ALA Booklist (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2004)

Don't be fooled by the stern title: laughing, smiling, and giggling are precisely what this picture book, a companion to Stevenson's Don't Make Me Laugh! (1999), will induce. Five short, funny stories are interspersed with appearances by two masters of ceremonies: Freddy Fafnaffer, a puckish pig and a bossy crocodile named Mr. Frimdimpny, who demands that readers abide by his fun-squelching rules (do not laugh, smile, giggle; do not do anything you are told NOT to do). In a modernist twist, the outcome of each silly story line depends on the presence of a reader who defies Frimdimpny's every prohibition, blowing on the balloon that wreaks havoc in "The Fancy Concert," or cracking a smile and having to perform the expected penance: "Go back to the front of the book!" The under-seven set, whose laugh reflexes will be stretched to hair-trigger sensitivity by story's end, will be in awe of a book that not only invites but also genuinely seems to respond to their participation.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

In this sequel to Don't Make Me Laugh, goofy pig Freddy Fafnaffer reads out grouchy crocodile Mr. Frimdimpny's rules for readers, including "Do not laugh or smile or giggle." Some very short stories follow, each with slapstick humor calculated to make young readers break the rules. Stevenson's trademark illustrations retain their energy and humor.

Kirkus Reviews

Stevenson reprises Don't Make Me Laugh (1999): a grumpy alligator named Mr. Frimdimpny again proclaims himself "in charge," warning that any reader who so much as cracks a smile has to turn back to the first page and start over. Children willingly buying into this rule stand no chance of ever reaching the end, as a string of silly incidents ensues—involving "Mr. Freshly Prest Panz, Jr.," the world's best-dressed man; the world's tiniest circus (don't turn the page too quickly: you'll blow it away); an errant red balloon at a concert; and Frimdimpny's own, all too ticklish, tail. As usual, the casual, perfect art looks as if it took about an hour—plus 60 or so years—to ink and color. Despite covering familiar territory, this outing is sure to delight Stevenson's zillions of fans, or anyone with a funny bone, for that matter. (Picture book. 6-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

New titles extend the pleasure of previous picture book favorites. Mr. Frimdimpny is up to his old tricks in No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling by James Stevenson, the companion to Don't Make Me Laugh. The bossy green fellow once again sends readers, characters and anyone else caught disobeying his rules back to the front of the book. Freddy Fafnaffer, the friendly pig, discovers how to make the grumpy gator laugh, lending the book an expected but satisfying finale. .

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-In this sequel to Stevenson's Don't Make Me Laugh (Farrar, 1999), Mr. Frimdimpny, a crocodile curmudgeon, admonishes Freddy Fafnaffer, an adorable pink pig, that no one is allowed to laugh or giggle. An infraction of the rule results in the wrongdoer having to return to the front of the book. Clever Freddy, however, spies on the crocodile and hears him reveal his secret: "If anybody tickles my tail, I giggle." As readers peruse the ridiculously silly vignettes that follow, Freddy laughs, giggles, and smiles several times, resulting in his return to the beginning of the book. At the end of the story, he sneaks up to a sleeping Mr. Frimdimpny and begins to tickle him. When the larger animal unexpectedly rolls over and Freddy gets caught beneath him, the pig asks the audience to help him tickle Mr. Frimdimpny's tail; the crocodile laughs and must return to the front of the book. Children will enjoy the humorous cartoons and delight in helping Freddy out of his predicament. The act of inviting readers to actively participate in the plot has great appeal. Youngsters will enjoy this title, which is best suited for independent reading or one-on-one sharing, over and over again.-Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.