NO LAUGHING, NO SMILING, NO GIGGLING

Stevenson reprises Don’t Make Me Laugh (1999): a grumpy alligator named Mr. Frimdimpny again proclaims himself “in charge,” warning that any reader who so much as cracks a smile has to turn back to the first page and start over. Children willingly buying into this rule stand no chance of ever reaching the end, as a string of silly incidents ensues—involving “Mr. Freshly Prest Panz, Jr.,” the world’s best-dressed man; the world’s tiniest circus (don’t turn the page too quickly: you’ll blow it away); an errant red balloon at a concert; and Frimdimpny’s own, all too ticklish, tail. As usual, the casual, perfect art looks as if it took about an hour—plus 60 or so years—to ink and color. Despite covering familiar territory, this outing is sure to delight Stevenson’s zillions of fans, or anyone with a funny bone, for that matter. (Picture book. 6-8)