Laughing with the Dinosaurs

Humor signals the complete integration of dinosaurs into the popular imagination. Dinosaurs give kids something to laugh about in Bennett's Dinosaur Joke Book (1998). Paleontological humor of a more adult kind can be found in the rare but ridiculous Dutch book Dinosauiers-Seks (Dinosaurs Sex) (1993). Paleontologists also can laugh at themselves, as evidenced by the whimsical paper "Missiles and paleontology: A proposal" which appeared in the Journal of Insignificant Research, published for the entertainment of University of Chicago scientists and their colleagues. In Eric Garcia's series Anonymous Rex, dinosaurs masquerade in modern society wearing latex humanoid costumes. Wendy Hartmann, author of more than forty children's books, pokes fun at one child's fascination with all things prehistoric in The Dinosaurs are Back and It’s All Your Fault, Edward! (1997). By the way, you’ve heard that scientists discovered a new dinosaur that is very intelligent. It’s called a “Thesaurus.” … Groan!