📖 Overview
Children Are Funny collects humorous conversations and interviews between Art Linkletter and young children from his television and radio shows. The book captures candid responses from kids aged 5-10 as they answer questions about life, family, and the world around them.
Transcribed from Linkletter's "House Party" program, these exchanges reveal children's unfiltered perspectives on topics like marriage, money, careers, and growing up. Their responses range from philosophical musings to complete misunderstandings of adult concepts.
The collection demonstrates how children interpret complex ideas through their limited but imaginative worldview. Through their earnest attempts to make sense of adult institutions and social conventions, the book offers insight into the developing minds of young people.
👀 Reviews
This 1957 book seems to have limited online reader reviews and discussion available. The few existing reviews describe it as a collection of Linkletter's humorous interactions with children from his "House Party" TV show and radio program.
Readers appreciated:
- Real, unscripted responses from children
- Clean, family-friendly humor
- Historical snapshot of 1950s childhood
- Short format makes it easy to read in segments
Criticisms:
- Some anecdotes feel staged or embellished
- Humor can feel dated
- Limited depth beyond surface-level entertainment
Available Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.86/5 (7 ratings, 0 written reviews)
Amazon: No reviews available
AbeBooks: No ratings/reviews
The book appears to be out of print with few copies in circulation, which may explain the scarcity of online reader feedback. Most discussion exists in period newspaper clippings rather than modern reader reviews.
📚 Similar books
Kids Say the Darndest Things by Art Linkletter
Children reveal their unfiltered thoughts and observations through interviews conducted over decades of collecting responses.
House Full of Laughter by Bill Cosby A father documents his interactions with his children and their peculiar logic, responses, and daily mishaps.
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum Simple truths and observations emerge through stories of children navigating life's fundamental lessons.
Letters from Children to God by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall Children's letters to the divine showcase their innocent interpretations of faith, life, and the universe.
Children's Letters to Santa by Bill Adler Letters written by children to Santa Claus reveal their wishes, reasoning, and unique perspectives on the holiday tradition.
House Full of Laughter by Bill Cosby A father documents his interactions with his children and their peculiar logic, responses, and daily mishaps.
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum Simple truths and observations emerge through stories of children navigating life's fundamental lessons.
Letters from Children to God by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall Children's letters to the divine showcase their innocent interpretations of faith, life, and the universe.
Children's Letters to Santa by Bill Adler Letters written by children to Santa Claus reveal their wishes, reasoning, and unique perspectives on the holiday tradition.
🤔 Interesting facts
🎙️ Art Linkletter's "House Party" TV show, which inspired this book, ran for 25 years and featured the beloved segment "Kids Say the Darndest Things"
📚 The book became a bestseller in 1957 and helped establish a whole genre of books featuring children's unintentionally humorous quotes and observations
👶 Many of the children's responses in the book came from unrehearsed interviews with kids aged 5-10, capturing their raw, honest perspectives on topics like marriage, politics, and religion
🌟 Walt Disney was so impressed by Linkletter's ability to interact with children that he hired him to host Disneyland's opening day ceremony in 1955
📺 The book's success led to several spin-off publications and eventually inspired the TV show "Kids Say the Darndest Things" hosted by Bill Cosby (1998-2000) and later revived by Tiffany Haddish (2019-2020)