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“Help! I need some ideas for books for an 8 year old boy. We are having a tough time finding something to capture his interest. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Pseudonymous Bosch are the only one’s that have captured him.”
This could be a young boy who is a reluctant reader or maybe he’s just particular. (Here is where I laugh maniacally and rub my hands together with glee.) Just my kind of challenge!!
My friend and an Imagination Soup reader wrote this to me last week. I wrote back to ask more about what books he’s tried. She said, “He doesn’t like: Charlie Bone, Magic Tree House, Magic Thief, Margaret Peterson Haddix. He really likes humor. Ugly Guide to the Universe is his favorite. He likes non-fiction but I want him to experience the joy of losing himself in a fiction book.“
Here are my favorite funny books for eight-year olds. Readers, any suggestions to add to the list?
Humorous Books for Eight Year Old Boy:
- Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka
- Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- The Author of The Misadventures of Inspector Moustachio by Wayne Madsen
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (graphic novel)
- A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup
- Sweet Farts by Raymond Bean (haven’t read this one)
- How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
- Frindle & The Landry News by Andrew Clements
- Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka (graphic novel)
- Magic Pickle by Scott Morse (graphic novel) (personally found this to be side-splittingly funny!)
- Shredderman by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Raymond and Graham by Mike Knudson
- Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
- Encyclopedia of Immaturity by the editors of Klutz
- Archie comics
- Got Cake? Rotten School #13 by R.L. Stein
- My Weird School by Dan Gutman
- Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World by Vordak T. Incomprehensible
- EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner (May 2011)
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Melissa Taylor is a mom and educator from Denver who is passionate about playful learning. Thanks for visiting the site!
31 Comments
The first one I thought of was your first on the list: Spaceheadz. I also thought of the Lunch Lady series which you have as well.
What about Dav Pilkey?
My son is the same way. He loves silly books. I think he’s read Sideways School books at least 3 times each. Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield books continue to come home from the library. I’ll have to take a look at your list and head to the library. My son is nine.
I’ve gotten him into a few action packed and adventure books. I see you have a book by Andrew Clements. My son liked A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements. He thought it was a little boring in the beginning, but we talked about how the story wouldn’t have been very good if we didn’t learn about the main character and his feelings etc. I think it was a turning point for him to be patient and read books with a little more substance.
His teacher this year turned him onto a series by Gary Paulsen. I have not read all the books. I’ve heard of a little violence in them from my son. He said these five books are the best ones he’s ever read. You can find the books compiled into one book or find the separate books. The series has the name Tucket in it.
I’d suggest, Dear Max! The story is a little humorous, but a little serious too. Thanks for sharing your favorite funny books.
Zombiekins- My students are loving it!
While many of the recommendations above may please your son, you should also consider the Heroes A2Z series. It’s about 3 superhero kids who fight crime before bedtime, including a flying baby in a diaper. I promise fun and adventure … because I write them.
I immediately thought of Calvin and Hobbes and Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series as well. My son also loved The Big Splash, by Jack D. Ferraiolo, at that age. It revolves around middle school, though, so you should take a peek at first to make sure your son is ready for the material.
What does your son like to do with his free time? If he likes sports, you might try Dan Gutman’s Baseball Card Adventure series and Tim Green’s books. The action might replace the humor for him.
He might also enjoy Roald Dahl’s books, especially BFG. And to transition from humor to books that quickly pull the reader in, you might try Jerry Spinelli’s books, especially Crash and Loser.
Good luck!
If it is gross and funny, my 6 year old boy graviates to it. Santa scored when he delivered the “Super Fly Guy” series by Tedd Arnold. This is a SURE winner! http://www.amazon.com/Super-Fly-Guy-Tedd-Arnold/dp/0439639042
My son loved the Miss Daisy is Crazy series. He read them all last summer. Perfect for second grade boys. Lots of Bathroom humor.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things; and Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look are hilarious.
You all are brilliant and so well-read! Thanks for adding to the list!!!
What an amazing list of books! Sooo helpful!
Hi, I’m the author of the Sweet Farts series. I came across your blog post while searching the web. I love the topic. I wrote the Sweet Farts books in an attempt to reach out to the most reluctant readers.
I think the trick is immersing young readers in books. I go on Amazon with my third grade son and we click on books and read the sample chapters. He enjoys taking part in finding new titles.
[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
My 8 year old loves The Ranger Apprentice (Flanagan) series, it has some humor and adventure.
Great list of recommendations. I have ordered every single book on your list to read with my son. Looking forward to some new adventures. I’ll give you some feed back.
My son is the same way. He loves the Riot Brother’s series, Dav Pilkey’s Ricky Riccotta Series (not Captain Underpants for some reason, said it was too much potty talk), Melvin Beederman series and the Pokemon Adventures graphic novels. He also liked the Roscoe Riley books but they may be too young.
Cornelia Funke’s Ghosthunters series is a fun one.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cornelia Funke
The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Srings by Betty Birney
The BFG by Roald Dahl
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
I have a list of Best Books for Reluctant Boy Readers here: http://www.pragmaticmom.com/?p=116
[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
My son was hooked on the Geronimo Stilton series for a long time.
He also really enjoyed When the Sergeant Came Marching Home by Don Lemna.
Since you want him to get lost in a fiction book and he really enjoys funny and non-fiction. Why not marry the two by introducing him to graphic novels on historical events.
Capstone Press has some great ones. Some of the titles are
1. Paul Revere’s Ride
2. Benjamin Franklin an American Genius
3. The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving
4. George Washing Leading a New Nation
Great idea for another post, Joanne, thanks. I think graphic novels make wonderful reading!
Spies Inc. by Storybuilders
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[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
[...] My Eight Year Old Only Likes Funny Books – Help! [...]
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