When a reluctant reader encounters a story that makes them laugh, the act of reading transforms from chore to choice. My writing draws on the deep tradition of literary humor—from Dahl’s marvelous mischief to Watterson’s precocious existentialism—to show students that words can be both clever and powerful. By elevating humor beyond the obvious punchline, I invite kids to experience reading as an adventure filled with wit, surprise, and delight.

Too often, children’s literature relies on crude or “lowest-common-denominator” jokes to hold attention. I aim for something different: humor that challenges readers to think, notice, and connect. Puns, wordplay, double meanings, and comedic timing—all literary devices in their own right—become part of the craft. In this way, laughter doesn’t distract from literacy, it deepens it. A child who laughs at a clever turn of phrase has already learned to hear rhythm, meaning, and nuance in language.

The outcome is more than just giggles. Students who discover joy in language develop stamina, confidence, and curiosity as readers. They carry that momentum into other texts—suddenly more willing to grapple with harder material because they already know reading can be hysterically rewarding.

New tales are always in the making! Sample my short stories here.