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.
A Spot to Nap
Sloth is so tired his eyeballs feel like bowling balls, and all he wants is the perfect spot for a nap. But will the low branches be safe from a hungry giraffe? What about the buzzing bees, the grumpy snake, or that very loud bird? Can a sleepy sloth ever find somewhere quiet to curl up? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables through words like ‘perfect,’ ‘sudden,’ ‘problem,’ ‘hunker,’ and ‘bitten.’
Gad Hits It!
Meet Gad, the friendliest ghost in the forest - green skin, cheeky grin, and absolutely no one to play with! When he spots a group of kids having fun in the park, Gad is sure he’s found his new best friends. But will they run away screaming, or will a silly cat, a clever disguise, and a very bouncy volleyball game change everything? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels through words like ‘Gad,’ ’lad,’ ‘cat,’ ‘ran,’ and ‘hid.’
I Am NOT a Crocodile!
Goya the komodo dragon is having a truly terrible morning. First, a flood sweeps him into a smelly drain. Then, when he finally escapes, four kids with brooms take one look and scream ‘CROCODILE!’ Can a proud, handsome komodo dragon convince anyone he isn’t a scaly-toothed swamp monster? And will he ever find his way back to his warm jungle rock? This decodable reader practises the ‘ui’ phonogram in words like ‘sluiced,’ ’nuisance,’ ‘bruised,’ and ‘pursuit.’
My Minecraft Is Broken!
All I wanted was a perfectly normal afternoon - finish my house, go mining, find some diamonds. Easy, right? So why is there a bed on my roof, a pig in my cave, and a fish stuck inside a tree? Something is absolutely, totally, ridiculously wrong with my Minecraft world today, and nobody seems to know how to fix it. Can I survive until tomorrow? This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as ‘afternoon,’ ‘congratulations,’ ’enormous,’ and ‘ridiculous.’
Not Done Yet!
Dr. Can Do has a brilliant plan for every cottage in the village - warm carpets, cosy floors, and piles of wool in every colour you can imagine! But shearing a whole flock by hand takes so much energy. Could a gentle machine help? And what happens when his friend Jill suggests hiring a villager to run a brand-new Wool Shop? This decodable reader practises soft g words such as ‘gentle,’ ‘huge,’ ‘village,’ ‘gem,’ and ‘imagine.’
Don't Burn The Book!
Ned the maker is running low on coal, and the caves are far too dangerous to explore. Luckily, his friendly book-shaped helper has a clever idea: why not grow a whole forest of your very own? But can Ned really turn trees into fuel, and will bone meal truly make saplings shoot up in seconds? Join Ned as he digs, plants, and chops his way to a brilliant plan! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘boldly,’ ‘farmer,’ ’taller,’ and ‘hopeful.’
Make It Yourself, Ned!
It’s Ned’s birthday, and The Book has promised him something truly special - but there’s a catch. The Book has no hands, so Ned will have to make the gift himself! Why does he need wheat, sugar, eggs, and milk? And what sort of surprise could possibly need chickens AND cows? Join Ned on a birthday adventure full of clues, chaos, and one very bossy book. This decodable reader practises the ‘gn’ sound in words like ‘sign,’ ‘design,’ ‘assign,’ and ‘reign.’
Ned Forgot the Door!
Ned has landed in a brand new place, and night is coming fast! With the help of a floating, talking magic book, he must chop trees, craft planks, and build a shed before the sun goes down. But what happens when Ned gets distracted by a pretty sunset and forgets the most important part of any shelter? Can he finish in time once the groaning begins? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘face,’ ’nice,’ ‘once,’ and ‘voice.’
Pig
Something stinky is hiding at the playground, and one curious girl is determined to sniff it out! What could be making that terrible pong behind the bush? She finds a muddy, grumpy, grinning beast and decides right away that it’s the best friend she’s ever met - but how will she sneak it past Mum at sunset? Will this smelly pal get to stay? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘playground,’ ‘downhill,’ ‘hallway,’ ‘bathtub,’ and ‘sunset.’
Tag
Steve is it, and Alex has vanished into a wide-open plains biome full of tall grass, old ruins, and a giant tree perfect for hiding behind. Can the self-proclaimed greatest seeker ever sniff her out? So far he has found a waggy dog, a grumpy cat, and a chicken stuck in a hole - but no Alex. Will Steve spot her before she sneaks to a new hiding spot? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘being,’ ‘biome,’ ‘creates,’ and ‘quiet.’
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.