# Can you identify this children's picture book?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** books-writing-myths\
**Created:** [December 20, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481 "2020-12-20T21:37:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481/1 "2020-12-20T21:37:27Z")

</div>

There was this kid who was always goofing around, and near the very end of the book, he’s leaning against a brick house. An adult asks why he’s doing that, and he says that he’s keeping the wall from falling down. The grown-up says that that’s ridiculous, and to get off the wall right away.

So the kid does, and the wall tumbles.

I’m pretty sure it was right at the end of the book.

Anyone remember this book? I read it as a kid. It was a book that was mostly pictures, but not a comic book.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481/2 "2020-12-21T14:36:53Z")

</div>

I have it still, or my grandmother does. Let me rack my brains a bit. It was bound the same way as all my Dr. Seuss books, as if they were a set. I think it had the word “laugh” in the title…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481/3 "2020-12-21T15:15:45Z")

</div>

I’m associating it with the I Can Read It All By Myself Beginner Book series. Still hunting…  
I’m going to be thinking about this all day! 🤪

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481/4 "2020-12-21T15:19:08Z")

</div>

Could it be [Bennett Cerf’s Book of Laughs](https://www.amazon.com/Bennett-Cerfs-Book-Laughs-Cerf/dp/0394800117)? I had this as a kid and vaguely recall that gag.

Edit: yup. [Page 23](http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/book-laughs.pdf).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-childrens-picture-book/928481/5 "2020-12-21T15:27:23Z")

</div>

Ugh, thank you! I could NOT find it.