Funny books for children and teens

Funny books for children and teens

Funny books for children and teens make reading feel less like a task and more like something worth coming back to. The humour might come from slapstick, wordplay, school chaos, family disasters, parody, awkward moments or characters getting things brilliantly wrong. For older readers, a funny book can still tackle friendship, identity, anxiety, romance, pressure or grief. The jokes do useful work too: they build confidence, sharpen language awareness and give teachers and librarians an easy route into discussion, performance and writing. This list features books by Michael Rosen, Cressida Cowell, Lauren Child, Nick Sharratt, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Nadia Shireen, Nathanael Lessore, Sonora Reyes, John Patrick Green, and Lex Croucher.

Funny books for children and teens – our recommendations

Funny picture books

A Holiday for Bear by Duncan Beedie

Tired of the same old forest routine, Bear heads to the beach on Frog’s advice and determinedly gives seaside life a try, with a fun picnic, volleyball and a relaxing float in the water. But then homesickness creeps in. This captivating picture book for pre-schoolers story uses a simple holiday plot to deftly explore change, friendship, and the pull between enjoying somewhere new and missing home. An excellent story for nursery discussion.

Seahorse Is Furious by Morag Hood

When Seahorse wakes in a bad mood, he stubs his tail, and only gets angrier as the day goes on. Other sea creatures offer hugs, stories and snacks, but nothing improves his mood. The clever, funny and poignant repetition gives this outstanding picture book for 3+ year olds an addictive read-aloud rhythm, while Morag Hood’s graphic underwater scenes make empathising with Seahorse’s feelings accessible to preschool and EYFS children. It is a useful picture book for talking with young children about bad moods, frustration and what helps. Highly recommended.

Mullets by Nick Sharratt

This laugh-out-loud picture book whisks readers off to Mullet Isle, where every person, pet, and even vehicle proudly sports the same short-at-the-front, long-at-the-back haircut. Packed with rhymes, cheeky diagrams, and a funny twist at the end, it invites children to spot mullets everywhere they look. The bold, bright artwork and easy text make it perfect for young readers, while Nick Sharratt’s trademark style turns a classic haircut into a vibrant, fun-packed celebration. Hair-ly recommended.

The Egg of an Ogg by Kes Gray and Nick East

When Ivan and his sister find a strange egg in the forest, an old man warns them to leave it alone. But nobody listens. As neighbours crowd round and the egg hatches, curiosity turns to alarm when the creature keeps growing and threatens to flatten the town! Infectious rhyme, clever use of repetition and sheer comic suspense drive this outstandingly funny picture book story for 3+ year olds that will keep children guessing until the final page. This clever modern fable is perfect to share with children in EYFS.

The Mushroom of Doom! by Becky Davies and Thomas Elliott

Mushroom is outraged. Left off the pizza, dunked in milk, and chucked in the compost, he’s had enough. Determined to get even, he rallies a mushroom army. But revenge is messy, and his plan soon goes off the rails. Just when things look truly out of hand, help comes from a surprising place. With plenty of dry humour and lively illustrations, this picture book explores fungal frustration and forgiveness in a format 3-6 year olds will relate to.

Not So Little Red Riding Hood by Michael Rosen, illustrated by David Melling

It’s Little Red Riding Hood but not as you know it in this hilariously funny story from the children’s picture book dream team of Michael Rosen and David Melling. When Little Red Riding Hood rides Pebbles to the woods, she wonders what ‘big surprise’ Granny has in store for her. With repetition, wordplay, call-and-response questions, and a reassuring rhyming refrain from the wind, this is a memorable story to read aloud and share with younger children and EYFS classes. Highly recommended.

When Tad Kicked Vlad by Julian Gough and Ross Collins

A row over birthday cake ends with Tad kicking his friend Vlad, and the unexpected burst of violence does not stop there. It passes from person to person, spreading further each time with serious but hilarious consequences. Vlad kicks Bill, who kicks Jill, and further down the line a police officer kung-fus the president. Tad has to work out how to stop it and put things right. It’s a butterfly-effect meets playground politics meets present-day international relations, and this memorable story for 0–6 year olds cleverly uses humour and repetition to show how a single flash of frustration can grow if no one steps in to stop it. Exploring anger, consequences and choices, it’s perfect PSHE material for primary schools. A modern classic – every school should buy a copy!

Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nikolas Ilic

A magnificently sarcastic shark with funky eyebrows gets fed up with his reef-mates and sets off to find a new home – one that appreciates just how fabulous he is. Narrated in his own super confident voice and packed with ocean puns to appeal to parents, this picture book for 3-6 year olds delivers big laughs as Shark meets a series of other ocean creatures. Bright, cartoon-style illustrations match the energy of the text, while the story gently nudges readers to think about pride, community, and the value of not taking yourself too seriously. It’s an absolute winner as a bedtime story or EYFS read-aloud. Highly recommended!

Fred the (very demanding) Deer by Pépé Smit

Fred the deer lives in the forest in this unique and unforgettable picture book classic. But he hates it. He wants to go to town, and once there, he wants shoes. Then he wants chips – but chips require hands. And in a cunning narrative twist, Fred takes his demands straight to the book’s illustrator, Pépé Smit, and works through them one by one. This compelling story for 3+ year olds plays out as a dynamic battle between character and creator, with ‘very demanding’ Fred trying hard to get his own way. A bestseller in the Netherlands, it’s a hilarious, imaginative and thought-provoking text to read aloud to nursery children. Highly recommended.

Go Go Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Fred Blunt

Go Go Dodo! is a playful adventure about a clueless dodo wandering through jungle, swamp, and sea – completely unaware that a tiger is quietly tailing him. Animal antics keep things interesting, and the lively mix of words and pictures means readers get to see both sides of the chase. Jones, who’s known for books on explorers and maps, brings plenty of charm and laughts to this cracking read aloud picture book for 3-6 year olds.

Charlie and Lola: I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

Lola refuses peas, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, baked beans and especially tomatoes, so her brother Charlie enlivens the meal. Peas become “green drops from Greenland”, mashed potato turns into “cloud fluff”, and tomatoes are recast as “moon-squirters”. The dinner-table battle becomes a comic game of language and persuasion, with Lauren Child’s unique collage, clever use of mixed typefaces and highly engaging bold layouts giving the familiar food battle a sharply visual edge. A modern classic – highly recommended for preschool and EYFS children.

Super Mr Panda by Steve Antony

At a very special bake sale, Mr Panda is the one everyone asks when they need a hand. Then he gets into trouble himself and has to find out who will help him. A cheerful and vibrant picture book choice, this new Mr Panda story gives early years children a practical, funny way to think about offering help and asking for it when they need it. It’s ideal to read and discuss with preschool and EYFS children.

G.O.A.T.: The Greatest of All Time! by Karelle Tobias, illustrated by Harry Briggs

Goat arrives at Harmony Farm calling himself the Greatest of All Time, but his confidence soon irritates Rooster and offends Horse, whose dance moves are local legend. An epic dance battle follows, with Notorious P.I.G. on the music and Goat’s claims under pressure. This brightly illustrated farm-based graphic novel for 6-9-year-olds offers short, laugh-out-loud chapters with an anarchic animal cast and lots of visual humour. It’s perfect for LKS2 classroom libraries.

Dadbot by Jack Noel

Josh and Daisy never expected to find a fully functional robot dad at a car boot sale – especially not for £3. Dadbot makes the perfect parent, with super-strength, hot chocolate on tap, and even a built-in printer. But when the evil Doctor Egg tries to snatch him, the siblings have to outsmart a supervillain to keep their robo-dad safe. Fast-paced, funny, and packed with gadgets, this action-packed graphic novel is the start of an exciting new series. Highly recommended for 6-9 year olds.

Agent Harrier: This Book Will Self-Destruct by Ben Sanders

Super cool canine spy Agent Harrier is on a mission to defuse a bomb in this fast-paced and funny graphic novel Packed with playful puns and eye-catching stylish illustrations, it’s ideal for early readers who want to move beyond picture books but aren’t ready yet for chapter books. This quirky twist on the classic spy adventure is highly recommended for lower KS2.

Funny books for 7-12 year olds

Unicorn Boy and the Slumber Party of Doom by Dave Roman

Brian Reyes is invited to a unicorn-only sleepover in a castle in the clouds, where he hopes to make sense of his horn, the talking muffin, and the aftermath of swallowing the ruler of the Underworld to save his best friend. The party looks magical, but Brian’s gut keeps telling him something is wrong. This immersive full-colour graphic novel for 7+ year olds explores fitting in, anxiety and trust issues through an addictively surreal and funny mystery. It’s the second in the award-winning Unicorn Boy series and likely to be very popular with LKS2 readers.

How to Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike by Cressida Cowell

Hiccup, Toothless and Windwalker are back at the Isle of Berk’s Training School for Vikings and Dragons, where lesson two involves boarding an enemy ship at sea. When Hiccup and his fellow Vikings come across a mysterious vessel with a ripped sail and nobody driving it, trouble and mayhem seem inevitable. Packed with illustrations, action and a Dragonese dictionary, this laugh-out-loud series entry is ideal for readers aged 7+. It’s bound to be popular in your classroom library – highly recommended.

Welcome to the School of Gods by Thiago de Moraes

When Olly Morris is pulled out of ordinary life by a Messenger to the Mighty Gods and sent to a school where the pupils are godlings and the teachers seem only partly in control. For 7-11 year olds, this fun, illustrated school story mixes mythology, comic danger and Olly’s urgent problem: he has no powers, no plan and a life-threatening exam ahead. It’s a winning recipe, and we think Welcome to the School of Gods will be a big hit with KS2 children.

Alan, King of the Universe: Today, I Will Rule All! by Tom McLaughlin

Alan is a cat with big ambitions. World domination is the goal, although being home in time for tea remains non-negotiable. With Fido, his loyal dog sidekick, he launches scheme after scheme, each one grander than the last and rarely going to plan. Told in two-colour comic panels with brisk dialogue and visual gags, this graphic novel – the second in a popular series – is ideal for newly independent readers in KS2 who enjoy fast jokes and animal antics.

Flush It Down by Rob Flowers

Ever wondered where it all goes after you flush? Flush It Down takes you on a lively trip through the messy, marvellous history of human waste. From ancient Rome’s Cloaca Maxima to Victorian London’s sewer revolution, it’s full of weird facts, odd inventions, and more than a few whiffy surprises. Rob Flowers’ bold, funny illustrations bring every rattling pipe and dark puddle to life. Flush It Down is a smart, stinky mix of history and science that KS2 readers will absolutely love.

Rock the Vote! by Nadia Shireen

After Titus resigns as mayor, Grimwood’s eccentric residents rush to fill his shoes, some plotting secretly, others just joining for fun. Packed with illustrations, the story blends sharp humour and unexpected twists, continuing Grimwood’s tradition of fast paced, quirky and fun storytelling with vibrant artwork. It’s deal for 7+ year old readers who enjoy Dog Man, Roald Dahl or Bunny vs Monkey.

Agents of S. U. I. T. : Sew Much Trouble by John Patrick Green with Christopher Hastings and Pat Lewis

When the Notorious P.I.G. food truck is stolen, along with Piggy Smalls’s BBQ sauce, Bongo and Marsha take the case, only to be split up by General Inspector. Marsha is assigned to a pilot scheme with Cilantro, while Bongo ends up with Sven on Sew You Think You Can Sew, where a chef challenge puts the missing sauce back in the spotlight. Graphic-novel panels, puns and footnotes keep the fun, fast-paced plot accessible and highly engaging for less confident 7-11 year olds. It’s supremely giggleworthy.

Nina Peanut: Major Drama Alert by Sarah Bowie

Being asked to show Ethan around town is bad enough, especially after the ice-cream incident years ago, but Nina Peanut soon has Romeo and Juliet, a starring role and Megan BUMFACE to contend with as well. The fourth full-colour Nina Peanut story is ideal for 8-12-year-olds and delivers the series’ diet of school drama, friendship tangles, pets and comic illustrations in a fun-paced package KS2 children will love.

Like a Brother by Nathanael Lessore

Owais thinks summer is sorted until his teacher puts him on an art course and his cousin Abass arrives to stay. Sharing a room is bad enough, but Abass takes the bed, insists the Arsenal poster comes down, and leaves Owais on the floor mattress. With the two Year 9 boys clashing from the start, Nathanael Lessore deftly uses the comedy to dig into family, identity and authentic male friendship dynamics, with clever jokes and puns that work on multiple levels. Like a Brother will appeal to many different audiences, and is an ideal accessible yet edgy read for 11+ year olds in KS3. Highly recommended.

Wink by Rob Harrell

Based on the author’s own experiences, the reader follows the life of Ross, a boy dealing with a devastating diagnosis of eye cancer. While he strives to maintain normality and his dignity, Ross finds imaginative and inspirational ways to get through life at school and at home. At times heart-rending and at times funny, this is must-have title for secondary libraries, and great book to discuss in lower KS3 book clubs.

The Blockbusters! by Frank Cottrell Boyce

When Rafa’s Year 6 class visits a local theatre, he somehow ends up mistaken for a child star and swept onto a Hollywood film set – while still trying to find his missing brother. Told in scenes instead of chapters, the story cleverly weaves in movie-making roles through Rafa’s eyes. Set between Birkenhead and LA, this lively middle-grade caper blends family, friendship, and a big case of mistaken identity. Illustrated by Steven Lenton, it’s great for 9-11 year old individual or shared reading. Highly recommended.

The Overthinkers’ Club by Nat Luurtsema

12-year-old Birdie is determined to fix the chaos of growing up with something she calls her Happy List. Unfortunately, friendships wobble, family life shifts, and school throws up problems faster than she can tick anything off, and she overthinks every step. Told through her diary entries and comic-style drawings, the story captures her worries with honesty and humour. It’s the first in an addictive new illustrated series for 9–12-year-olds, exploring friendship and mental health from Birdie’s uniquely readable point of view. We think The Overthinkers’ Club will be very popular with readers in Year 6 and 7. Highly recommended.

Funny books for teens

The Reluctant Vampire Queen Finds Her Fangs by Jo Simmons

Mo Merrydrew, an unlikely human leader of vampires, returns in the third of Jo Simmons’ funny series for 11+ year olds. Despite achieving relative harmony between humans and vampires, Mo faces new challenges when a celebrity is attacked and rumors spread, reigniting tensions. Targeted at readers aged 11-14, this feisty feminist novel combines laugh-out-loud moments with biting themes of leadership and mediation. It’s perfect summer holiday reading with an Insta-worthy cover.

Rock Band: Music and Misfits by Leah Osakwe

Galaxy wants to take the spotlight in her school talent show – but somehow ends up fronting a rock band with Sabrina, the new girl who doesn’t exactly do teamwork. With her younger sister on drums and tensions running high, Galaxy has to juggle ambition, compromise and the chaos of rehearsals. It’s a sharp, funny start to a new, edgy and contemporary series that will appeal to students in KS3. Highly recommended.

Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon

When Seyoon enters the reality TV reboot of ‘Forest Feud’ for a massive cash prize, she cannot anticipate how quickly the show will become more than a survival contest. After she forms an alliance with Dean Parker, producers push them into a couple storyline for ratings, even though only one contestant can win. Alternating viewpoints and confessional-style transcripts drive this reality TV drama built on issues of trust, pressure, spin and rivalry. It’s perfect for 14+ year olds to read in one sitting.

Work It, Lara Bloom by Dee Benson

Lara Bloom faces the challenge of balancing a school business competition with her football training in this funny, poignant and sharply written tween-to-teen drama told through diary entries. Touching on feminism, body image and identity, Work It, Lara Bloom is ideal for 11+ fans of Geek Girl, less confident teen readers, and those who enjoy the thrill of competition.

My Heart & Other Breakables by Alex Barclay

16 year old Ellery Brown’s life is told through 12 tumultuous months of diary entries. Revealing how she feels about the loss of her mom, and working out which of three people might be her dad, she shows readers that she is determined to break free from negativity and lead an incredible life. Unerringly surprising and contemporary, this powerful, funny and memorable novel will appeal to children in KS3 and KS4.

How NOT to Kiss a Prince by B Wheeler

When Em’s best friend Carla is cursed, the two set off to track down a prince whose kiss might lift the spell before college pulls them in different directions. With the school ball getting closer, Em battles her nerves about admitting how she really feels while helping Carla hunt for a cure. Set in a world where magic sits comfortably alongside everyday life, this lively and page-turning young adult romantasy for 14+ year olds blends friendship, identity, and first love with a clever nod to classic fairy tales. It’s an ideal holiday read.

Loverboy by Ben Tomlinson

In Loverboy, Alfie tackles the messy world of teenage romance. When his crush, Maya, starts dating someone else, Alfie turns to her quiet best friend, Gwen, but soon finds himself falling for her too. As his feelings get all tangled up, he makes a big mistake. This funny and relatable teen romance captures the chaos of love, friendship, and figuring out who’s right for you, all with plenty of heart and humour.

Red Flags by Sophie Jo

Poppy and Cam are two teens who aren’t exactly sold on commitment. They reluctantly agree to a dating challenge: Poppy won’t obsess over flaws, while Cam promises to stick with his next relationship (no “ick” allowed). As they navigate dating, they try to figure out what’s a real red flag and what’s just a minor annoyance. A funny, sharp YA read, Red Flags is perfect for fans of Holly Bourne and Jenny Han. We think it will be a big hit with 12+ year old readers.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

A hilarious and modern LGBTQ+ historical romance with a twist. Gwen and Art – two reluctant allies – face contemporary issues in a medieval world filled with knights, princesses, and political intrigue. With a witty writing style and engaging characters, this YA debut is a must-read for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Alice Oseman. Read Melanie Dillon’s review.

Funny books for sixth-formers

The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

Yami doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s gay – especially not her mum. When she is outed in school her attempts to keep a low profile cause her huge internal conflicts as she shares her thoughts with the reader in this searingly honest and moving YA novel. An award-winning combination of warmth and romantic pathos with sprinklings of achingly funny prose, The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School is highly recommended.

Officially Losing It by Rebecca Anderson

Rose struggles with her first attempt at intimacy with her boyfriend, Joel, leading to self-doubt a loss of confidence and relationship issues. But when she thinks about these challenges, she discovers that many others face similar struggles. Officially Losing addresses all the difficulties of first relationships and sexual experiences and encourages open conversations about body image and relationships. 16+ year-old fans of Sex Education will love the memorable quotes and TikTokworthy moments.

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this funny books list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.

Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above: we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.

Schools & teachers: please respect copyright and don’t copy our funny books for children list. If you find our book recommendations useful, please consider sharing on social media or linking to this page instead. Thanks.

Funny resources for teachers

• The National Literacy Trust’s BBC Comedy Classroom provides primary and secondary resource packs for teaching joke writing, parody sketches and comic captions, with SPaG guidance, comedian tips and links to comedy clips.
• Beano for Schools is packed with free literacy and PSHE teaching ideas, including Reading Rocks comic comprehensions, Beano Boomics creative comprehension packs and SPaG LOLz, which uses homophones, idioms, punctuation, rhymes and knock-knock jokes to help KS1 and KS2 pupils write their own gags.
• Comics Rule! from the National Literacy Trust, in collaboration with Beano, offers a free KS2 teaching sequence, PowerPoints and resources covering visual literacy, comic analysis, character creation, speech bubbles, script writing and creating a complete comic.
• Teachwire’s KS2 ‘find your funny bone’ lesson plan explores comedy and laughter through writing, performance, art challenges and humorous character creation, with a helpful focus on laughing with people rather than at them.
• This Teachwire comedy writing pack uses an extract from Joseph Elliott’s Nora and the Map of Mayhem, plus teaching notes and worksheets, to help Years 4-6 pupils write funny story openings with bold characters and unexpected twists.
• The Cartoon Museum’s free resources include Wallace & Gromit activity sheets, caricature prompts, panel templates, finish-the-comic pages and drawing guides for young cartoonists. The museum also runs school workshops in London for groups wanting a hands-on comics and cartoons experience.
• The Children’s Poetry Archive’s Just for fun! collection gathers wacky and whimsical poems designed to make children smile, while its Teach section includes poem-specific classroom materials for studying, performing and writing poetry.
• CLPE’s poetry site, run by the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools, lets teachers search a large bank of children’s poems, teaching resources, poet performance videos and interviews, including plenty of material suitable for funny, playful or performance-led poetry work.
• Puffin Schools’ Michael Rosen’s Chocolate Cake poetry pack brings a comic poem into KS1 and KS2 English, art and maths lessons, with discussion prompts, spoken-language activities and fraction work based on cake.
• British Council TeachingEnglish offers practical ideas for using cartoons and comic strips, including sequencing panels, inventing final frames, filling in speech bubbles, reducing prose to captions and turning comic misunderstandings into sketches.
• Into Film’s Comedy Genius: Primary and Comedy Genius: Secondary resources provide PowerPoint activities and teacher notes for exploring screen comedy, while Into Film’s wider film guides can support work on comic timing, parody, character and adaptation.
• Authorfy gives UK schools free access to author masterclasses, writing challenges, book extracts, chapter readings and classroom resources, making it a strong place to look for lively author videos and quick creative-writing prompts to pair with funny books.
• BookTrust’s guidance on hooking newly confident readers with humour is useful for teachers and librarians who want to make the case for funny books as serious reading-for-pleasure tools. Its funny booklists for younger children, older children and teens are also useful for refreshing displays and book-talk choices.
• For older pupils, the British Cartoon Archive at the University of Kent offers a searchable route into British editorial, political and pocket cartoons, making it a rich starting point for lessons on satire, visual rhetoric, media literacy and historical context.
• For secondary English and drama, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s teacher resources include lesson plans, image galleries, video materials and teacher packs that can support work on comic confusion, wordplay, disguise and mistaken identity in Shakespeare’s comedies.

BISAC JUV019000, JUV008110, JUV000000, JNF028000, JNF028010, JNF028020, YAF027000, YAF027010, YAF010130, YAF000000, YAN028000. | Thema YFQ, YFB, YNU, YNUC, XY.