100 Funny Books for Kids (That They’ll Love)

Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton 
(ages 6 – 8) series
Narwhal is exuberant to meet Jellyfish, his new imaginary friend who is imagining Narwhal, too. You’ll love their carefree adventures — forming a pod, having parties, eating waffles, and imagining. This is a feel-good friendship adventure told in graphic format that kids love! 

Nugget and Hot Dog by Jason Tharp
(ages 6 – 9) series
Perfect for readers who like silliness, puns, and good conquering evil, this is the story of two friends, Dog and Nugget, who live in Gastropolis and start a kindness club to fight evil like the dastardly Dijon Mustard. (NOTE: This book reads more like a beginning chapter book than an early reader because of the complex vocabulary, so even though it says Level 2, it might be harder.)

All Paws on Deck (Haggis and Tank Unleashed #1) by Jessica Young
(ages 6 – 9) series
In a word: HILARIOUS! These two dog friends with opposite personalities (and intelligence) sail on a fun and silly pirate adventure. You will fall in love with Tank and Haggis.

The Bad Guys #1 by Aaron Blabey
(ages 6 – 8) series
A twist on the good vs. bad theme… Mr. Wolf invites other “bad guys” to a meeting with the hopes they will join him in being “good.” Lots of drawings and minimal text make this a popular funny book to read for first and second-grade readers who like irony and potty humor. (See also: best chapter book series for 2nd graders)

Kung Pow Chicken Let’s Get Cracking! by Cyndi Marko (ages 6 – 9) series
Gordon Blue, an ordinary second-grade chicken, accidentally developed superpowers in his uncle’s laboratory. (It happens.) When chickens start losing their feathers all in one POOF!, it’s up to Gordon, aka. Kung Pow Chicken, and his little brother, Egg Drop, to solve this catastrophe before everyone in town ends up feather-less. It’s a funny, easy-to-read, and entertaining story.

Bird and Squirrel on Ice by James Burks 
(ages 6 – 9) series
Okay, this is my new favorite early graphic novel series– it’s absolutely hysterical! The friends crash land in the Penguin world where Bird is dubbed the “Chosen One” –meant to save the penguins from the Great Whale. And it goes to his head. Until he realizes he’s about to be sacrificed… (see also: best chapter book series for 2nd graders)

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon 
(ages 6 – 9) series
Dory is one of my favorite book characters because her imagination is THE BEST! She has three imaginary friends: one monster friend, one fairy godmother, and one bad lady nemesis. This book is totally hilarious, and you’ll love the child-like illustrations — it’s a favorite chapter book series for second graders. Truly, this is one of the best funny books for kids!

Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell by Melanie Watt
(ages 6 – 10)
Scaredy Squirrel has many fears and coping strategies. He’s terrified of the adorable pom-pom-tailed creature. Maybe he can just play dead?! Then, when his pizza gets delivered to the wrong spot under his tree — his solution to not touch the ground involves stilts, a T-rex grabber tool, and the fail-safe option of playing dead. But that fluffy-tailed bunny gets his pizza and helpfully sets it where Scaredy Squirrel can get it! NOW what will he do? (Consider all his options and bravely make a new friend!)

The Sleepover and Other Stories (Fox + Chick) by Sergio Ruzzier
(ages 6 – 9)
The Fox & Chick series continues with another very funny book of stories illustrated with comic panels and dialogue bubbles. Fox is serious and kind, while Chick is goofy and playful. In this group of stories, they have a sleepover where Chick is scared of kangaroos but needs his stuffed kangaroo to sleep. Fox is puzzled by this. In another story, Chick asks Fox for a surprise birthday party — which is hilarious because it turns out that it’s not even Chick’s birthday.

Baloney and Friends Going Up! by Greg Pizzoli
(ages 6 – 9) series
Another hilarious graphic novel chapter book for growing readers about a group of friends with distinct personalities. From writing a theme song to sleepovers to thinking deep thoughts, this book of stories showcases characters you can’t help but love, including Baloney the pig, Bizz the bumblebee, Peanut the horse, and Krabbit the rabbit. Plus, read directions for drawing the characters with emotions in the back.

Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
(ages 7 – 10) series
I adore this funny book about a dad and cat teacher who teaches the tadpoles to write their own comics! It’s totally hilarious because the lessons don’t go well until the tadpoles get excited about failure which gets them writing and drawing. If you like a lot of silliness (including potty humor) with great messages about writing, creativity, and persistence, read this best funny book series next. (*You’ll love the pictures in the tadpole’s stories!)

Pizazz by Sophy Henn
(ages 7 – 10)
Illustrated with cartoons and fun fonts, this superhero story is perfect for chapter book readers transitioning into middle grade! Pizazz dislikes her name and she’s embarrassed about her superpower–which she won’t tell us. Plus, she hates how saving the world comes at the most inconvenient times. When she is assigned the job of eco-monitor, a classmate named Ivy helps her see that they might be able to save the park without superhero powers. 100% fun, relatable, and entertaining.

Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby
(ages 7 – 10)
Learn how Cranky Chicken and a worm named Speedy become friends when Cranky “saves” Speedy from a leaf! Subsequent stories with light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek humor show our new friends, Worm and Cranky Chicken, working together to figure out how to be best-feathered friends –even though Worm doesn’t have feathers. Humor and heart — this is a funny graphic novel that is sure to be a new favorite.

Banana Fox and the Secret Sour Society by James Kochalka
(ages 7 – 10) series
If you’re about 7 years old and like very weird and wild stories that ONLY make sense to kids, I must introduce you to Banana Fox. It’s totally ridiculous humor (not potty humor) that hits the right spots for so many kids. Banana Fox is quite a character whose goofy antics to stop the Secret Sour Society will keep you laughing the entire way through this book.

Hound Heroes: Beware the Claw by Todd H. Doodler, illustrated by Todd Goldman
(ages 7 – 10) series
Get ready for a new SILLY graphic novel for your beginning readers…When a spaceship crash lands, it gives a group of dog friends superpowers…and superhero outfits. Each dog in the group has a unique personality, but none of the dogs take their powers seriously at first because they’re too busy wreaking havoc and goofing around. Until…the evil kitties TAKE OVER THE CITY!! Can the Hound Heroes save the day?

Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song
(ages 7 – 10) series
Norma and Belly are squirrel friends who really, really want a donut. Can they work together, sneak in a food truck, and have the biggest ever donut party ever? Minimal text, plenty of silliness, and a lovely surprise ending! Kids love this funny book series.

Real Pigeons Fight Crime by Ben Wood
(ages 7 – 10) series
In the first of three silly stories, Rock Pigeon is a crime-fighting pigeon who helps Grandpouter and the other park pigeons solve the problem of the vanishing breadcrumbs. With hilarious disguises, charming illustrations, quirky characters, and funny mysteries, this is an entertaining romp that is sure to entice even the most reluctant of readers.

Meet Mo and Jo: The Boulder Brothers by Sarah Lynn, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby
(ages 7 – 10)
If your child likes to laugh, they’ll love these silly stories about two adventurous cave boys. Readers will find a combination of comic bubble dialogue and narrative text. For example, “The skunk liked the stink. Can MO and Jo run faster than the skunk?” is the narrative text, while the dialogue bubbles on the same page are “Uh-oh! He mad” and “Run, Mo!” Goofy, but it works.

Monday into the Cave of Thieves (Total Mayhem #1) by Ralph Lazar (
ages 7 – 10) series
Wild and quirky, this un-put-downable adventure filled with illustrations is perfect for you if you like good vs. evil adventures where kid power saves the day! Dash Candoo’s Monday is one crazy adventure after another with Devil Cat attacks, a quadcycle pursuit, a math class secret tunnel, stolen perfume, and so much more. I’m a big fan of this exciting, readable new chapter book and look forward to more books in the entertaining new series. (P.S. And it’s funny with zero potty humor!)

Two-Headed Chicken by Tom Angleberger 
(ages 7 – 10)
Hilarious!! If you like wacky, bizarre humor then this is your next favorite read. This is a story about the multiverse in which you are a two-headed chicken being chased by a moose…and it’s probably one of the top five funniest books I’ve ever read. (And I’ve read a lot of books.) Add in funny quizzes, a fish with deep feelings, and lawyers…Needless to say, I laughed out loud throughout this funny book, perfect for kids in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade.

Louie Lets Loose! by Rachel Hamilton, illustrated by Oscar Armelles
(ages 7 – 10) series
Louie arrives in New York to be a superstar in a performing arts school. His hilarious cluelessness is the kind of humor that kids love because it’s paired with a genuine, caring heart. In this delightful first adventure, Louie and his friends help raise money for his faun friend’s glasses while getting customers for his favorite place — the Sunshine Sparkle Dust Cafe.

Fitz and Cleo by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
(ages 7 – 10)
Want a new graphic novel for readers around ages 8 to 10? In this new book, two ghost siblings adopt a cat, go to the beach, play baseball, and more. Silliness abounds in the stories, but their heartwarming relationships steal the show.

Blue, Barry, & Pancakes by Dan & Jason
(ages 7 – 10)
This graphic novel adventure begins with a beach ball. Blue the worm doesn’t want to share the beach ball with Barry and Pancakes because of what inevitably happens– they lose it. (Well, it’s swallowed by a whale.) The misadventures continue a silly cause & effect story, where one disaster leads to another, even into outer space and a volcano but ends with a sweet celebration of friendship.

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers by John Dougherty
(ages 7 – 9) series
Weird and kooky and very creative! Stinkbomb and his sister, Ketchup-Face think the badgers stole Stinkbomb’s $20. (Because “BAD” is in the name badgers!) The siblings embark on the craziest of adventures, including meeting King Toothbrush Weasel. Enjoy the spontaneous singing about jam, actual bad badgers, and a very helpful shopping cart. If you like quirky stories, this book is for you.

Hamster Princess Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon
(ages 6 – 9) series
What a HILARIOUS remix of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. In this awesome retelling, the princess realizes she can’t die until she’s 12 so therefore she must be INVINCIBLE!! (All of the books in this series are laugh-out-loud funny.) Guess what she does because of her invincibility? Everything dangerous of course! Until her 12th birthday arrives…My daughter LOVES this funny book series.

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (ages 7 – 10) series
Hysterical! I couldn’t stop laughing! Danny Dragonbreath and his best friend, Wendell, always seem to be headed for disaster. You’ll love the comic illustrations throughout the narrative text. Great characters and plots make this series hard to put down. (best book series for 3rd graders)

Stick Dog by Tom Watson
(ages 7 – 10) series
Stick Dog is hilarious. But why is he called Stick Dog? Because our author/narrator can’t draw. And also, because he likes sticks. The funny cartoonish illustrations make this story of stray dogs easy to read and very entertaining for kids.

Pug Pals Two’s a Crowd by Flora Ahn
(ages 6 – 9)  series
Sunny’s whole life is turned upside down when her owner brings home a new sister, Rosy. It’s hard to share her owner’s time and especially hard to share her toys. Adorable illustrations show these personality-filled pugs who eventually develop a solid sister bond while looking for Sunny’s lost Mr. Bunny toy. The text is quite simple.

Monkey Me and the New Neighbor by Timothy Roland 
(ages 6 – 9) series
Clyde turns into a mischievous monkey when he gets excited, which ends up being a big disaster when he’s in school. To make matters worse, his principal moves NEXT DOOR. How will he hide his monkey-ness now? Then, he sees his new neighbor’s house being burglarized. Maybe his monkey self can help stop the robbers!?

The Dragonsitter by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Garry Parsons
(ages 6 – 8)  series
Written in increasingly funny (and alarming) letters, we learn that Uncle Morton left his pet dragon for Edward and his mom and sister to pet sit — with no directions!! The dragon poops in their shoes, eats their pet bunny, and causes all kinds of destruction, which all are the subjects of Edward’s letters to his nowhere-to-be-found uncle. Finally, Edward hears from his uncle, who suggests feeding the dragon chocolate. Will Edward’s mom lose her mind? Will the chocolate work?

Dragon Slayer’s Academy by Kate McMullan 
(ages 6 – 9) series
This is a delightfully funny 20-book series about a boy named Wiglaf who attends a terrible school for dragon slayers, has a pet pig who speaks Pig Latin (HAHA), and is friends with Eric, who is Erica, a princess longing for adventure and disguised as a boy. The hapless and greedy school director sends his students to kill the dragons and steal their gold. In order to kill the dragons the students must find figure out the dragon’s weakness which is bad knock-knock jokes that make the dragon explode!

Mal and Chad Belly Flop! by Stephen McCranie 
(ages 6 – 9) series
A hilarious graphic novel book series about Mal, a young inventor, and his best sidekick, his dog Chad. Perfect for growing readers who love adventure and laughing.

Mr. Pants Slacks, Camera, Action! by Scott McCormick, illustrated by R. H. Lazzell 
(ages 6 – 9) seriesMr. Pants gets to borrow his mom’s video camera and his movie-making is filled with silliness. Mr. Pants is great for kids who like graphic novels, mischievous characters, and silliness.

Olga and the Smelly Thing From Nowhere by Elise Gravel
(ages 7 – 10)  series
If you like kooky books, this book fits the bill. Olga finds an unusual, unknown creature whom she names “MEH” after the sound that it makes. She uses her deductive reasoning to figure out what it is (something new!) and what it likes to eat (olives)! But what will she do when Meh disappears? Here’s what I love about this funny book… One, the illustrations rock! Two, the narrator’s voice is believable and funny. Three, the plot includes mean girls who aren’t so mean after all.

Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre, illustrated by Rafael Rosado
(ages 7+)
Claudette is a dragon-slaying, mischievous girl who tricks her little brother and her best friend (a princess) into questing to kill the dragon. (Don’t worry, there’s no actual dragon killing.) It’s a delightful graphic novel, I loved every second of it. I just gave it to a third grade reluctant reader and his mom said he’s already on his third time through.

Captain Awesome by Stan Kirby 
(ages 6 – 9) series
Can Eugene aka. Captain Awesome, save the town from villains without revealing his secret identity? It’s a funny book — and great action-packed adventure.

Get to Work, Hercules! (Myth-O-Mania) by Kate McMullan 
(ages 7 – 10) series
This book got us hooked on the Myth-O-Mania series. It’s so hilarious! Hades narrates the TRUE stories of the Greek Myths with panache and sarcasm. (Apparently, his younger brother Zeus is a big fat liar and edited all the myths to make himself look good.) In this story, Hades watches over his young, not-too-smart nephew, Hercules, whom Hera has it out for.

My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara 
(ages 7 – 10) series
Hysterical and totally believable (not) if your goldfish dies and you bring him back to life, only it doesn’t work because he becomes a zombie fish. Now that he’s a zombie, he can mesmerize you with his powerful eyes and you’ll do anything he wants. Watch out!

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
(ages 6 – 9) series
A KID FAVORITE BOOK. (Not particularly a favorite of mine but…) Mischievous friends George and Harold hypnotize their school principal, so he believes he’s a comic book superhero, Captain Underpants, who chases bad guys in his underwear. I don’t particularly enjoy these books, but I know a kazillion boys who think these are the BEST, FUNNIEST books ever.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
(ages 6 – 9)  series
Mercy lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. They feed her buttered toast and take her for drives in their convertible. One night, Mercy gets scared and decides to sleep with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. Can you imagine what happens next? Hilarious and quirky, this is a silly book series filled with many amazing adventures.

Gooney Bird Green by Lois Lowry
(ages 6 – 9) series
Gooney Bird Green is one of the most underrated books and so, so funny. It’s a charming story that reminds me a little of Junie B. Jones but without the naughtiness. Gooney Bird is a very unique student who is unlike anyone else. (And not just because she wears pajamas and tutus to school.) Her adult-like confidence and seemingly made-up life stories enthrall the entire class (even the teacher) but as Gooney Bird says, she only tells absolutely true stories. But how can these incredible stories be true? You’ll see…

Franny K. Stein by Jim Benton 
(ages 7 – 9) series
Franny is a misunderstood mad scientist. You’ll love these wacky and laugh-out-loud adventures about Franny’s scientific experiments gone wrong. My daughter’s second grade book club read this series, and it was a favorite title!

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Book 1: A Scare of a Dare by Herobrine Books
(ages 6 – 10) series
Short sentences with witty observations on life from the perspective of a Minecraft zombie will crack you up. I was surprised that this was such an entertaining, funny read. Nothing scary. Just fun. Especially for Minecraft enthusiasts. (These are free on Kindle for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.)

Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery 
(ages 7 – 11) series
A space-adventure plot narrated by the hilarious Carl the Duck invites YOU, the reader, to find the missing priceless artifact requiring bravery, heroism, and drawing. Along the journey to retrieve the artifact from Captain Sleezoog (he’s a slug), you’ll be tasked with doing your part. So draw a spacesuit, pack everything you need, finalize the rocket design and get ready for adventure. It’s a fun, engaging adventure that any reader will love. 

The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell 
(ages 6 – 9) series
In this adventure, the chickens are asked to investigate who has stolen the blue bird’s house. And despite the chickens’ inability to actually investigate anything, they do discover the culprit and a solution. Very entertaining!

Crime Biters: My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog by Tommy Greenwald
(ages 7 – 10)  series
This is a funny beginning chapter book about a boy who is convinced (rightly so?!) that his rescue dog is a crime-solving vampire genius!

Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale 
(ages 6 – 9) series
The Big Bad Wolf aka. Wolfgang is the only suspect in the destruction of the Little Pig’s house. And he doesn’t have an alibi. But he didn’t do it! He partners with the cheerful 4th Little Pig, Ferkel, (who knew!?) to find the real culprit. It’s a humorous fairy tale mash-up.

Shivers! The Pirate Who’s Afraid of EVERYTHING by Annabeth Bondor-Stone & Connor White (ages 6 – 9) series
Poor land-locked Shivers. He’s terrified of everything, especially snails. But when his sea-faring family of pirates is captured, Shivers is their only hope for rescue. Luckily he meets the daring and adventurous Margo, who gets them off of dry land, teaches Shivers about sword fighting, and helps him find and rescue his parents. This pirate book is very comical and will keep your kids thoroughly entertained.

Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril
(ages 7 – 10) series
I’ve been enjoying these updated Amelia chapter books by the original author’s son. In this silly chapter book, Amelia looks for ways to earn money for a new bicycle.

Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Kevin Cornell 
(ages 7 – 10) series
Don’t you just love our little stinker of a heroine? The quirky narrator warns us RIGHT AWAY that there may or may not even be a mysterious mission, that the story is actually about Lulu’s babysitter. And, indeed, it is about the best babysitter in the world, a trained professional, who is good with problem children like our Lulu. Hilarious and entertaining!

Roscoe Riley Rules: Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs by Katherine Applegate
(ages 6 – 9) series
This is the first book in the series of the funny misadventures of Roscoe Riley which lead to Roscoe’s extensive list of rules for his own behavior. In this story, Roscoe wants to help his teacher with his unruly classmates during their school performance. His idea to help is to super gluing kids to chairs and glue bug headbands onto their heads! Needless to say, this latest disaster leads to even more rules of what not to do.

Frankie Pickle by Eric Wight 
(ages 7 – 10) series
Your kids will relate to this imaginative boy whose wild adventures are written in comic form. For example, instead of cleaning his room, Frankie becomes an explorer in the jungle.

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso 
(ages 7 – 10) series
Salem Hyde is an impulsive but very cute little witch who gets confused between spelling words and casting spells. It’s like Calvin turned witch and female. Fantastic!

They Didn’t Teach This in Worm School: One Worm’s Tale of Survival by Simone Lia
(ages 7 – 10)
I LOVED the wry humor in this funny book. A bird named Laurence thinks he’s a flamingo and wants to journey to Lake Nakuru National Park, where the other flamingos live. The worm, Marcus, besides worrying he’s about to be breakfast, thinks that Laurence is a chicken. What will you think? Nevertheless, in hopes that Laurence WON’T eat him for breakfast, Marcus offers to help Laurence navigate to Lake Nakuru. As they travel “the world,” the two develop an unexpected, lovely friendship.

Dolphin Girl Trouble in Pizza Paradise by Zach Smith
(ages 7 – 10)
This hilarious story is about the weird and ridiculous antics of an unusual superhero, bizarre villains, and the Pizza Paradise restaurant. Dolphin Girl uses her echolocation to learn Sea Cow’s evil plot. She recruits her friend Keith who becomes Otter Boy to help her thwart Sea Cow’s nefarious plan to turn Pizza Paradise customers into zombies and take over the restaurant. Gasp! So evil. What a silly adventure!

Jop and Blip Wanna Know #1 by Jim Benton
(ages 6 – 10) series
If you like kooky stories, playful characters, and random facts, this beginning graphic novel for ages 6 to 10 is a hilarious and informative reading experience. Jop and Blip ponder topics like farts, words that begin with silent letters, perspective, dragons, and more — and as they discuss, you’ll learn a thing or ten.

Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown
(ages 7 – 10) series
Little funny stories about the life of a Neanderthal family are intermixed with factual information about the actual history — hunting practices, size of large cats, that sort of thing — in this graphic novel from the author of the Jedi Academy series.

Dying to Meet You 43 Cemetary Road by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
(ages 7 – 10) series
The 43 Old Cemetery Road early reader series is a punny adventure with a kid, a cat, and a grumpy ghost written in really cool story format of letters, emails, newspaper clippings, jokes, and more. These funny chapter books are addictive!

Nanny Piggins and the Runaway Lion by R. A. Spratt, illustrated by Dan Santat
(ages 7 – 10) series
This quirky adventure is about a dad who detests his children and tries to get rid of them (to Nicaragua, in this case,) but their amazing nanny (who is a pig) always figures out how to outsmart the dad. I love Nanny Piggins, and you will too. Add this to your list of funny books to read.

Galactic Hot Dogs: Cosmoe’s Wiener Getaway by Max Brallier, illustrated by Rachel Maguire and Nichole Kelley
(ages 7 – 10) series
This funny book for kids is filled with non-stop action and danger, potty humor, space adventures, zombie aliens, mutant worm wrestling, a misunderstood evil princess, good friends, video games, and a diabolical, hunting-them-down evil queen. Not to mention loads of cartoon illustrations throughout and hilarious writing with a kazillion exclamation marks!!!! 

Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors
(ages 7 – 10) series
Dog owners will nod along with the ADHD stream of conscious narration of Wedgie, the barkie dog who LOVES everything. Contrast this with the diabolical plotting narration of the evil genius guinea pig Gizmo who is horrified to live in a Barbie house instead of his own “habitat.” Selfors skillfully addresses a blended family in transition through the humorous lens of the two pets.

Einstein The Class Hamster by Janet Tashjian, illustrated by Jake Tashjian  
(ages 6 – 9) series
Einstein, like his namesake, is super smart. His dream is to host a game show for the class, but since he’s a hamster, that’s a problem. But one student, Ned, can actually hear Einstein talking. Will Ned help Einstein get his big chance while the teacher naps? Filled with awesome cartoon-like illustrations, hilarity, and trivia, this funny book is sure to be a hit with beginning readers. 

Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka 
(ages 7 – 10) series
If you haven’t read these addictive and hilarious graphic novels, they are a must. Anyone who has eaten lunch in school will appreciate the humor.

The Perilous Princess Plot (Buckle and Squash) by Sarah Courtauld
(ages 7 – 10) series
Very sarcastic and funny humor will keep you entertained throughout this book about a silly sister obsessed with princes and her more steady sister who rescues her from a kidnapping plot. Also, the great illustrations will help beginning readers enjoy this beginning chapter book.

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
(ages 6 – 9) series
Ramona isn’t trying to be a pest, she’s just a bit mischievous. You’ll crack up at her hilarious misadventures.

First Cat in Space by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris
(ages 8 – 12)
Absurdly hysterical, this is a bizarre adventure in space! When rats eat the moon, the world’s leaders send their secret weapon– a cat and a stowaway toenail-clipping robot. The Queen of Moonopolis leads them beneath the moon’s surface through the mine tunnels, but the spaceship’s computer joins the Rat King’s side for revenge. Then, when the heroes arrive at the Rat King’s they GET CAPTURED. But don’t worry — somehow, they’ll escape. Right?

The Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips, illustrated by Isabelle Follath
(ages 8 – 12) series 
If you like illustrated funny books, don’t miss this series. A monstrous Beast gives 500-year-old Ebenezer youth cream. So when the Beast demands a child to eat, Ebenezer adopts the rudest girl at a local orphanage, Bethany, and begins to fatten her up. She is horrid until she’s not…and Ebenezer feels terrible about his evil plan. Together, find a solution to get rid of the Beast and get a happy ending! (Or do they?)

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
(ages 8 – 12) series
One of the most popular funny book series ever, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, shares the hilarious stories of Greg, in his own words and drawings. Life in middle school is not easy and Greg’s here to prove it. Box set here. (See this on the best book series for 4th-grade list.)

Phoebe and Her Unicorn: A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle by Dana Simpson
(ages 8- 12) series
Sarcastic and hilarious, this is a laugh-out-loud comic book series of stories about a precocious young girl and her sarcastic unicorn “best friend.” (See also: best book series for 4th grade list.)

Crabgrass Comic Adventures by Tauhid Bondia 
(ages 8 – 12)
You will LOVE the friendship adventures of Kevin and Miles. Their stories of everyday life are fun, hilarious, relatable, and entertaining.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young
(ages 8 -12)
If you like quirky humor, then this is your perfect book–and it’s very short. Because you will never believe what happens when the kids’ father goes out to get more milk. He doesn’t even get the milk, but he does . . . run into pirates, aliens, and all sorts of incredible things! 

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, illustrated by Laura Park
(ages 8 – 12) series
A totally hilarious premise and fantastic writing! Rafe’s goal in middle school is to break every single rule. You can imagine how his plan will go, right? Filled with cartoon-like illustrations, this funny story will crack you up. (See this also on the best chapter books for 6th graders list.)

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John, illustrated by Kevin Cornell 
(ages 8 – 12) series
My daughter read this first and begged me to read it immediately. It’s SUCH a funny book for kids! It’s about the hilarious adventure of two pranksters who work together to pull off the biggest prank of all time — a prank with cows that will ensure that they get April Fool’s Day off from school. 

Anyone But Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp
(ages 8 – 12) series
I read so many parts of this book out loud to my kids because it’s one of the funniest books I’ve read! Now my kids are addicted to this series, too. Quirky (really quirky) but lovable Ivy’s adventures involve a sinister ghost, a mystical jewel, and a surprising destiny. We read it as a bedtime read aloud book and both my kids loved it. (On my best books for 5th graders list.)

Strubble Town Squirrel Do Bad by Stephan Pastis
(ages 8 – 12) series
Wendy the Wanderer is stuck inside all day, every day. Until her dad takes a trip, and she gets an inattentive teenage babysitter. Her first chance of freedom leads to a cascade of cause-and-effect mayhem that is funny and also poignant. Wendy feeds Squirrley McSquirrel a sugery Mooshy drink. The consequence? Squirrely goes crazy around the town and sets off a domino-like chain reaction of events that you couldn’t predict and will keep you laughing out loud.

Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs
(ages 8 – 12) series
Hilarious, illustrated, and perfect for fantasy and adventure fans! Tim and his sister Belinda are peasants who hope to improve their lot in life, so they sign up as knights for a not-very-brave prince and his so-called magician sidekick to find and rescue Princess Grace from a monster. Helpful foreshadowing, a strong narrative voice, and humor throughout, plus helpful life lessons from Belinda about the patriarchy, and great vocabulary words, make this a top funny book choice.

The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome by Jonathan Stokes, illustrated by David Sossella
(ages 8 – 12) series
If  Ancient Rome is your preferred destination, you’ll need your handy handbook close by to make sure you survive — which seems to be unlikely since, as the book says, “Rome is an absolute deathtrap.” Filled with tongue-in-cheek hilarity while also being boldly informative about the historical topic! These are my new favorite history books.

The Croc Ate My Homework by Stephan Pastis
(ages 8 – 12) series
This cartoon book is so funny I can hardly stand it. My kids LOVED this funny book. It’s from the author of the Timmy Failure books and the Pearls Before Swine comic strip, which was curated especially for younger readers. The crocs are not the smartest and their stupidity will keep you thoroughly entertained. You’ll be sharing page after page with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
(ages 8 – 12) series
This has been a classic humorous book, one that has entertained kids for years and years reading how fed up Peter is of his three-year-old little brother. How can he survive his pest of a brother and fourth grade?

Wayside School by Louis Sachar 
(ages 8 – 12) series
Old school humor at its best! These side-splitting books describe a wacky school with crazy teachers and even crazier events. 

Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis
(ages 8 – 12) series
Timmy is a clueless detective with a polar bear sidekick. Their adventures will make your reader laugh out loud! (See also: best book series for 4th grade list.)

Big Nate Welcome to My World by Lincoln Peirce
(ages 8 – 12) series
Nate’s real-life adventures will keep your kids laughing from the first page to the last. These are great books for reluctant readers. Boxed set here.  (See this on the best book series for 4th grade list.)

Plants vs. Zombies by Paul Tobin and Ron Chan 
(ages 8 – 12) series
Yes, there are zombies and kids with plants trying to kill the zombies (just like the video game,) but you’ll be surprised how much irony and wordplay is in this story.

The Twits by Roald Dahl
(ages 8 – 12)
In the typical dark humor of Dahl, the Twits are mean and awful and we can’t help but crack up at every bad thing that comes there way.*ALL Roald Dahl books are weirdly funny. See a complete Roald Dahl book list and printable booklet here.* 

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs 
(ages 9 – 12) series
Was the FunJungle’s hippo murdered? Teddy and Summer think so. Mystery, adventure, and humor will keep your readers on the edge of their seats in this unique story with quirky characters. (Also on the best books for 5th graders list)

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka
(ages 8 – 12)
Growing up Scieszka is a WILD time and will crack you up with fantastic, humorous writing.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier 
(ages 8 – 12) series
Raina shares her life stories with humor and amazing art in the books: Smile, Sisters, and Drama. My daughter read Sisters four times the first week she owned it; they’re excellent books and quite addictive. Boxed set here. (See this on best books for 5th graders list.)

The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry 
(ages 8 – 12) series
Hilarious. Of course. While on a class trip to Washington D.C., Wyatt and his best friend, Matt, are positive they’ve discovered a plot to blow up the White House. Wyatt’s crush, Suzanna, helps the friends make a plan, and as you can imagine, disaster and humor strike as they try to stop the bombing.

Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
(ages 8 – 12) series
A funny but poignant story of middle-school angst and discovery! Unpopular Dwight can make origami Star Wars characters. When his puppet of Yoda comes to life, just like Yoda, the origami Yoda is wise and helpful during the many trials of 6th grade.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
(ages 8 – 12)
Pie in the Sky is an insightful, funny, and poignant look at the struggles of immigrating to a new country (Australia) and the difficulties of learning English, along with growing up and grieving the loss of a father. Jingwen’s observations and wit make him a likable main character, and the illustrations capture the depth and flavor of his experiences. note: includes the word cr*p

The Wishmakers by Tyler Whitesides
(ages 9 – 12) series
If you like goofy stories with magic and adventure, you’re going to love this story about a foster kid named Ace who opens a peanut butter jar and releases a genie named Ridge. Ridge is a Wishmaker and must complete a mission in seven days, OR ELSE all dogs and cats will turn into zombies … and destroy mankind. This begins a wild quest across America. And even though Ace has unlimited wishes, every wish has a (usually weird) consequence.

The Jolly Regina: The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Jen Hill 
(ages 8 – 12) series
Even before their parents disappeared, Jaundice and Kale Bland loathed excitement and adventure. But their boring existence is rudely disrupted when they are kidnapped by all-female pirates. Who would have thought they could adapt to pirate life, search for their long-lost pirate parents, and return home with the exact same desire for boring as when they left? Funny and very entertaining!

The Tapper Twins Go to War (with each other) by Geoff Rodkey 
(ages 8 – 12) series
What I love about this funny book is the true-to-life depiction of the twins. As the pair seeks revenge upon each other, they feel justified and sort of guilty at the same time. (Of course, this doesn’t stop either of them, though.) The interjecting texts between the parents, mostly unsure of how to handle parenting these twins perfectly balance our view of the family. Also, it’s written in interviews, text messages, photos, handwritten additions, and screenshots.