Books to Make Children Laugh
Published: 22/02/2021
Belly-blowing raspberries, donning a silly hat and glasses combo, knock-knock jokes, pretending to go down an escalator… there’s something about hearing your child giggle uncontrollably that is simply irresistible. And there are few pleasures in life that rival the organic laughter that only a humorous kids’ book can bring. Moreover, it is said that laugh-out-loud stories are one of the best ways of turning children into avid readers; they make learning to read, and reading aloud, a whole lot of fun. An author with the ability to put a smile on a child’s face is certainly a talented one and, while every family will have their own funny favourites, here are some that you may want to add to your comedy collection.
The Dinosaur That Pooped a Planet – Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter and Garry Parsons
When the title of a book alone has the power to make your little one laugh, you know you’re onto a winner. To add to the collection of their other ‘The Dinosaur That Pooped…’ stories, the McFly lads have brought back Danny and the Dinosaur – and this time they’re off to space. When Danny forgets to pack a lunch box for Dino, the hungry reptile decides to eat everything in sight – that includes the only mode of transport home: their rocket!
“The laugh out loud silliness is on from the very first page… This is a fabulously bouncy book that is funnier than funny!” – Little Fiction Fascination Blog
Creator of the characters Charlie and Lola, Lauren Child’s That Pesky Rat follows the touching story of a street rodent who longs to be a pet and be called anything other than “that pesky rat” – despite his pet friends warning him of the downsides of being “looked after” by humans. It seems that his dreams have come true when he meets Mr Fortesque – a very old (and very blind) man – even though Mr Fortesque thinks he’s a cat and names him Tiddles.
“Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child, whose stories and quirky pictures leave you helpless with laughter” – Mail on Sunday
First published in 1960, Dr Seuss has been delighting little ones all over the world for over five decades. This is one of our many favourites – a story that introduces Sam-I-Am as he pesters a grumpy grouch to eat a plate of green eggs and ham. Sam-I-Am encourages him to eat the dish in numerous locations – including a house, car, train and boat – but the unnamed character refuses until the bitter end, when he is pleasantly surprised! After all, wouldn’t life be dull if we didn’t try anything new?
“Enter Dr Seuss, master of the imagination, inventor of wicked rhyme schemes, and creator of fantastical illustrations… It’s fun, it’s classic, and it’s adored by almost all children who read it…” – Childrensbooksguide.com
Francesca Simon has been writing her Horrid Henry series of books since 1994. Today, they remain as popular with children as ever, as his hilarious exploits cause a serious case of mischievous giggles across the globe. From sabotaging the school nativity play to trying to trick the tooth fairy, each story sees him battle with his goody-two-shoes brother “Perfect Peter” and his rival neighbour “Moody Margaret”. Kids recognise that Henry’s antics are extreme, but they can live them vicariously through him – something that is undeniably funny for any child.
“Achingly funny and surprisingly sophisticated” – The Times
First published in 1980 and adapted for the stage in 2007, the Twits are the ultimate “married couple at each other’s throats”. Out of pure hatred, they are constantly playing practical jokes on one another – and do you know a child who doesn’t enjoy reading about practical jokes? Frogs in beds, dropping glass eyes into beer glasses, presenting a plate of worms instead of spaghetti… this story is horrible, hilarious and hairy in equal doses.
“In his grotesque, inhuman villains, Dahl manages to create characters that are totally bad, but also highly engaging and full of quirks, wit and personality – a difficult fete that many competent writers do not always succeed at” – Fantasybookreview.co.uk
The Enormous Crocodile – Roald Dahl
We couldn’t help but include two books from the ever-reigning master of quick wit within our list. The Enormous Crocodile picture book was the first of Dahl’s stories to be illustrated by Quentin Blake. Set in Africa, a huge crocodile takes a trip through the jungle, telling all the animals his plan to eat up juicy little children. The other animals tell him he is horrible – even giving him death threats should he try. He tries, nonetheless, but every time he does the animals of the jungle manage to save the day!
“Children are naturally drawn to animals, and the personification of the animals in the book makes the story all the more exciting and fun to read” – Gathering Books
Geek Girl is the debut novel from Holly Smale, whose choppy writing and wacky humour brings to life the geeky world of Harriet Manners. She has all the makings of a geek – she loves learning new facts and is mocked constantly by her classmates. But when she accompanies her friend Nat to a fashion expo, it is Harriet that is scouted as a model. Tired of being labelled a geek, she decides to go for it – but can she cope under the spotlight?
“Cleverly plotted… it’s unpredictable, funny, and carries a strong message without ever feeling like the message is more important than the story” – The Book Bag