An April Joke by Carolyn Wells
April Fool's Day is the subject of Carolyn Wells' short story "An April Joke." The narrative revolves around a group of friends who devise an elaborate scheme to play a trick on their friend Emily, who is known for her gullibility. They create a fake news article claiming that the moon has been stolen and are surprised when Emily falls for it hook, line, and sinker. The story highlights the absurdity of trying to outsmart someone who is easily fooled and the consequences of playing pranks on unsuspecting victims.
By Carolyn Wells · First published 1920 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Short Stories · 199 words
First lines
Oh, it was a merry, gladsome day, When the April Fool met the Queen of May; She had roguish eyes and golden hair, And they were a mischief-making pair. They planned the funniest kind of a joke On the poor, long-suffering mortal folk; And a few mysterious words he said, His fool's cap close to her flower-crowned head. Then he laughed till he made his cap-bells ring, At the thought of the topsy-turvy Spring. "Tis a fair exchange," he said, with a wink -- "It is! " she said, and what do you think? The flowers that should bloom in the month of May Every one of them came on an April day! And they looked for April showers in vain, But all through May it did nothing but rain!
What this Textopian page supports
An April Joke is listed on Textopian as a short story by Carolyn Wells, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Carolyn Wells
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Short Stories
- Length: 199 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An April Joke by Carolyn Wells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An April Joke?
- How does this short story by Carolyn Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The story centers around a joke played by children during April Fools' Day and contains elements of humor and light-heartedness that are popular in children's literature.
- Humor — The plot is driven by a prank and follows a humorous storyline where misunderstandings and witty banter take center stage.
- Short Stories — The book is structured as a short story, focusing on a single event and its outcomes.
Tags
mystery · humor · detective · crime · suspense · fiction · novel · whodunit · plot twist · April Fools · lighthearted · entertainment