Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Oakland, CA

We love books in this house. Even Scarlett will sit and read to herself or bring book after book to any adult who is paying attention.

Some funny favorites that everyone should know about are:

• If You Give a Pig A Pancake - this one, and all it's sequels and prequels, might be funniest to the parent who knows that toddlers operate much in the way that the demanding animals in this book do.
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus - for any child who loves to say NO loudly (are there any other kind?) this book is a winner.  Answer back as the pigeon tries to convince you to let him drive the bus.
• Officer Buckle and Gloria - If Three's Company-style scenarios are funny to you, then this book is funny.  Officer Buckle has NO IDEA that his dog Gloria is the source of loyalty for his fan base.  Poor guy.
• Dr Seuss - Not the most original recommendation, but using his humor around the house goes a long way for me.  "Julian, did you ever have a feeling there's a JILK in your MILK?"  He loves it!
  

And a book that sounds funny, but that I do not recommend for preschoolers is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  My babysitter and I both had fond memories of this book, but when I took it out of the library for Julian, it had way too many words and was over his head.  Maybe for first graders.