Book list

Funny books

Sometimes the funniest remarks you come across in books are made in quite serious situations when someone, perhaps you, just sees the lighter side of life

On the other hand, books which deliberately set out to be humorous have to be about something, so if you find it in this list, you will most likely come across it in another list as well.

All books

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Dr Dolittle adventures to Africa to cure the monkeys of a terrible illness.

What not to do if you turn Invisible by Ross Welford

Feeling a bit invisible? Acne and loss of confidence? Well you could try doing what Ethel Leatherhead does. But it won't help.

The Children of Castle Rock by Natasha Farrant

Boarding school Great Orienteering Challenge offers multiple opportunities to argue, fall out and make friends...work as a team, earn a magnificent Finder’s Fee for a stolen artwork, and save the school from closure.

Tin by Pádraig Kenny

Christopher is a real boy and his friends are mechanicals. But if it turns out that Christopher isn’t actually a real boy after all...what difference does that make?

The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell

Junior Explorer Stella Starflake Pearl encounters wild, weird and downright dangerous magic in the Icelands.

Beetle Boy by M G Leonard

Darkus tracks down his lost father...with the help of his uncle, friends and a vast beetle army. But he makes a serious enemy out of Lucretia Cutter, beetle collector.

The Last Wild by Piers Torday

There are wild animals out there to be saved and whatever you think of him, Kester Jaynes really is the man for the job...unless you know

Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help by Douglas Anthony Cooper

Kids who converse with ghosts on a regular basis need Professional Help, right? But will Milrose Munce survive to tell the tale?

Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson

A tale of highway robbery, but not necessarily the obvious kind.

Sebastian Darke, Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney

Sebastian Darke, Prince of Fools. Not a prince. Not much of a fool. Seeks employment. Finds adventure...and a princess.

Corby Flood by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Corby Flood solves mysteries, mends broken lives, and is loved by everyone, except the five unamusing clowns in bottle green bowler hats...

Clemency Pogue, Fairy Killer by J T Petty

Clemency Pogue, Fairy Killer - girl with a conscience.

Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud

Brilliant conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. What is to become of John Mandrake? Has he got a conscience after all? All will be revealed...

Nicholas by Renee Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe

Short stories. Small boy. Big adventures. Real life. Happy Smile.

Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell

Surrounded by a brilliant family Ordinary Jack would like to feel a little less ordinary, just for once. A scheme is laid for a brilliant practical joke...

The Scarecrow and his Servant by Philip Pullman

A scarecrow needs a servant if he's really going to get out and see a bit of the world.

The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud

Nathaniel is junior in the government now, but he still needs his djinni, Bartimaeus, to help him out of a tight corner. Pity then that Bartimaeus is less than willing...

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

'We, Cosmo Hill, are the world's only Supernaturalists.'
Cosmo grinned weakly. 'What? You don't like clothes?'
'That's naturists, Cosmo. And nobody does that any more, not with the ozone layer spread thinner than cling film. We call ourselves Supernaturalists because we hunt supernatural creatures.'

Sam and the Griswalds by Emma Barnes

Sam's life gets rearranged when the Griswalds move in next door.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

A weedy boy with magic powers gets in way over his head.

Pure Dead Brilliant by Debi Gliori

Rampant magic in a haphazard household.

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay

Saffron recovers her inheritance, with a little help from her mad, artistic family and friends.

The Rescuers by Margery Sharp

Well, if a human needs rescuing from the deepest, darkest dungeon in the infamous Black Castle, who else is up to the job, if it isn't The Prisoners' Aid Society of Mice?

Otto and the Flying Twins by Charlotte Haptie

In the beautiful City of Trees, in the divided world of magicos and normals,Otto learns, to his surprise, that he might actually belong to the other side. . .

Artemis Fowl: the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

Fairies need Artemis. Artemis needs fairies. Fair exchange, no robbery. Tricky situation though.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

Family adventures in a flying car.

Dimanche Diller by Henrietta Branford

Orphaned heiress Dimanche is in deadly danger from her evil guardian. Who can save her? Well, Polly Pugh, her super-nanny will help.

Not Just Rescuing by Helen Flint

How to make the most of life if you find yourself spending a summer holiday in an animal rescue station.

Up On Cloud Nine by Anne Fine

Stolly lives his life up on cloud nine. Most of the time, it's just funny, but when he goes too far and thoughtlessly injures himself, it is time to stop and think about who is hurting most - Stolly, or his friends and family.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Dangerous fairies, might grant your wish, might blast you away with a biobomb. Depends how they feel . . .

Something's Fishy, Hazel Green by Odo Hirsch

Two lobsters are stolen, but it takes a girl like Hazel Green and her friend the Yak to discover the truth of this mystery!

Deathscent by Robin Jarvis

Brindle is a space traveller marooned in Elizabethan England. But if you think something is a little adrift with Elizabethan England, just wait until you know Brindle better . . .

The Curse of the Gloamglozer by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Times are difficult in the ancient and learned sky city of Sanctaphrax. But when Maris and Quint join forces to help her father with his important research, they unwittingly unleash the ancient curse of the gloamglozer . . .

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

A trustee of the orphanage offers to send Judy Abbott to college. But he insists on anonymity. All he asks is that she write a letter to him once a month to let him know of her progress through college. She is to address him as JohnSmith, and she is to expect no reply. So, you see, it is a rather one-sided correspondence!

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The little prince and the airman form a special kind of friendship and a special kind of understanding.

The Lost Grandad by Geoff Steward

You can have a go at mind-travelling in this book along with Joseph and his Lost Grandad, who turns up just in time to help Joseph find his imagination. A lot of laughs.

Clockwork or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman

Do you think you can sell your soul to the Devil, and get away with it?

The Big Bazoohley by Peter Carey

A big bazoohley is a big prize, and Sam Kellow really needs to win one urgently, to help his parent's shaky finances. Can he spot his big chance when it comes?

Flour Babies by Anne Fine

Actually it's a 3 kg bag of flour. Simon loves his flour baby, but it is a real strain looking after it. How much worse is the real thing?

Eight Days of Luke by Diana Wynne Jones

David meant to say the curse, but he never expected it to work! Now he's got a rather strange kind of friend who doesn't live by the same rules as everyone else . . .

Hazel Green by Odo Hirsch

Hazel Green, born leader, organizes a float for the carnival, with curiosity, flair, indignation, humour, intelligence and sensitivity (among other qualities).

Greg by Dirk Walbrecker

Greg wakes up one morning to discover he has turned into a gigantic caterpillar!