11 Laugh-Out-Loud Books for Kids and Teens
By Cindy Hudson
It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine, and when it comes to kids and reading, getting a dose of humor can go a long way. Kids love to laugh, and the more they laugh when they read, the more likely they will want to keep reading. Humorous books can carry as much weight as serious ones when it comes to helping kids develop good reading skills. Plus, your children are likely to read serious books in school, which makes it especially important that you let them have fun reading at home.
Here’s a selection of titles that may make your young readers snort, chuckle and laugh out loud.
Ages 6 to 8
Junie B. Jones
by Barbara Park
She’s sassy, she uses bad grammar, and she gets caught every time she tries to get away with something. The bestselling Junie B. Jones series have kept kids (and their grown-ups) laughing – and reading – for over two decades.
The Tighty Whitey Spider and More Wacky Animal Poems I Totally Made Up
by Kenn Nesbitt
Who could resist a poem about a spider in underwear or a dog on roller skates? This zany collection adds to the fun with puns and tongue twisters.
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
by Dav Pilkey
This first book in the series shows how it all began: Two boys hypnotize their principal and turn him into a superhero who saves the day.
The Detective’s Assistant
by Kate Hannigan
Eleven-year-old Nell goes on a series of madcap adventures with her Aunt Kitty, a character based on America’s first female detective.
Ages 9 to 13
The Quest of the Warrior Sheep
by Christine and Christopher Russell
Five rare-breed sheep set off to save the world, followed closely by bandits, the media, and a boy who simply wants them to come home.
Cosmic
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
When a boy who looks old for his age poses as his dad to go into outer space with a classmate pretending to be his daughter, everybody is in for a surprise.
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
by Kathi Appelt
Two raccoon brothers living in an old car abandoned in a Texas swamp are at the center of this tale that includes feral hogs, alligators, rattlesnakes and a boy who wants to protect his environment.
Ages 14 and older
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
A lot of bad stuff happens to Arnold Spirit, a Spokane Indian, after he leaves the reservation to attend a white high school. But Arnold’s humor and his ability to love people for what they are despite their flaws carries him through.
The Cardturner
by Louis Sachar
Alton spends a summer as chauffeur and cardturner for his blind great uncle Lester’s bridge games. Along the way he learns about life, love, and how playing bridge can teach you about both.
A Match Made in High School
by Kristin Walker
As part of a mandatory “Marriage Education” program, Fiona has to “marry” a jerk named Todd. Each tries to sabotage the other in escalating pranks in this comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions.
Skink - No Surrender
by Carl Hiaasen
Richard’s cousin disappears, and he turns to an unlikely ally to help him find her: a ragged, one-eyed, ex-governor of Florida. In their search they brave lightning storms, snake-infested swamps, and other natural and unnatural hazards.
