World Read Aloud Day is February 5th and I’ve got the perfect round up of newer funny books that are excellent choices for reading aloud to children at home or as a guest reader in the classroom.
After sharing countless stories with children, I’ve found that funny books are the ones that get the biggest reactions when reading aloud to children. From unforgettable characters to zany adventures and eye-catching illustrations, this list of books is packed with kid appeal. Whether it’s reading the ones with flowing rhymes or the stories with droll laugh-out-loud text, these books are a true joy for both kids and adults.
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PRESCHOOL
Dinosaur Roar by Diana Murray, illustrated by Luke Flowers, 2025
(Ages 3 and up)
Packed with lively rhymes, onomatopoeia, and vibrant illustrations featuring a myriad of smiling dinosaurs, thisriotous read aloud is dino-mite! I also highly recommend the other books by this dynamic creative team including Unicorn Day and Mermaid Day.
A Bear, A Fish, and a Fishy Wish by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Brandon James Scott, 2024
(Ages 3 and up)
Oh, my goodness, this book is so much fun to read aloud! Upbeat rhymes and eye-catching illustrations follow a hungry bear attempting to make a homesick fish his lunch. After his comical journey ends, readers find that the bear’s heart is even bigger than his stomach. With just the right amount of drama, this playful story is not to be missed.
I also recommend the first book A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree.
Snowflakes On Our Tongues by Mike Ornstein, illustrated by Pauline Gregory, 2023
Riotous rhymes highlight hysterical barnyard antics in this new winter book that is an exceptional read aloud for little ones. It’s almost impossible not to want to join in on the refrain of the various animals singing “Snowflakes on our tongue” making this sure to be a hit with preschool classrooms.
ELEMENTARY AGE
Mr. Fox’s Game of “No!” by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, 2024
Rocket Puppies by William “Whoosh!” Joyce, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
In a world where everyone has become overwhelmed with sadness, a litter of Rocket Puppies mysteriously appears to spread joy to all. With charming, detailed illustrations paired with quirky, comical text, it is impossible not to smile at these absolutely adorable puppies!
The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed, illustrated by Hatem Aly, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
With its clever storyline featuring sibling rivalry turned cute collaboration, this is without a doubt one of my favorite books of the year so far! When a young boy tries to share the rhyming story he wrote, his sister interrupts with her own comical edits. It is almost impossible not to giggle while reading this humorous book as the rhythmic text is interrupted with unexpected twists in the story. The best part is how it all comes together in a heartfelt ending.
The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston, 2024
(Ages 4 and u)
Tired of being the only book without a story, a lonely dictionary decides to breathe life into her catalogued words. As a hungry alligator emerges, he chases a doughnut with comical results. From the poetic end papers to the endearing characters and the imaginative, intriguing, irresistible story, there is a lot to love about this new book.
The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
Prepare to be mesmerized by this unique book that really can read your mind!! A magical rabbit takes the stage and invites readers to pick an audience member that he will reveal after intermission. Depending on who the reader picks, you flip to another page where the answer is disclosed. My kids’ jaws literally dropped the first time we read this book and the magician correctly divulged their selected audience member. The choose-your-own-adventure feel makes this one fun to read several times in a row.
This one would be a fun choice for a guest reader. To keep the magic of the story alive though, only one child would be able to pick at a time.
Mama’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas by Jesús Trejo, illustrated by Eliza Kinkz, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
This hilarious story filled with wordplay and vibrant illustrations is so much fun to read aloud. When his mother asks Jesús to care for her cherished plants, he takes the job very seriously watering them, telling them jokes, and giving them haircuts until disaster strikes. When he drops one, he quickly confesses and discovers that his mistake has given the plant the ability to grow even larger.
Dog vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
This laugh-out-loud book stars a competitive dog trying to outshine a strawberry that has fallen to the ground. The action-packed narrative describing the dog’s ambitious moves had me giggling while reading and the ending literally made me guffaw. This one is so much fun!
Penelope Rex and the Problem With Pets by Ryan T. Higgins, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
While most people receive a dog or a cat as a pet, Penelope’s parents gift her Mittens, a very affectionate saber-tooth tiger. The expressive illustrations that are laugh-out-loud funny follow Penelope as she adapts to Mittens sleeping in her bed, chewing on her toys, burying her underwear in the backyard, and bringing her “surprises”.
With comical hijinks and a heartfelt ending, this exceptional addition to the best-selling series is an excellent read aloud choice for children.
The Welcome Home by Amu June Bates, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
Feeling lonely, Mr. and Ms. Gargleson-Bittle fill their hearts and home with animals…lots and lots of animals. They really want a pet who will play fetch, give kisses, and chase it’s tail, so naturally they get a snail, an elephant, an octopus, and a plethora of other absurd choices. The wonderfully whimsy illustrations brilliantly capture the love felt in this rambunctious home.
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen; illustrated by Abby Hanlon, 2022
(Ages 4 and up)
It is nearly impossible not to giggle during this hilarious book that’s full of word play! When poor Chester wakes up one morning unable to rhyme, his classmates spend the day trying to help him. This book is a pure joy to read aloud in front of kids. The rhythmic text is continuously interrupted with words or phrases that replace the last rhyme of a couplet. My kids LOVED trying to complete the rhyme on each page. This is a perfect choice for discussing rhymes with children or using as a read aloud that is sure to entertain!
The King Penguin by Vanessa Roeder, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
As a King Penguin, Percival believes that he is meant to rule all the other penguins. Sick of his selfish behavior, the other penguins throw him out of their colony and Percival is forced to find a new flock of followers to reign over with hilarious results. This book is an absolute delight, particularly the play on matching the penguins’ personalities to their classifications.
Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki, 2021
(Ages 4 and up)
When an alien unicorn comes to Earth to scout it for possible invasion, he is surprised to find how much he falls in love with the people and the planet. This book is an absolute riot! The unicorn’s amusing observations paired with the entertaining illustrations had our entire family laughing out loud! Full of hysterical details, this story is such a delight to read!
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty; illustrated by David Roberts, 2022
(Ages 4 and up)
This rollicking, rhyming story stars a family of two dads and their three children attempting to clean the house before Grandma arrives. The only problem is that their feisty feline mixes up the letters of their to-do list creating hysterical chores such as feeding the floor and sweeping the dishes. There is nothing kids love more than an unexpected, silly story and with its bright colors, comical expressive illustrations, and flowing text, this one is a standout!
The Boo-Boos of Bluebell Elementary by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illustrated by Alison Farrell, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
This joyous ode to school nurses is a complete delight! From loose teeth, to hurt feelings, to runny noses, Miss Peatree sees it all and treats each student in Bluebell Elementary with the care and concern they need!
Brimming with rollicking rhymes, charming illustrations, and an all-too-familiar cast of students needing a little medical attention and a lot of love from their favorite nurse, this comical story is sure to be a hit in school and home libraries.
My Pet Feet by Josh Funk; illustrated by Billy Yong, 2022
(Ages 4 and up)
Oh my goodness, this book is so much fun! Filled with tons of amusing details, this comical story stars a young girl who wakes up to discover the letter “R” has gone missing. Her entire world turns upside down as everything around her transforms due to the missing letter. Go-carts become go-cats, friends become fiends, and, worst of all, her adorable pet ferret has become a pair of feet. Each changed word is highlighted in purple and my kids loved identifying what the original word should have been. Complete with a satisfying ending, this clever story is a joy to read aloud.
Cookie Time by Jessie Sima, 2024
Tiny Cedric by Sally Lloyd-Jones; illustrated by Rowboat Watkins, 2021
Prepare for tons of giggles while reading this royally funny tale! While he may be short in stature, King Cedric has an enormous ego. He is so narcissistic he banishes anyone in his kingdom taller than himself. This leaves only the babies of the kingdom. In a colossally comical twist, King Cedric is forced to care for them resulting in the shrinking of his self-importance and the growing of his heart.
The hilarious illustrations add to the comedic off-beat tone of the story making this a fun read aloud that is sure to be a hit with a variety of ages.
Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex, illustrated by Lian Cho
(Ages 5 and up)
This all too relatable story about a group of aggressively loving aunts is absolutely hilarious. Filled with comical details that will have both adults and children giggling, Adam Rex has another winning book on his hands.
I also highly recommend On Account of the Gum , Unstoppable, and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors.
Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo, 2023
(Ages 5 and up)
This ridiculously quirky story is without a doubt my children’s favorite book of the year so far. When a group of children start school for the first time, they walk in to find the room empty except for a sandwich at the teacher’s desk. After much debate, they ultimately decide that the sandwich must be their teacher. What ensues is an abundance of comical events ending with a giant surprise.
Mina by Matthew Forsythe, 2022
(Ages 5 and up)
This book is so delightfully unexpected and magnificent in its visual storytelling!
Shrouded in stunning illustrations, the story follows a book-loving mouse named Mina and her well-meaning, but naïve father. Her father loves bringing home surprises for Mina, but when he adopts a squirrel as a pet that is actually a cat, he may have gone too far.
The lush illustrations are full of rich colors that beautifully blend together creating a charming vintage feel. While the pictures are gorgeous, the understated details steal the show. For example, Mina’s wide-eyed expressions in reaction to her father’s decisions are laugh-out-loud funny and perfectly compliment the droll text.
Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
I originally declined reviewing this book when the publisher offered it to me based solely on the title and cover. Then I saw it at my library and after reading through it, I immediately regretted my decision. This interactive book is SO much fun and it is a huge hit with my kids.
Readers are invited to guess if a photograph of an animal is featuring its butt or face. When they flip the page, they find the answer and fun facts about exotic animals. My children absolutely love this one and had a blast playing the game while also learning some really interesting information about animals.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen, 2022
(Ages 5 and up)
The dynamic team of Barnett and Klassen can do no wrong and their new retelling of the classic Three Billy Goats Gruff tale is one of their best collaborations yet! The deliciously smooth text is a joy to read aloud while the eerie illustrations masterfully elevate the original tale. This one still makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it.
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