text set: Humor

My text set is for a humorous literature unit. I have middle school in mind with the selections I have chosen.  I was intrigued by that chapter (all of them since too!) and decided it would be neat to just focus on a genre.  Having to incorporate different kinds of texts really makes the study more diverse. I'd like to really teach the elements of humor, such as hyperbole, satire, and comic irony. A nice side emphasis, especially in the novels, is giving an opportunity to read about issues that are important to kids and how humor helps looking at it more tolerable.

A sample of what I've included:

Agee, J. (2009).  Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle your Tongue. New York:  Hyperion Books.  

Allen, L. (2009). Comedy scenes for student actors: short sketches for young performers. Colorado: Meriwether Publishing Ltd. 

Barry, D. (2002, November 17). A leap in cow control.  Miami Herald. Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/28/1481352/a-leap-in-cow-control.html   

Dahl, R. (1984). Boy: tales of childhood. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.  

Lubbock, tx replaced by walmart supercenter. (2008, May 27). The Giant Napkin, (5-18), Retrieved from http://www.thegiantnapkin.com/lubbock_tx_replaced_by.htm  

Silverstein, S.(1981). A light in the attic. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Evil Eye 

Spinelli, J. (1996). Crash. New York: Knopf.