Funny Books for Kids
We’re committed to helping every child discover the joy of reading through stories they love. This collection brings laughter and fun to readers ages 5 to 9. Each book features silly characters, unexpected twists, and humorous situations that make reading irresistibly entertaining while keeping young readers engaged.
Achoo!
Nitwit’s nose is twitchy, his eyes are watery, and his throat feels like he swallowed a cactus - but is he going to rest? No way! Not when he’s tough as an elephant and one hundred percent fine. Can Nitwit march past his friends, dodge a sneezy dog, and outsmart his own cosy bed? Or will one mighty ACHOO change everything? This decodable reader practises the ‘ph’ sound in words such as ’elephant,’ ‘phone,’ ‘phony,’ and ’triumphant.’
An Odd Day
Hank has big plans for the greatest garden his street has ever seen - but what happens when the sky lights up with strange swirling colours? What falls out of those clouds, and will anyone believe him when he tells the tale? Grab a shovel and dig into this wonderfully weird backyard adventure packed with surprises on every page. This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words such as ’eight,’ ‘heavyweight,’ ’neighbourhood,’ ’neighbours,’ and ‘weightless.’
Big Sis Never Cries!
Big Sis is the coolest kid in the whole world. She climbs to dizzy heights, laughs off a feisty dog, and never, ever cries - not even when she tumbles smack into the dirt! So when her little sibling spots real, wet tears rolling down her cheeks in the kitchen, what on earth could have finally cracked the bravest kid around? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘height,’ ‘weird,’ and ’neither.’
Busy Hen
Hen has five precious eggs in her cosy nest, and she is determined to be the best mum in the whole wide world. But what happens when the shells start to tap and crack? Can Hen keep up with five wiggly, giggly chicks who will not sit still for a single second? Settle in for a warm, funny farmyard adventure. This decodable reader practises the ‘ph’ sound in words like ‘phew,’ ‘photograph,’ ’telephone,’ and ‘phenomenal.’
Don't Tell Lily!
Mia spots Lily’s shiny new birthday jacket hanging on the bedspread and just HAS to try it on - only for a second, right? But what happens when paint spills all over it in the classroom? Can Mia hide it in the microwave, scrub it clean in the bathtub, and keep her sister from finding out? Or will the truth come tumbling through the doorway? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘bedspread,’ ‘classroom,’ ‘microwave,’ ‘bathtub,’ and ‘birthday.’
Llama Drama
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. What is shaking the walls of Skel’s farmhouse in the middle of the night? When he stomps outside, he finds three llamas prancing on the grass - and by morning, there are forty-seven more! They are gnawing the crops, gnashing their teeth, and spitting sticky green goo. Can Skel and Zom ever get rid of this woolly, wobbling herd? This decodable reader practises the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnashing,’ ‘gnawed,’ ‘resigned,’ and ‘designed.’
My Duck Beat the Flock!
Jen says her wobbly duck is the fastest in town - but can a duck that barely lifts off the ground really beat a whole flock of sleek racers? When the Big Flock Race begins and the starting horn blows, will Jen’s feathery friend flap into glory or flop in front of the giggling crowd? This decodable reader practises the gn phonogram in words like ‘sign,’ ‘gnat,’ ‘reigned,’ and ‘resigned.’
Pests!
Skel loves his brick house spotless, from the floors right up to the ceiling - but Zom and Jack think cleaning is weird and would rather flop in the sunny yard. What happens when nobody lifts a mop for days? Why are strange little legs skittering in the shadows, and who seized the last slice of pie? Can the pals fix the mess before the bugs take over? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ sound in words like ‘ceiling,’ ’eight,’ ‘seized,’ and ‘weirdly.’
You Are Not a Mouse!
Tik the mouse has found the perfect empty house - no cats, no dogs, no people. But when he bites a strange rubbery rope on the desk, a very angry voice shouts back! Who is Klik, the round little creature who claims to be a mouse but has no whiskers, no paws, and no snout? And when a huge cat comes prowling, can this odd new friend really save the day? This decodable reader practises the ‘kn’ sound in words like ‘knew,’ ‘knot,’ ‘knees,’ and ‘knucklehead.’
Zom's Milk Bar
Zom has a BIG plan - he’s going to be rich! All he needs is cows… lots and lots of cows. Brown ones make chocolate milk, white ones make vanilla, and that splashy pink one? Strawberry, obviously! But when three curious villagers come running in pursuit of the sweet smells, will Zom’s sneakiest new flavour win them over, or send them sprinting down the path? This decodable reader practises the ‘ui’ phonogram in words like ‘fruit,’ ‘juicy,’ ‘suit,’ and ‘recruited.’
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are funny books so effective at building reading skills?
Humour creates intrinsic motivation — children want to reach the punchline, which keeps them reading through unfamiliar words. Stanovich (1986) found that children who read more, for any reason, develop stronger vocabularies and reading fluency over time. Funny books lower the barrier to picking up a book in the first place, which starts that positive cycle.
Can funny picture books help a child who resists reading?
Funny picture books are one of the most reliable tools for reluctant readers. Laughter reduces the anxiety some children associate with reading, and the desire to find out what happens next keeps them turning pages. Research on children’s absorption in fiction (Frontiers in Psychology, 2022) shows that engaged readers — even young ones — experience genuine story immersion that strengthens comprehension.
Do funny books still teach phonics?
Yes. These books use decodable text built from specific phonics patterns, so children practise real decoding skills while laughing at silly characters and unexpected twists. The humour is in the story, not in skipping the phonics instruction.
What formats are these funny books available in?
Books are available to read on the Bookbot website, with many titles free to access. Depending on the title, children may also find options such as PDF downloads, printable versions, audiobooks, or read-aloud mode with word-by-word highlighting that follows along with the text.
What reading levels are the funny books available in?
The collection spans levels from basic CVC words through consonant blends, digraphs, and multi-syllable words. A study by Wang (2025) found that picture books improve learning and understanding in young children, and the illustrations in these funny books add a visual layer to the humour while supporting comprehension.