Five funny books for 5 to 8 year-olds

What’s the best way to get younger children excited about reading? Make them laugh! We’ve got five fantastically funny books for newly independent readers to dive into – each packed full of the perfect blend of humour, action and brilliant characters!

Baby Aliens Got My Teacher!, written by Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Thomas Flintham

Join Izzy and her friends for a classroom caper that will leave you in stitches! When Miss Jones starts being really nice to them something must be up… the answer surely is simple: Miss Jones has been taken over by aliens! Packed with comic illustrations by Thomas Flintham and with brilliantly funny writing from Pamela Butchart, newly confident readers will love laughing along with ALL the school drama.

Recommended reading age: 7+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

Magnificent Mabel and the Rabbit Riot, written by Ruth Quayle and illustrated by Julia Christians

Meet Mabel – she’s mischievous, unique and, of course, magnificent! Life sometimes isn’t fair for Mabel… she doesn’t have a SINGLE pet, she doesn’t want a visit from the tooth fairy, AND she doesn’t EVEN have a sprinkler in her garden. This collection of three laugh-out-loud escapades starring the one and only Mabel are relatable, hilarious and wonderfully illustrated.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Dragon In The Libary, written by Louie Stowell and illustrated by Davide Ortu

Kit can’t stand reading, that is until she discovers an incredible secret… dragons live in libraries, librarians are wizards and, best of all, she’s a wizard too! When an evil property developer has plans to take over their local library, it’s up to Kit and her friends to save the library… and the world! Full of imagination, hilarity and adventure, this is a joyful celebration of the magic of books and reading.

Recommended reading age: 7+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Up, Up and Away!, written by Tracey Cordery and illustrated by Steven Lenton

Join the much-loved baker boys for three thrilling canine and cake-based adventures guaranteed to make you giggle! From wacky races with the bake-mobile to donning dodgy disguises to catch a thief, Shifty and Sam always getting into hijinks. Tracey Corderoy’s brilliantly funny storytelling and Steven Lenton’s glorious two-colour illustrations make this the perfect reading recipe.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Invincibles: The Piglet Pickle, written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Nell and her best friend Freddie are The Invincibles! They always mean well, but they always spell trouble too… When they smuggle a piglet called Kevin home from a school trip to a farm, they enter a whole world of mayhem. It’s hard keeping a naughty piglet a secret – and soon things spiral completely out of control! Brilliantly brought to life with hilarious two-colour illustrations, this is a rollicking read to return to again and again.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

We hope this list has given you some funny books to read! If you’re looking for funny books for older readers, we have a list of funny books for 9 to 12-year-olds, here.