Laughter is one of the greatest tools to make reading fun for children. No matter if your child is a resistant reader or a bookworm, a funny story can keep them interested and hungry for more. With silly characters and outlandish situations, these 12 laugh-out-loud books will have your child giggling, snorting, and pleading for just one chapter more.
1. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney
Why it’s funny: Greg Heffley’s middle school misadventures are full of cringe-worthy humor, exaggerated doodles, and awkward moments that kids think are hilarious.
2. “The Bad Guys” by Aaron Blabey
Why it’s funny: A gang of “bad guys” (such as Mr. Wolf and Mr. Shark) attempt to become heroes—with hilariously disastrous consequences. The breakneck pace of the dialogue and cartoon-style artwork make this a laugh riot.
3. “Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey
Why it’s funny: Two mischievous kids hypnotize their principal into believing he’s a superhero in his underwear. Ridiculous, irreverent, and full of comic-style drawings.
4. “Dog Man” by Dav Pilkey
Why it’s funny: Half-dog, half-cop battles crime in this graphic novel series packed with slapstick humor and absurd villains.
5. “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
Why it’s funny: A dark spin on traditional fairy tales, with ridiculous turns and a narrator who constantly interrupts the stories.
6. “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” by Louis Sachar
Why it’s funny: A sideways-built school results in wacky classroom shenanigans, such as a teacher who transforms kids into apples and a student who can only read upside down.
7. “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers
Why it’s funny: A box of crayons strikes, each with its own side-splitting grievance (Peach Crayon is bare, Black Crayon is sick of just outlining).
8. “Dork Diaries” by Rachel Renée Russell
Why it’s funny: Nikki Maxwell’s middle school life is full of humiliating moments, sarcastic remarks, and outlandish scenarios—ideal for readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
9. “Fortunately, the Milk” by Neil Gaiman
Why it’s funny: This dad’s zany excuse for being too slow to buy milk includes aliens, pirates, and time-traveling dinosaurs.
10. “Big Nate” by Lincoln Peirce
Why it’s funny: Nate’s educational life is one huge farce of errors, from unsuccessful tricks to grand-scale classroom catastrophes. The comic-strip layout contributes to the humor.
11. “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!” by Jon Scieszka
Why it’s funny: The Big Bad Wolf explains his side of the story, saying it was a case of mistaken identity (and a sneeze).
12. “Bunnicula” by Deborah & James Howe
Why it’s funny: A vampire bunny that sucks the juice out of vegetables? Narrated by the family dog, this mystery-comedy is a timeless classic.
Final Thoughts
Humor is a great means of making children enthusiastic about reading. Whether they enjoy graphic novels, diary books, or zany fairy tales, there’s something on this list to produce belly laughs in every child. Pick up one of these books, get comfortable, and get prepared for some serious laughter!