My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream

K-Gr 3–Germein unleashes a stream of puns and jokes in this loosely plotted tale of a family’s Halloween evening. Narrated by the middle child of three, this family of five redheads dons traditional costumes—ghost, mummy, witch, skeleton, zombie—and heads out for trick-or-treating. All the while, Dad regales his wife and children with one- and two-liners like a stand-up comic. No one responds, save the narrator who repeats the refrain, “My dad thinks he’s a scream.” Throughout the book, Germein offers text and Jellett picture clues to help young readers understand all the humor. For example, Dad asks mom, dressed as a mummy, “Oh dear, Mummy. You look rotten. Perhaps you should sit in the living room?” and to the skeleton’s sister, dressed as a witch, Dad says, “Where’s your broom? Has it over-swept?” Colorful mixed-media illustrations perfectly complement the tone, with facial expressions and other relatable details that broaden the appeal. This won’t disappoint fans of the previous “My Dad” joke books and will likely send first-time readers in search of the others.