13 Kid-Recommended Books Guaranteed To Make 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders Laugh
by Kari Ness Riedel
Who doesn’t love a good laugh? Funny books are a great way to keep kids reading way past their obligatory twenty minutes a night. To find out which books are guaranteed to have your fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade reader in stitches, we went straight to the kids themselves. Here are 11 books recommended by young readers on Bookopolis.com, a social network and book discovery tool made especially for kids.
As I looked over their side-splitting recommendations, I realized the books fell into two general categories: highly illustrated books that use creative artwork to accentuate the funniness of the story, and books that rely on words alone to induce laughter.
Ask your reader which style they prefer. Both have a value and a purpose. Perhaps you can encourage them to try the opposite format of what they normally seek out to encourage variety in their reading life.
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Hilariously Illustrated Novels
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Hamster Princess Series
Available from:Famous fairy tales like “Sleeping Beauty” and “Rapunzel” are retold with a feisty hamster named Harriet in the lead role. The witty dialogue and girl power take on these classic stories are laugh-out-loud funny. As Kaitlin, 9, says, “Harriet's adventures are wild and exciting. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in funny, magical stories.”
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ChupaCarter
Available from:Join Jorge on a comical and fantastical journey as he befriends a young chupacabra who shares his love for sneakers and junk food. But soon, Jorge is faced with a dilemma when the neighborhood's cattle start to die, and he must navigate the reputation of Carter's species for savagery while staying true to the friend he knows. This vibrant tale is inspired by Latine folklore and brought to life by beloved comedian, George Lopez. One reviewer claims "This book is a great mix of funny, scary, heartwarming … and the grandmother is my favorite character of all!"
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Tom Gates Series
Available from:This bestselling UK series is comedic and charming. Tom Gates is a master of excuses, a creative storyteller, and a middle-school class clown. He would much rather doodle, listen to his favorite band, or find ways to talk to Amy Porter than pay attention to his teachers. Alli, 11, says, “Very funny, and definitely relatable!! I recommend it to kids that like to have a laugh.”
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Welcome to Wonderland Series
Available from:In this book from Chris Grabenstein, the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, 11-year-old P.T. and his friend Gloria are on a mission to save their beloved motel. The Wonderland is a truly magical place — with all-you-can-eat poolside ice cream — but it will require outrageous actions to save it. Brett, 10, raves that this book “is so cool and funny that it will make ice cream come out of your nose.”
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The Season of Styx Malone
Available from:Caleb and his older brother Bobby go off on an adventure into the woods, but Bobby yearns for more beyond their small town. Then they meet Stax, their new cool neighbor, who introduces them to "The Great Escalator Trade" promising to help them achieve their dreams by trading up. However, they soon question if they are in too deep. One review recommends this book for people who like a fast-paced adventure.
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The Area 51 Files
Available from:What would you do if you were sent to a top-secret military base to live with an uncle you’ve never met? If you are Sky Patel-Baum, you and your pet hedgehog immediately befriend a local alien (aka Break Throughs) named Elvis and his dog Pickles. As Sky tries to learn the wacky rules in her new home of Area 51, she and Elvis put their sleuthing skills into action to figure out why some of the Break Throughs have suddenly gone missing. Charming characters, a suspenseful plot, and witty dialogue make this a must-read. Evan,11, loved this book, “[It] was hilarious and had me laughing a lot. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sci-fi or mystery.”
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The Last Kids on Earth Series
Available from:A team of quirky, video game-loving suburban middle schoolers take on Zombies and other wild creatures after a monster apocalypse hits their town. This bestselling series is laugh-out-loud funny to kids (and adults) and offers lovable characters and a fast-paced plot. Jacob, 11, gives it 10 out of 10 stars, “I loved this survival and action-packed book so much! I got my friends to read it and they loved it. I hope you read it too!”
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Words-Only Funny Books
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We’re Not From Here
Available from:Moving to a new place is hard, especially if it’s an entirely new planet where nobody likes humans. This funny and compelling sci-fi story set in Plant Choom is filled with aliens and space travel as well as deep themes about friendship and belonging. “This is probably the best book I have read this year,” shares Alex, 11.
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Stand Up, Yumi Chung
Available from:Yumi, a shy Korean American girl, dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. When a case of mistaken identity allows her to attend a summer comedy camp instead of test-prep tutoring, Yumi concocts a crazy plan to perform and convince her parents she’s a natural-born comedian. But will leading a double life be too much to handle? One kid reviewer called this story "effortlessly funny."
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Scat
Available from:When their school field trip to a swamp ends with a wildfire and then their dreaded teacher Mrs. Starch goes missing, two friends, Nick and Marta, launch an investigation to find out what is really happening in their Florida Everglades. Environmental themes are blended with action and adventure in this book that Maddy, 10, describes as “hilarious yet mysterious.” She says, “If you haven't read [it], I definitely recommend this book to you.”
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The Fourteenth Goldfish
Available from:Ellie is not enjoying sixth grade until she meets a strange boy, Melvin, who is weirdly like her science-loving grandfather. Could he actually be her grandfather? Read to find out in this heartwarming and witty book that examines big ideas like the role of science and the quest for eternal youth. Bella, 10, raves, “I love this book, it was super good. If you are that person who likes to curl up with a funny book, then this is your book!” And don't forget the equally hilarious sequel, The Third Mushroom.
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The Best Man
Available from:Eleven-year-old Archer tells the story of his life from first to sixth grade, which is bookended by his role as the best man in two weddings. The stream of consciousness writing style that reads like a direct conversation with a witty elementary school student makes this book funny and relatable. Award-winning author Richard Peck uses the gentle touch of humor to address serious topics like gay marriage and the power of male role models.
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Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas
Available from:Humor meets adventure in this wild ride that is like “Goonies,” “Indiana Jones,” and “National Treasure” rolled into one. Twelve-year-old Addison Cooke, along with his little sister and two best friends, head to South America to take on dangerous robbers, solve an archaeological mystery, and rescue their aunt and uncle. “This book is funny, mysterious, and filled with physical comedy,” raves Landon, 11.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2023.