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.

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.

The story of the inhabitants of the village of Lamonic Bibber, a place Mr Gum (also by Andy Stanton) fans are already very familiar with, from 20,000 years ago until 1 million years in the future. Probably the most ridiculous and funny book you will ever read.

When Jonathan’s parents are framed and arrested by the CIA, he and his fellow spy Shelley will have to pull together to find the real villains… if they can stop eating junk food and come up with some kind of plan. Another fun adventure in the League of Unexceptional Children series.

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

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. 

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. 

Irreverant and charming, this is a hilarious and surprisingly touching story about secrets, love and life.

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.

The story centres on Dylan Hughes, the only boy left in a small Welsh mountain town called Manod. This is an immensely entertaining book, about the power of art to bring about change and to redeem.

Fast-moving, very funny, and gleefully mining the comic potential of the superhero genre, this is an inventive story about Luke: superhero expert and comic-lover.

When Martin and his neighbour bond over their love for horror films, he helps him realise his ambition to create a zombie movie. A wonderfully quirky, humorous and heartwarming read, with a compelling plot.

Lorraine Gregory creates a fully fleshed-out fantasy world, full of wondrous creatures and horrible humans. The humour is earthy and the action bloody (gruesomely so, at points), and it all combines perfectly in this great read.

An extremely funny story, with a touch of poignancy.

Spectre Collectors is a funny, high-octane adventure story. Each page is bursting with imaginative details, from the magical and technological divisions of the secret organisation to the descriptions of the different ghost rankings. 

A fairy tale for the modern feminist generation, Anya’s Quest (yes, Quest with a capital Q) takes her through dark woods and across barren moorlands, outwitting giants, making appointments with Good Wizards, travelling by magic carpet and looking into magic mirrors.

Aven’s dad has just been offered a new job, managing a rundown theme park. And it turns out the theme park conceals some surprising secrets… With likeable characters and quirky humour, readers are likely to find this an inspiring and charming read. 

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