The benefits of laughter are instantaneous and the pleasure of sharing with a young reader a book that you can both laugh at is a tonic to both adult and child. If you have young children in your family it’s a wonderful way to spend time together and the perfect opportunity for a right old giggle. The stand out sharing books for me include Groosham Grange by Anthony ‘we are not a museli’ Horowitz and the picture book Dr Dog by Babette Cole which combines common-sense advice with some good scatological fun.
So, we like books that makes us laugh. But what is funny? Well, that’s the problem – everyone is different and what you find funny depends on your sense of humour and point of view and even mood. Whether you love the satire of Paul Beatty’s The Sellout or prefer the comedy sci-fi of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams we hope you will find something in the following list to tickle your ribs.
All the books are available from the library. Email us if you would like one put aside for you.
Fiction 1
- Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
- And Then I Turned into a Mermaid by Laura Fitzpatrick
- How to Rob a Bank by Tom Mitchell
- Nation by Terry Pratchett
- Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford
Fiction YA
- India Smythe Stands Up by Sarah Govett
- Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan
- Giant Days by Non Pratt
- The Gifted, the Talented and Me by William Sutcliffe
- The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend
Fiction 2
- The Sellout by Paul Beatty
- The Humans by Matt Haig
- Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
- White Teeth by Zadie Smith
- The Zoo by Christopher Wilson
Non-fiction
- You Took the Last Bus Home by Brian Bilston
- Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson
- Penguins Stopped Play: Eleven Cricketers Take on the World by Harry Thompson
For more suggestions of books to brighten up a dull day try the following websites:
LOLLIES (Laugh Out Loud Award) is awarded for a Humorous book and has categories for 9-13 as well as picture books and 6-8.
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize is awarded for a Humorous book
CWIP (comedywomeninprint.co.uk)
