Funny books for older children

The Pinchers are a family of thieves who are very excited to visit a local diamond exhibition. This hilarious crime caper is full of eccentric characters and accompanied by colourful, quirky illustrations.

A very funny graphic novel about Shirley’s adventures after falling down a manhole. 

This hilarious and heart-warming chapter book combines an entertaining plot and a diverse range of characters with delightfully funny black-and-white illustrations. The cheeky antics of the mischievous pony are great fun.

Alex Sparrow is training himself to be a super-agent and has a brand-new superpower that allows him to tell when people are lying. This is a hilarious, exciting, fun read – filled to the brim with great characters and laugh-out-loud moments.

Sam Wu is scared of many things but is determined not to let anyone find out. However, after an unfortunate incident in a space simulator on a school trip, he becomes a target for class bully Ralph, who nicknames him Scaredy-Cat Sam.

Greg Heffley is a normal American kid, albeit one with a habit of getting into (and out of) trouble.

Can Silver find the watch thief – and make Yana her new BFF? Funny adventure with a quirky and loveable heroine. 

Mallory Vayle makes a bizarre pact with a 500-year-old skull: help to free her parents’ ghosts from an evil spirit in exchange for a blonde wig and the lifting of an ancient curse. A scream of a comic horror story. 

A normal kid called Alex and the heroic Axel swap worlds and must complete quests to return home in this fast-paced, hilarious fantasy adventure.  

A brilliantly imagined and side-splittingly funny story, about a three-eyed alien and his Earthling companion, complemented by comic-style illustrations on almost every page that bring their (mis)adventures to life. 

Hercules’ plan to play it cool when he starts secondary school goes awry when he becomes a target for the school bully. With the arrival of his estranged Greek father, Hercules’ popularity surges, but at what cost? With a generous smattering of Greek mythology, this laugh-out-loud tale explores the nature of friendship, love and loyalty with a perfect mix of warmth and humour.

This very silly but utterly irresistible fantasy adventure is packed with implausible characters and unbelievable plot twists but also has a subliminal message about the futility of war and discovering empathy. 

This sniggeringly funny, totally deadpan adventure is a joy to read. Loosely set in the 1930s, it’s a bit like reading a really well-written and funny Famous Five or Secret Seven by Enid Blyton.

Can Nora and her great grandchildren find the treasure before her dastardly foe? A hoot of an adventure starring an energetic old lady, a determined toddler and a wonky goose. Great fun. 

A mountain goat, a girl called Kid and a boy who speaks in spoonerisms are the main characters in this quirky novel about love, fears and friendship. Surprising, tender and engaging.

This hilarious, illustrated chapter book features best friends Mina, Reema and Mobeen. They are excited about their school camping trip but get the heebie-jeebies when they hear rumours about Bertie Blackteeth, a ghostly figure who roams the woods in search of her next victim… 

In a town full of people with powers, will Sara ever find her superpower? Solving the mystery of the stolen football trophy might help. The first in a hilarious series for young readers. 

Ferris’s new foster brother is a tornado of chaos, but when their school is closed down, can the foster brothers work together? Funny and moving, and packed with comic strips and cartoons. 

When Rafa swaps places with a film star, he embarks on an extraordinary adventure, which takes him all the way to Hollywood on a private jet. Bursting with humour, this larger-than-life tale is a compelling read. 

Finn just wants to survive Year 7 but faces cringe and embarrassment at every turn. Follow his hilarious year in this brilliantly funny and relatable illustrated diary format book. 

An extremely funny story, with a touch of poignancy.

Welcome to the world of Georgia Nicolson – an angst-ridden teenage girl who keeps a diary to record the rollercoaster of emotions and experiences she faces every day