5 Books That Have Fourth and Fifth Graders Seriously Cracking Up
by Kari Ness Riedel
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Dork Diaries,” “Books that make me laugh” are frequent answers I get when I ask kids what kind of books they like. If your reader loves these too, here are five “kid-approved” books recommended on Bookopolis.com, an online community where kids share reviews of their favorite books.
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Timmy Failure
Clueless, clumsy, and hilarious, Timmy is the CEO of his own detective agency along with his lazy partner, Total, who happens to be a polar bear. In each of the four books in this series, Timmy embarks on a new detective mission full of funny shenanigans and, of course, failure. As Rowan, 9, says, “This book is really funny; it even has jokes that adults would like.”
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The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other)
Gabe, 10, says this is “a very funny book about brother and sister twins — Reese and Claudia — who get in a huge fight about a toaster pastry and then one up each other with a series of pranks that make you gasp.” It’s written like a movie script with clever handwritten notes and drawings in the margins that add extra laughs throughout the book. The second book in the series is out now and a third one is coming soon.
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The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable
Another story featuring twins, but this time they are on the same team as they embark on a spy mission during their family vacation to visit the wackiest American tourist destinations. Hilarious dialogue and antics from the characters keep readers entertained and quickly turning the page. Emily, 10, says, “This book is funny and full of adventure and mystery. I loved this book and recommend it to everyone.” There are five books with different adventures to enjoy in this series.
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Sisters
A memoir written as a graphic novel that tells the author’s story of a family road trip from San Francisco to Colorado and the hilariously true ups and downs of relationships with her sister. Anyone with a sibling will laugh out loud reading this book. Will, 11, says, “This is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. It is funny in all sorts of ways I can’t even describe.” Fans of this book will also enjoy Raina’s other two novels, Drama and Smile.
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The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
This is a great blend of humor, middle school drama, and references to your favorite “Star Wars” characters. This six-book series follows Tommy, Dwight, and their sixth grade friends through multiple adventures involving an origami Yoda puppet who makes surprisingly accurate predictions about events happening at school. Pillai, 10, summed it up perfectly, “Wise, funny this book is!”
