Laugh-Out-Loud Baby

PreS-K–A baby laughs out loud for the first time, and it sends his family into a frenzy of joy and celebration. Ma declares that the event calls for a Laugh-Out Loud Party; family, friends, and community members are all invited. The baby is passed around, as everyone tries to make him laugh again and again. It’s only once the house has a moment of silence that the baby lets loose with another giggle, much to the merriment of the guests. Eventually, the baby tires out and finally sleeps, holding his laughs inside until the next day. The rollicking text begs to be read aloud with phrases like “a dazzle, a jazzle, a shine” and exclamations such as “whoopee-doodles!” Johnston uses alliteration in brilliant ways that keeps the text flowing; she also doesn’t shy away from larger vocabulary words, putting them in context so their meaning is understood. Gammell’s signature artwork is lively and fun. Problematic is the brief endnote indicating that this story is inspired by a Navajo tradition where a family celebrates a child’s first laugh with the First Laugh Ceremony. This story does not seem to depict any Navajo; the central family appears to be Caucasian. The art and text have a Southern down-home feel that belies the ceremony’s origins; the lack of cultural authenticity is puzzling and disturbing.