What is the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor?

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is like getting a gold star from one of the funniest people who ever lived, and they’re giving it to someone else who makes people laugh, just like them.

Imagine your favorite teacher gives you a sticker because you told a really good joke during lunch. That’s kind of what this prize is, but instead of stickers, it’s a special award that honors funny people who have made many people happy over the years.

This prize is given to humorists, people who tell jokes, write funny stories, or make silly faces on TV. These are people like comedians, writers, and even actors who make you laugh every day.

Mark Twain was a real person, he was a writer and a humorist too! He wrote books that made people laugh, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This prize is named after him because it celebrates the kind of humor he loved.

So every year, someone who makes others laugh gets this special award, just like you might get a gold star for telling a great joke.