Who doesn’t love a good laugh? Funny books are a great way to keep kids reading way past their obligatory twenty minutes a night. To find out which books are guaranteed to have your fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade reader in stitches, we went straight to the kids themselves. Here are ten books recommended by young readers on Bookopolis.com, a social network and book discovery tool made especially for kids.
As I looked over their side-splitting recommendations, I realized the books fell into two general categories: highly illustrated books that use creative artwork to accentuate the funniness of the story, and books that rely on words alone to induce laughter.
Ask your reader which style they prefer. Both have a value and a purpose. Perhaps you can encourage them to try the opposite format of what they normally seek out to encourage variety in their reading life.
yes no Hilariously Illustrated Novels 9780803739833 Hamster Princess Series http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/HPS/hamster-princess by Ursula Vernon
Famous fairy tales like “Sleeping Beauty” and “Rapunzel” are retold with a feisty hamster named Harriet in the lead role. The witty dialogue and girl power take on these classic stories are laugh-out-loud funny. As Kaitlin, 9, says, “Harriet’s adventures are wild and exciting. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in funny, magical stories.”
9780763674724 Tom Gates Series http://www.theworldoftomgates.com by L. Pichon
This bestselling UK series is comedic and charming. Tom Gates is a master of excuses, a creative storyteller, and a middle-school class clown. He would much rather doodle, listen to his favorite band, or find ways to talk to Amy Porter than pay attention to his teachers. Alli, 11, says, “Very funny, and definitely relatable!! I recommend it to kids that like to have a laugh.”
9780316297790 The Tapper Twins Series http://www.thetappertwins.com/books.html by Geoff Rodkey
Simone, 11, gives five stars to this “hilarious series about 12-year-old twins who constantly play pranks on each other.” Claudia and Reese take sibling rivalry to a whole new level as their pranks escalate throughout the story. It is written as an interview transcript with the main characters each retelling their side of the story. The handwritten sidebar notes and screenshots of texts and social media posts are clever and smirk-inducing to any tween (or adult) with a phone.
9780553536027 Welcome to Wonderland #1: Home Sweet Motel http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/250928/welcome-to-wonderland-1-home-sweet-motel-by-chris-grabenstein/9780553536027/ by Chris Grabenstein
In this book from Chris Grabenstein, the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, 11-year-old P.T. and his friend Gloria are on a mission to save their beloved motel. The Wonderland is a truly magical place — with all-you-can-eat poolside ice cream — but it will require outrageous actions to save it. Brett, 10, raves that this book “is so cool and funny that it will make ice cream come out of your nose.”
9781250070654 The Treehouse Books http://us.macmillan.com/series/thetreehousebooks by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton
Kids love this adventure-filled tale of two friends, Andy and Terry, who are under a deadline to write a book. A series of wacky distractions delay them from achieving their goal, as any procrastinator can understand. The imaginative storyline twists and turns in a way that is both silly and charming. Mika, 10, highly recommends it: “This book is really funny with great pictures … it will get you daydreaming of a treehouse of your own.”
yes no Words-Only Funny Books 9780544534322 When Mischief Came to Town http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23719405-when-mischief-came-to-town by Katrina Nannestad
Heart-warming and funny, 10-year-old Inge Maria goes to live with her grandmother on an island in Denmark and really wants to be good. But, she can’t help but find mischief. Mrs. Bellora, fourth-grade teacher, says, “The book made me laugh with a few tears. Read, read, read!”
9781419714917 The Terrible Two http://www.abramsbooks.com/product/terrible-two_9781419714917/ by Mac Barnett and Jory John, illustrated by Kevin Cornell
In another epic story about pranking, Miles and Niles compete to be the best prankster in the school. Very clever writing from two award-winning authors, Mac Barnett and Jory John, transform a familiar storyline into a laugh-out-loud reading experience. David, 10, says “this is an amazing book if you like pranks and funny tricks.”
9780803738393 The Best Man http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317809/the-best-man-by-richard-peck/9780803738393/ by Richard Peck
Eleven-year-old Archer tells the story of his life from first to sixth grade, which is bookended by his role as the best man in two weddings. The stream of consciousness writing style that reads like a direct conversation with a witty elementary school student makes this book funny and relatable. Award-winning author Richard Peck uses the gentle touch of humor to address serious topics like gay marriage and the power of male role models.
9780544612310 It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25897857-it-ain-t-so-awful-falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
Set in the 1970s, this is the story of Zomorod (aka Cindy), an Iranian girl growing up in California. She loves America and wants to fully embrace her new life, but fitting in at a time when her home country is getting bad press is a serious challenge. This coming of age story is both hilarious and poignant. Niki, 11, urges others to read this: “I laughed so hard and learned a few things about Iranian history.”
9780399173776 Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317791/addison-cooke-and-the-treasure-of-the-incas-by-jonathan-stokes/9780399173776/ by Jonathan W. Stokes
Humor meets adventure in this wild ride that is like “Goonies,” “Indiana Jones,” and “National Treasure” rolled into one. Twelve-year-old Addison Cooke, along with his little sister and two best friends, head to South America to take on dangerous robbers, solve an archaeological mystery, and rescue their aunt and uncle. “This book is funny, mysterious, and filled with physical comedy,” raves Landon, 11.
What are your favorite funny books? Share in the comments below.
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