My local library has one of the smartest innovations I've ever seen.  In the middle of children's section, from a vantage point that looks over the short tables, computers, and reading chairs where the kids hang out is an entire shelf of grown-up books and dvds.  There, a diverse array of novels, nonfiction, new releases, and magazines are available for perusal and check-out.

This seamless integration of my library needs and my kids' library needs has allowed me to find new books for myself even when I'm not in the mood to take my boys upstairs to the adult sections where they inevitably kill my library joy of browsing.

It was on this oasis shelf in the kids section that I discovered Ultimate Book of Jokes: The Essential Collection of More Than 1,500 Jokes by Scott McNeely and published by Chronicle Books.  Dressed in an elegant hardcover more reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel than a joke book, this title would make a great gift for someone who can handle chapters such as "ethnicities and race", "turds and toilets" and "old people".  The geek in me also enjoyed the reflective chapter one about the importance of laughter.

Below is an except taken from the book. It's a clean, tech joke that hypothesizes a FAQ for an Etch A Sketch (with no mention of Mitt Romney!).

Q: My Etch A Sketch has funny little lines all over the screen. What do I do?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I turn off my Etch A Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: What's the shortcut for undo?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I create a new document?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I set the background and foreground to the same color?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q: How do I delete a document on my Etch A Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.

Q How do I save my Etch A Sketch document?
A: Don't shake it.

Originally posted on ThirdAmericanHome.com.