamela Curtis—Melvil and
Dewey in the Fast Lane
Vande Velde, Vivian—Smart Dog
Books about Pet Care
See books with call number 636.
PET
CARE
202 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
PICK A PUMPKIN BOOK
AT YOUR LIBRARY
Books about Growing Pumpkins
Burckhardt, Ann—Pumpkins
Fridell, Ron—The Life Cycle of a
Pumpkin
Gibbons, Gail—The Pumpkin Book
King, Elizabeth—Pumpkin Patch
Sloat, Teri—Patty’s Pumpkin Patch
Titherington, Jeanne—Pumpkin,
Pumpkin
Books about Buying Pumpkins
Hutchings, Amy—Picking Apples and
Pumpkins
Rockwell, Anne—Apples and Pumpkins
Stories about Pumpkins
DeFelice, Cynthia—Mule Eggs
Dillon, Jana—Jeb Scarecrow’s Pumpkin
Patch
Gaines, Isabel—Pooh’s Pumpkin
Herman, R. A.—The Littlest Pumpkin
Kroll, Steven—The Biggest Pumpkin Ever
Silverman, Erica—Big Pumpkin
How to Find Other Pumpkin Books
Search the library’s catalog for
“jack-o’-lanterns” and “pumpkins.”
Browse nonfiction sections for call
numbers 635.62, 641.3562, and 736.9.
Check our display of Halloween books.
Laugh with Your Library
What would happen if a giant trampled
your pumpkin patch?
You’d get “squash.”
What can fix a broken jack-o’-lantern?
a pumpkin “patch”
What do you call chubby jack-o’-
lanterns?
“plump-kins”
What do wild dogs in India carve on
Halloween?
“jackal-lanterns”
Why do we carve pumpkins on
Halloween?
Strawberries aren’t in season.
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Visit Soon!
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 203
Why Was Rip Van Winkle
Scared Of Going To
The Library After His
Twenty-year Nap?
His books were way overdue!
DON’T GET CAUGHT NAPPING!
Renew Your Books Ahead of Time.
RENEW BY PHONE.
Call [phone number].
Have your library card and materials
next to the phone when you call.
RENEW BY COMPUTER.
Visit [your library’s website].
See directions on the back.
RENEW IN PERSON.
Bring your library card and materials
to the circulation desk.
HOW TO RENEW YOUR
BOOKS BY COMPUTER
• Go to [your library’s website].
• Click on My Account.
• Enter the bar code number on the
back of your library card where it
asks for Library Bar Code Number.
• Enter the last four digits of your bar
code number where it asks for PIN.
• Click on Renew My Materials.
• If you want to renew everything,
click on Renew All Items.
• If you want to renew only some of
your materials, click in the circle in
front of each item you are renewing.
Then click on Renew Selected Items.
• The new due date will appear on the
computer screen.
PLEASE NOTE: You can’t renew
materials you’ve renewed before or
items with reserves on them.
FINES FOR
OVERDUE MATERIALS
Books, magazines, recorded books,
and CDs—10 cents per day
Videocassettes and DVDs—
$1.00 per day
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
204 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
BOOKS ARE OUR TREASURES.
LET ’S TREAS URE OUR
BOOKS.
Why did the book have to go
to the doctor?
Somebody hurt its “spine.”
DON’T PUT BOOKS DOWN WITH
THEIR PAGES OPEN.
What would you call Cynthia Rylant’s
dog books if someone read them
with dirty hands?
Henry and “Smudge”
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YO UR HANDS
ARE CLEAN BEFORE YO U READ.
What would you call Stan and Jan’s
books if someone spilled juice on
them?
the “Beren-stained” Bears
KEEP BOOKS AWAY FROM FOOD,
DRINKS, AND OTHER MESSY ST UFF.
What should you do if your dog starts
eating your library book?
Take the words right out of its
mouth.
PUT BOOKS WHERE PETS CAN’T
REACH THEM.
When are library books
like puppies?
when their pages are dog-eared
BOO KS ARE OUR
TREAS URES .
LET ’S TREAS URE OUR
BOOKS.
Take good care of your library books.
Use this bookmark to keep your place.
Don’t bend down the corners of pages.
Don’t put books down with their
pages open.
Make sure your hands are clean
before you read.
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 205
LAUGH WITH YOUR LIBRARY
Why do birds fly south for the winter?
It’s too far to walk.
Callie Anderson
What do you call Thomas Edison’s
electric lightbulb?
a “bright idea”
Charlie Granet
What do dogs order at Dairy Queen?
ice-cream “bones”
Willie Lynch
What happened when the rag doll
made a movie?
It “flopped.”
Sophie Spurgetis
What’s mean and green and picks on
little tadpoles?
a “bully-frog”
Molly Stahl
Where do butchers dance?
the “meat ball”
Pearl Young
Share These Laughs
with Friends!
206 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Who writes nursery rhymes and makes
many mistakes?
Mother “Goofs”
Who writes both nursery rhymes and
scary stories?
Mother “Goose-bumps”
What would you get if you dropped your
Mother Goose book in the mud?
nursery “grime”
What cow can jump higher than the
moon?
They all can. The moon can’t jump.
Why did the cow jump over the moon?
to get to the Milky Way
Why did Mother Goose have trouble
eating?
Her dish ran away with her spoon.
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Who writes nursery rhymes and makes
many mistakes?
Mother “Goofs”
Who writes both nursery rhymes and
scary stories?
Mother “Goose-bumps”
What would you get if you dropped your
Mother Goose book in the mud?
nursery “grime”
What cow can jump higher than the
moon?
They all can. The moon can’t jump.
Why did the cow jump over the moon?
to get to the Milky Way
Why did Mother Goose have trouble
eating?
Her dish ran away with her spoon.
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 207
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Where do birds and squirrels go when
they want to read books?
“branch” libraries
What do basketball players borrow from
the library?
“tall tales”
What do elves borrow from the library?
“short stories”
What do rabbits borrow from the library?
“cotton-tales” (cottontails)
What do skunks borrow from the library?
best “smellers” (best sellers)
What do snakes borrow from the library?
“hiss-tory” books
What happened when the lion read a
riddle book at the library?
It “roared” with laughter.
What did the early bird catch at the
library?
the “book-worm”
You’ll find more riddles in books at
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Please Visit Soon!
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Where do birds and squirrels go when
they want to read books?
“branch” libraries
What do basketball players borrow from
the library?
“tall tales”
What do elves borrow from the library?
“short stories”
What do rabbits borrow from the library?
“cotton-tales” (cottontails)
What do skunks borrow from the library?
best “smellers” (best sellers)
What do snakes borrow from the library?
“hiss-tory” books
What happened when the lion read a
riddle book at the library?
It “roared” with laughter.
What did the early bird catch at the
library?
the “book-worm”
You’ll find more riddles in books at
Your Library’s Name
your street address
your city, state, zip
your phone number
your website address
Please Visit Soon!
208 From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009).
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY and FRIENDS
What did one ghost say to the other
ghost?
“Do you believe in people?”
What’s the first thing ghosts do when
they get in a car?
fasten their “sheet-belts”
What happened when the banana saw
a ghost?
The banana “split.”
What happened when the potato saw
a ghost?
It jumped right out of its skin.
What do blackbirds become after
seeing a ghost?
“scared-crows”
What do kittens become after seeing
a ghost?
“scaredy-cats”
Why do people who’ve seen ghosts
often become clowns?
They’re “scared silly.”
What did the ghost win in the scaring
contest?
a “boo” ribbon
What happens when actors perform
for ghosts?
The audience “boos.”
Why will reading ghost stories cool
you off on hot summer days?
They’re “chilling.”
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY and FRIENDS
What did one ghost say to the other
ghost?
“Do you believe in people?”
What’s the first thing ghosts do when
they get in a car?
fasten their “sheet-belts”
What happened when the banana saw
a ghost?
The banana “split.”
What happened when the potato saw
a ghost?
It jumped right out of its skin.
What do blackbirds become after
seeing a ghost?
“scared-crows”
What do kittens become after seeing
a ghost?
“scaredy-cats”
Why do people who’ve seen ghosts
often become clowns?
They’re “scared silly.”
What did the ghost win in the scaring
contest?
a “boo” ribbon
What happens when actors perform
for ghosts?
The audience “boos.”
Why will reading ghost stories cool
you off on hot summer days?
They’re “chilling.”
From Dee Anderson, Reading Is Funny! (Chicago: ALA, 2009). 209
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What falls down in winter but never gets
hurt?
snow
What’s white and cold and falls up?
a mixed-up snowflake
Why did the silly kid wear only one boot?
The snow was just one foot deep.
How do snowmen get information?
They search the “Winter-net.”
What do snowmen put in their coffee?
“cold cream”
What do snowmen win at the Olympics?
“cold” medals
Why is Frosty the Snowman popular?
He’s really “cool.”
Where does Frosty go to dance?
the “snow ball”
Where does Frosty keep his money?
a “snow bank”
What does Frosty eat for breakfast?
“snow flakes”
What does Frosty eat with spaghetti?
snowballs
SHARE THESE RIDDLES
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What falls down in winter but never gets
hurt?
snow
What’s white and cold and falls up?
a mixed-up snowflake
Why did the silly kid wear only one boot?
The snow was just one foot deep.
How do snowmen get information?
They search the “Winter-net.”
What do snowmen put in their coffee?
“cold cream”
What do snowmen win at the Olympics?
“cold” medals
Why is Frosty the Snowman popular?
He’s really “cool.”
Where does Frosty go to dance?
the “snow ball”
Where does Frosty keep his money?
a “snow bank”
What does Frosty eat for breakfast?
“snow flakes”
What does Frosty eat with spaghetti?
snowballs

211
Index
A
Abiyoyo (Seeger), 73
activities
Can You Fill In the Blanks? 17, 107,
190, 197
Crack the Code! 6, 18, 27–28, 37,
193–194, 197
Who Said That? 6, 17, 27, 191, 197
Who Wrote That? 6, 16, 27, 192, 197
Why Should You Go to the Library? 17,
37, 195–196
Adler, David A., 86
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain), 79
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Twain), 79
Agent A to Agent Z (Rash), 67
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good,
Very Bad Day (Viorst), 67
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll), 80
aliens (space), 159
alligators, 107
Alphabet Soup (Dahl), 176
Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays (Anderson), 42,
178
amphibians, 98
anagrams, 30, 46
Anansi and the Talking Melon (Kimmel), 73
And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon
(Stevens and Crummel), 67
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry
Street (Seuss), 64
Anderson, Dee, 42, 178
Animal Jokes (Rosenberg), 177
Animal Quack-Ups (Dahl), 176
animals, 97–117
bulletin boards for any time, 13
riddles about specific books, 64, 69
with spots, 98, 112
Talking Turnips, 149–150
that hop, 97, 110, 111, 114
See also specific animals
Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery), 80
antelopes, 107
ANTics! (Hepworth), 178
ants, 99
April (month), 14
April Fools’ Day, 133–134
“The Arabian Nights,” 74
Artful Antics (Donahue), 177
Arthur series (Hoban), 67
Arthur’s Chicken Pox (Brown), 68
Asch, Frank, 72
astronauts, 159–160
astronomers, 160
athletes, 13
atlases, 56
authors
mystery riddles, 86
pretend, 91–95
riddles about literacy, 51–53
autobiographies, 54
B
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” 87
Babbitt, Natalie, 84
Babe and Me (Gutman), 80
Babe: The Gallant Pig (King-Smith), 80
ballet, 154
Barrett, Judi, 68
Barrie, James M., 83–84
Bartholomew and the Oobleck (Seuss), 64
baseball, 144–145
basketball, 145
bats (animals), 107–108
Baum, L. Frank, 85
bears, 108
Beastly Laughs (Moore), 177
“Beauty and the Beast,” 74
beavers, 108
bees, 99
Bemelmans, Ludwig, 71
Ben and Me (Lawson), 80
Berenstain Bears series (Berenstain), 68
Berenstain, Stan and Jan, 68
Bernstein, Joanne E., 30, 46, 178
Biggest Riddle Book in the World
(Rosenbloom), 178
birds, 98, 102–103
birthdays, 119–125
book care
bulletin boards for any time, 12
riddles about literacy, 54–55
riddles about specific books, 70
212 Index
book jackets, 12–13, 16
book reviews, 55
bookmarks
creating, 24
distributing, 35
jester, 105
pet, 104, 105, 107
reproducibles/samples, 198–205
books, 63–87
bookworms, 101
boxing, 145–146
Brett, Jan, 70
Brown, Jeff, 81
Brown, Marc, 68, 176
Brown, Margaret Wise, 69
bulletin boards
for all boards, 11–12
animals, 13
for any time, 12–13
book care, 12
book jackets, 12–13
interactive, 13, 16–18
Loony Library, 6, 16, 91–96
mysteries, 13
patterns for cutouts, 182–183
people, 13
seasonal, 14–15
sharing riddles, 24
space, 13
sports, 13
Talking Turnips, 5–6, 13, 17,
149–153
Burns, Marilyn, 30, 46, 178
Burroughs, Edgar Rice, 84
Burton, Virginia Lee, 71
butterflies, 99
Byars, Betsy, 81
C
cake, birthday, 122–123
Calhoun, Mary, 70
call numbers, 31, 33–34
Cam Jensen series (Adler), 86
camels, 108
Can You Fill In the Blanks? 17, 107,
190, 197
canaries, 102–103
Cannon, Janell, 72
Caps for Sale (Slobodkina), 68
car racing, 146
card games
Loony Library, 26–27, 187–189
Riddle Roundup, 6, 27
Talking Turnips, 5–6, 26,
184–186
Carle, Eric, 71
Carroll, Lewis, 80
cars, 151
The Cat in the Hat (Seuss), 64–65
catalogs, 34
caterpillars, 99
cats, 103–104
Cerf, Bennett, 2, 176, 178
A Chair for My Mother (Williams), 68
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(Dahl), 80
Charlotte’s Web (White), 80
cheetahs, 108
Chewy Chuckles (Dahl), 176
“Chicken Little,” 74
children sharing riddles
daily announcements, 19
illustrated riddles, 20
making up riddles, 46
mini ha-ha’s, 20–21
riddle jar, 22–23
using children’s riddles, 23–24
Children’s Book Week, 32, 135
chimpanzees, 109
Chinese New Year, 130–131
Chitchat Chuckles (Ziegler), 177
Chocolate, Deborah M. Newton,
26, 178
Christmas, 15, 140–142, 154
A Christmas Carol (Dickens), 81
The Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis), 81
Chrysanthemum (Henkes), 68
“Cinderella,” 74
circuses, 69, 71, 114, 154–155
Cleary, Beverly, 84
clothes, 151
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
(Barrett), 68
Cole, Joanna, 86–87, 176
community events, 36–38
computer searches, 57–58
Corduroy (Freeman), 68
Crack the Code! 6, 18, 27–28, 37,
193–194, 197
Cracker Jackson (Byars), 81
Creepy Crawlers (Moore), 177
creepy crawlies, 98–101
creepy creatures, 126–129
The Cricket in Times Square (Selden),
81
Critter Jitters (Ziegler), 177
crocodiles, 107, 109
Cronin, Doreen, 69
Crummel, Susan Stevens, 67
Curious George series (Rey), 68, 112
D
Dadey, Debbie, 85
Dahl, Michael, 176
Dahl, Roald, 80
daily announcements, 19
D.E.A.R. Day, 135
Decode Secret Messages, 37
deer, 109
demolition derby, 146
dePaola, Tomie, 71–72, 74, 76, 78
Dickens, Charles, 81
dictionaries, 56–57, 101
dinosaurs, 101–102, 114
dish and spoon puppets for Mother
Goose riddles, 40
Doctor Dolittle series (Lofting), 81
Dog Breath! The Horrible Trouble with
Hally Tosis (Pilkey), 69
dogs, 104–105
dogsled racing, 146
dolphins, 109
Donahue, Jill, 177
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Stevenson),
81
Dr. Seuss books, 64–67
Dr. Seuss’s birthday, 32, 64, 132
Dracula (Stoker), 81
dragons, 102
Duck for President (Cronin), 69
E
easies, 67–73
Easter, 14, 134–135, 157
Egg Hunt game, 6, 29
eggs, 88, 155–157
Eight Ate (Terban), 31, 178
Eisenberg, Lisa, 175
elephants, 109
Eloise series (Knight), 69
“The Emperor’s New Clothes,” 74
encyclopedias, 57
Ernst, Lisa Campbell, 69, 73
F
fairy tales and folktales, 73–79. See
also Talking Turnips
fall (season), 13–14, 122, 137–138
“The Farmer in the Dell,” 69
ferrets, 105
fiction, 79–85
Fiddle With a Riddle (Bernstein), 30,
46, 178
Fin M’Coul (dePaola), 74
Find Your Partner game, 6, 28–29
Index 213
fireflies, 99–100
fish, 98, 105, 109–110
“The Fisherman and His Wife,” 75
The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew
Cubbins (Seuss), 65
Flat Stanley (Brown), 81
The Fluent Reader (Rasinki), 178
Fluffy series (McMullan), 69
folktales. See fairy tales and folktales
food and drinks
birthday riddles, 122–124
eggs, 88, 155–157
Talking Turnips, 152
football, 146, 148
Fourth of July, 136–137
Fox in Socks (Seuss), 65
Fox, Lori Miller, 178
foxes, 110
Frances series (Hoban), 69
Frankenstein (Shelley), 81–82
Freeman, Don, 68
Frog and Toad series (Lobel), 69
“The Frog Prince,” 75, 110
frogs and toads, 69, 75, 110, 116
Funny Riddles (Horsfall), 177
Funny Side Up! (Thaler), 46, 178
Funny You Should Ask (Terban), 46,
178
G
Galactic Giggles (Dahl), 176
Game-Day Gigglers (Schultz), 177
games to play
birthday game riddles, 121
card games, 26–27
Crack the Code! 6, 18, 27–28
Egg Hunt, 6, 29
Find Your Partner, 6, 28–29
Get It Together, 6, 28
Loony Library, 28–29, 187–189
Loony Library Book Hunt, 6,
33–34
Pass It On, 29–30
quiet games, 25–26
Riddle Roundup, 6, 27
Talking Turnips, 5–6, 26, 28–29,
184–186
that teach library skills, 31–34
Toll-Bridge Troll, 6, 30–31, 46
Who Said That? 6, 17, 27
Who Wrote That? 6, 16, 27
“Georgie Porgie,” 87
Get It Together game, 6, 28
“The Ghost Bridge” (puppet skit),
30, 42, 165–169
ghosts, 14, 126–127, 129
giants, 63–64, 76, 109
Giggle Bubbles (Ziegler), 177
Ginger Jumps (Ernst), 69
“The Gingerbread Man,” 75
giraffes, 111
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears,”
75
Goodnight Moon (Brown), 69
Goofballs (Ziegler), 177
Goosebumps series (Stine), 82
gorillas, 111
Grambs, Alison, 178
Green Eggs and Ham (Seuss), 65
Gregory, the Terrible Eater (Sharmat),
69
Groundhog Day, 111, 131
groundhogs, 111
Gruelle, Johnny, 84
guinea pigs, 105
Guinness World Records, 86
Gutman, Dan, 80
gymnastics, 147
H
Ha! Ha! Ha! 1000+ Jokes, Riddles,
Facts, and More (Thomas), 178
Hall, Katy, 175
Halloween, 14, 138. See also “The
Ghost Bridge”
hamsters, 105
“Hansel and Gretel,” 75
Hanukkah, 139
Harry Potter series (Rowling), 82,
129, 137
Harry the Dirty Dog (Zion), 70
Harry’s Dog (Porte), 70
The Hat (Brett), 70
Hatchet (Paulsen), 82
“The Headless Horseman.” See
“The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow”
Heidi (Spyri), 82
Henkes, Kevin, 68, 72
Henry and Mudge series (Rylant), 70
Hepworth, Cathi, 178
“Hey, Diddle, Diddle,” 87
“Hickory, Dickory, Dock,” 87
Highlights magazine, 19, 179
The Hink Pink Book (Burns), 30, 46,
178
hink pinks, 30, 46, 178
hippos, 111
Historical Jokes (Rosenberg), 177
Hoban, Lillian, 67–68
Hoban, Russell, 69
Holiday Jokes (Rosenberg), 177
holidays, 14, 16, 130–142
homophones, 31, 44
Hooway for Wodney Wat (Lester), 70
horses, 105–106
Horsfall, Jacqueline, 177, 178
Horton Hatches the Egg (Seuss), 65
Horton Hears a Who! (Seuss), 65
Hot Fudge (Howe), 70
Hot Potato, 6, 29
Hot-Air Henry (Calhoun), 70
How Do You Get There? (Donahue),
177
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
(Seuss), 65–66
How to Eat Fried Worms (Rockwell),
82
Howe, James, 70, 72
A Huge Hog Is a Big Pig (McCall),
30, 46, 178
Humphrey, the Lost Whale (Tokuda),
86
“Humpty Dumpty,” 87–88
The Hundred and One Dalmatians
(Smith), 82–83
hyenas, 111
I
“I Know an Old Lady Who
Swallowed a Fly,” 70
ice cream, 123–124
ice hockey, 147
idioms, 44
illustrated riddles, 20
illustrators, 58
imaginary books, 91–95
Imogene’s Antlers (Small), 70
informational booths at community
events, 36–38
in-line skating, 147
interactive bulletin boards
Loony Library, 16
mystery word, 17–18
picture matching, 13, 17
secret messages, 18
Talking Turnips, 17
invisible characters, 63
Irving, Washington, 83, 84
Itching and Twitching (McKissack), 75
“The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” 70
J
“Jack and Jill,” 88
“Jack and the Beanstalk,” 76
214 Index
“Jack Be Nimble,” 88
“Jack Sprat,” 88
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
(dePaola), 76
Joke and Riddle Ballyhoo (Horsfall),
178
Jones, Marcia Thornton, 85
Judy Moody Saves the World
(McDonald), 83
Junie B. Jones series (Park), 83
K
kangaroos, 111
Kasza, Keiko, 73
Kat Kong (Pilkey), 70
Keene, Carolyn, 86
Kimmel, Eric A., 73
King Arthur, 76
King-Smith, Dick, 80
Knight, Hilary, 69
koalas, 111
Kwanzaa, 142
L
ladybugs, 100
Laughs on a Leash (Dahl), 176
Lawson, Robert, 80
Leaf, Munro, 72–73
Leap Day, 132
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
(Irving), 83
leopards, 111
leprechauns, 83
Lester, Helen, 70
Let the Fun Begin (Peterson et al.),
177
Lewis, C. S., 81
libraries
animal riddles, 101
games that teach library skills,
31–34
Library Card Sign-Up Month,
137
riddles about literacy, 58–59
Library Card Sign-Up Month, 137
lions, 111–112
literacy, riddles about, 51–62
“Little Bo Peep,” 88
“Little Boy Blue,” 88–89
The Little Engine That Could (Piper),
71
Little House series (Wilder), 83
“Little Jack Horner,” 89
“Little Miss Muffet,” 89, 90
“The Little Red Hen,” 76
“Little Red Riding Hood,” 76
The Littles series (Petersen), 83
Lobel, Arnold, 28, 69
Lofting, Hugh, 81
Loony Library
bulletin boards, 6, 16, 91–96
games to play, 26–29, 33–34,
187–189
The Lorax (Seuss), 66
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
(Tolkien), 83
Lunchbox Laughs (Ziegler), 177
M
Madeline series (Bemelmans), 71
magazines, 59
The Magic School Bus series (Cole),
86–87
Magic Tree House series (Osborne),
83
Magical Mischief (Walton), 177
making up riddles
with children, 46
creating spin-offs, 43–44
keeping a riddle file, 47
new riddles, 44–46
mammals, 98
Martha series (Meddaugh), 71
martial arts, 147–148
“Mary Had a Little Lamb,” 89
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,” 89
McCall, Francis X., 30, 46, 178
McCully, Emily Arnold, 71
McDonald, Megan, 83
McDonnell, Patrick, 45
McElligot’s Pool (Seuss), 66
McKissack, Patricia C., 75
McMullan, Kate, 69
Meddaugh, Susan, 71
meteors, 160
mice, 106, 112
Miggs and Jiggs, 28, 40–41, 169–174
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
(Burton), 71
Milky Way, 160
Milne, A. A., 85
Mini Ha-Ha’s, 20–21
Mirette on the High Wire (McCully),
71
The Mixed-Up Chameleon (Carle), 71
monkeys, 112
Monster Laughs (Dahl), 176
Montgomery, L. M., 80
moon, 160
Moore, Mark, 177
Mooser, Stephen, 175
Moss, Marissa, 80
Most, Bernard, 178
Mother Goose, 40, 87
movies, books that are also, 63, 69
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
(O’Brien), 83
mummies, 127–128
Mutts (McDonnell), 45
mysteries, 13, 85–86
mystery words, 17–18
N
Nancy Drew series (Keene), 86
Nate the Great series (Sharmat), 86
National Library Week, 32, 135
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds, 84
New Year’s Day, 130
New Year’s Eve, 142
newsletters, 24
newspapers, 24, 59–60
nonfiction, 86–87
nursery rhymes, 87–90
Nutty Names (Ziegler), 177
O
O’Brien, Robert C., 83
ocean animals, 107
O’Connor, Jane, 72
octopuses, 112–113
Officer Buckle and Gloria (Rathmann),
71
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (Seuss), 66
“Old King Cole,” 89
“Old Mother Hubbard,” 89
“Old Woman Who Lived in a
Shoe,” 89–90
Oliver Button Is a Sissy (dePaola),
71–72
Osborne, Mary Pope, 83
otters, 113
outer space, 160
P
paper bag puppets, 36–37, 40,
206–209
Park, Barbara, 83
parrots, 103
Pass It On game, 29–30
pattern riddles, 46
“Paul Bunyan,” 77
Paulsen, Gary, 82
people, bulletin boards for any time,
13
Peter Pan (Barrie), 83–84
“Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater,” 90
Index 215
Petersen, John, 83
Peterson, Scott K., 177
pets, 102–107
Pfeffer, Susan Beth, 175
Piaget, Jean, 1
picture matching, 13, 17
“The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” 77
Pilkey, Dav, 69, 70
Piper, Watty, 71
pirates, 84, 157
planetariums, 160
planets, 160–161
poetry, 60
polar bears, 108
The Polar Express (Van Allsburg), 72
porcupines, 113
Porte, Barbara Ann, 70
Potter, Beatrix, 73
Preller, James, 28
presents, 124, 142
“The Princess and the Pea,” 77
pterodactyls, 101–102
public relations, 35–38
“The Punch Line” (puppet skit),
172–174
Punny Places (Swanson), 177
puppet skits
“The Ghost Bridge,” 30, 42,
165–169
presenting, 40–42
“The Punch Line,” 172–174
“The Riddle Book,” 169–171
puppets
asking riddles with, 40
dish and spoon, 40, 206
making with children, 39–40
paper bag, 36–37, 40, 207–209
presenting skits with, 40–42
snowman, 108, 159
“Puss in Boots,” 77
puzzles, 36
Q
“The Queen of Hearts,” 90
quiet games, 25–26
R
Rabbit-cadabra! (Howe), 72
rabbits, 106, 113–114
Raggedy Ann series (Gruelle), 84
rain, 14, 157–158
Ramona series (Cleary), 84
Ranger Rick magazine, 19, 179
“Rapunzel,” 77
Rash, Andy, 67
Rasinski, Timothy V., 2, 178
Rathmann, Peggy, 71
rats, 114
Read a Riddle, 38
reading
riddles about literacy, 60–62
riddles about specific books, 82
space riddles, 160
reference books, 56–57, 101
reptiles, 98, 110
Rey, H. A. and Margret, 68
rhinoceroses, 114
rhymes, 43
Ribsy (Cleary), 84
“The Riddle Book” (puppet skit),
169–171
riddle file, 47
Riddle Jar, 22–23
Riddle of the Week, 6, 31–32
Riddle Riot (Fox), 178
Riddle Roundup, 6, 27
The Riddle Streak (Pfeffer), 175
Riddle-De-Dee (Cerf), 2, 178
Riddles (Rosenberg), 177
Riddles and More Riddles! (Cerf), 176
“Rip Van Winkle” (Irving), 84
Rissinger, Matt, 177
Roaring with Laughter (Dahl), 176
Robin Hood, 77
Rockwell, Thomas, 82
rodents, 102
Rosenberg, Pam, 177
Rosenbloom, Joseph, 177, 178
Rowling, J. K., 82
“Rub-a-Dub-Dub,” 90
“Rumpelstiltskin,” 78
Rylant, Cynthia, 12, 70
S
School Buzz (Dahl), 176
School Jokes (Rosenberg), 177
School Jokes (Rosenbloom), 177
School Kidders (Ziegler), 177
Schultz, Sam, 177
Scieszka, Jon, 72
seals, 114
The Search for Delicious (Babbitt), 84
seasonal bulletin boards, 14–15
secret messages, 18, 37
Seeger, Pete, 73
Seldon, George, 81
sharks, 114–115
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman, 86
Sharmat, Mitchell, 69
Sheila Rae, the Brave (Henkes), 72
shelf order, 34
Shelley, Mary, 81–82
Shiloh (Naylor), 84
“The Shoemaker and the Elves,” 78
Shrek (Steig), 72
Silly Sports (Donahue), 177
Sir Small and the Dragonfly
(O’Connor), 72
Sit! Stay! Laugh! A Book of Pet Jokes
(Dahl), 176
skateboarding, 148
skating, 147
skunks, 69, 72, 115
Skyfire (Asch), 72
The Sky’s the Limit (Walton), 177
“Sleeping Beauty,” 78
Slobodkina, Esphyr, 68
Small, David, 70
Smell That Clue! (Mooser), 175
Smith, Dodie, 82–83
snakes, 115–116
The Sneetches and Other Stories
(Seuss), 66–67
snow, 14, 158–159
“Snow White,” 78
snowboarding, 148
snowman puppets, 108, 159
soccer, 148
space, 13, 159–161
spiders, 100
Spooky Jokes (Rosenbloom), 177
Spooky Riddles (Brown), 176
Spooky Sillies (Moore), 177
sports, 13, 143–148, 152–153
spring (season), 14, 133
spy stories, 64, 67
Spyri, Joanna, 82
squirrels, 116
St. Patrick’s Day, 83, 132–133
stars, 161
Steig, William, 72, 73
Stellaluna (Cannon), 72
Stevens, Janet, 67
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 81, 84
Stine, R. L., 82
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other
Fairly Stupid Tales (Scieszka),
72
Stinky Riddles (Hall and Eisenberg),
176
Stoker, Bram, 81
The Story of Ferdinand (Leaf), 72–73
Strega Nona (dePaola), 78
The Substitute Teacher from the Black
Lagoon (Thaler), 175
summer (season), 104, 135–136
sun, 161
Super Goofy Jokes (Horsfall), 178
216 Index
superheroes, 161–162
Swanson, June, 177
swimming, 148
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Steig),
73
T
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Potter), 73
Talk, Talk (Chocolate), 26, 178
Talking Turnips
animal riddles, 149–150
around the house riddles,
150–151
bulletin boards, 5–6, 13, 17,
149–153
car riddles, 151
clothes riddles, 151
folktale, 163–165
food and drink riddles, 152
games to play, 5–6, 26, 28–29,
184–186
illustrated riddles, 20
sports riddles, 152–153
Who Said That? 17
Tarzan (Burroughs), 84
Terban, Marvin, 31, 46, 178
Thaler, Mike, 46, 175, 178
Thanksgiving, 15, 138–139
There’s an Ant in Anthony (Most), 178
thesaurus, 57
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose
(Seuss), 67
Thomas, Lyn, 178
“The Three Billy Goats Gruff,”
78–79
“Three Blind Mice,” 90
“The Three Little Pigs,” 79
Three-Alarm Jokes (Dahl), 176
tigers, 116
toads, 75, 110, 116
Tokuda, Wendy, 86
Tolkien, J. R. R., 83
The Toll-Bridge Troll (Wolff), 30, 40,
176, 178
Toll-Bridge Troll game, 6, 30–31, 46
“Tom Thumb,” 79
“Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son,” 90
“The Tortoise and the Hare,” 79
Totally Silly Jokes (Grambs), 178
Treasure Island (Stevenson), 84
triceratops, 114
The Trumpet of the Swan (White), 84
turtles, 106–107, 116–117
Twain, Mark, 79
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the
Sea (Verne), 85
U
Under Arrest (Dahl), 176
unicorns, 117
V
Valentine’s Day, 14, 131–132
vampires, 81, 85, 128
Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots
(Dadey and Jones), 85
Van Allsburg, Chris, 72
Verne, Jules, 85
Viorst, Judith, 67
W
Wacky Jokes (Rissinger and Yates),
177
Wacky Wheelies (Ziegler), 177
Walter’s Tail (Ernst), 73
Walton, Rick and Ann, 177
websites, 24
“Wee Willie Winkie,” 90
werewolves, 128–129
whales, 117
What Will You Find in the Library?
17–18
What’s in a Name? (Donahue), 177
White, E. B., 80, 84
Who Said That? 6, 17, 27, 191, 197
Who Wrote That? 6, 16, 27, 192,
197
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
(Cole), 176
Why Should You Go to the Library?
17, 37, 195–196
wild animals, 107–117. See also specific
animals
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 83
Williams, Vera, 68
Winnie-the-Pooh (Milne), 85
winter (season), 14, 139–140
witches, 129
Wolff, Patricia Rae, 30, 40, 176, 178
The Wolf’s Chicken Stew (Kasza), 73
The Wonderful World of Oz (Baum),
85
worms, 100–101
Y
Yates, Philip, 177
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
(Seuss), 67, 117
Z
zebras, 117
Ziegler, Mark, 177
Zion, Gene, 70
Zoodles (Dahl), 176
zoos, 111, 112, 117–118
For more information on these and other great titles visit www.alastore.ala.org!
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Books in Bloom: Make great props in a reasonable amount of time with the
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American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
1-866-SHOP ALA
(1-866-746-7252)
www.alastore.ala.org
Dee Anderson offers innovative ways to use riddles to make reading fun and keep
readers coming back for more. Based on her work with children in schools and public
libraries, she shares hundreds of riddles on popular subjects, plus tips to help you
Encourage children to read more through puppetry, • bookmaking, and a variety of
games and activity sheets
• Incorporate riddles into lesson plans and programs using the themed chapters
(animals, holidays, reading, and much more)
• Create interactive bulletin boards using the directions and patterns included
• Promote your services and teach library skills with riddles
This book is brimming with scripts for puppet skits, sample PR materials, reproducible games,
and easy-to-implement ideas that encourage even the most reluctant readers. School librarians,
children’s librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers will find this a welcome aid to reinvigorate
reading programs and storytimes.
Reproducible materials can be found on the book’s website at www.ala.org/editions/extras/
Anderson09577.
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