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THE JOKING MAN by James Flora

THE JOKING MAN

By

Pub Date: Aug. 28th, 1968
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & World

As told by a local resident, town was a grumpy place until the joking man arrived: he put a rubber bench in the park, let moths loose in the movie theater, and painted all the cows. Friend Charlie (who also has a good sense of humor) and others were amused. . . but then some of the jokes didn't seem so funny, and people wanted to know who was responsible. Who put the sign on the bank advertising 49¢ dollar bills? Who put cold spaghetti in people's umbrellas during church services? Who painted the principal's windows black and made him oversleep? When the real joking man reveals Iris identity, he's ""Charlie and me."" But don't tell, especially not the principal. ""You want Charlie and me to pass into the fourth grade, don't you?"" Appropriately exaggerated illustrations for some exaggerated kidding.