A thoughtful and lively exploration of more than 70 years, from 1920 to today, of the literature of laughter. Borrowing techniques from both book reviewing and literary criticism, an esteemed children's book authority explores three basic types of humor: talking animals and otherwise anthropomorphized animals used for comic purposes ; tall tales and frontier humor; and domestic or family comedy. Along the way the author also celebrates some neglected authors and offers fresh and sometimes revisionist views of established classics.