The Funniest Books for Second and Third Grade Readers
by Janssen Bradshaw
One of the secrets to helping kids learn to love reading is to give them books they’ll really enjoy. And is there anything more enjoyable than a book that gives you the giggles?
From picture books to chapter books, these stories for second and third graders are guaranteed to elicit laughter — whether children are reading on their own or listening to a read-aloud.
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Princess in Black Series
Buy from:The Princess in Black fights monsters, rescues goats, and makes friends while keeping her true identity a secret in this bestselling chapter book series. Humorous stories and expressive, full-color illustrations make this series a must-read for kids in grades 2-3.
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Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Buy from:Best friends D.J. and Gina have their lives turned upside down when Hilo falls out of the sky. The alien boy has superpowers, and D.J. and Gina take him in and teach him everything they know about living on Earth. Between lessons on underwear etiquette and pretending to be human, the trio must fight off the giant robots chasing Hilo all over the planet.
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The Big Splash
Buy from:Julia and her swim team struggle to adjust to their strict, humorless new coach, Nathan, who even bans Splash Time! When he suggests a car wash fundraiser, no one is thrilled. But Julia steps up to save their practice time and discovers things might not be so bad after all. Check out the other books in the Julia on the Go! series.
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Super Pancake
Buy from:Kids who love breakfast and superheroes will gobble up this hilarious graphic novel about a pancake who saves the world. Peggy Pancake teams up with her best friend, Luc Croissant, to foil the evil plot of a villain named Dr. Breakfast Sandwich. Bright colors and laugh-out-loud humor await young readers inside this book!
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Troop Esme
Buy from:Readers who enjoy fast-paced, funny tales will adore Esme, the girl with a plan for everything! When Esme meets Wendall, a Troop Badger selling cookies, she decides she wants in on the action. But there's a catch, she's not in a troop! No problem for Esme; she hatches a brilliant plan to start her own troop and join the badge-earning fun!
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Steve L. McEvil
Buy from:If your kid loves Despicable Me and Minions, they need this funny, full-color graphic novel in their reading stack. Steve L. McEvil is learning the ins and outs of becoming a supervillain. When a mysterious bad guy causes trouble in town, Steve and his annoyingly friendly neighbors team up to tackle the problem.
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Pizza and Taco Series
Buy from:Whether they’re celebrating a birthday, rocking out in a band, or watching scary movies, Pizza and Taco keep young readers eagerly turning pages. This hilarious early graphic novel series is perfect for kids who need a boost in reading confidence and enjoy colorful stories about food.
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We Are Definitely Human
Buy from:Are your kids curious about aliens? If so they’ll love this alien invasion tale that teaches the importance of acceptance. When three "European" visitors crash in Mr. Li’s field, he welcomes them and helps fix their "car." These "humans" blend right in, "making business," "playing sports ball," and "wearing hats." Soon enough, the whole town joins the fun.
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Mad About Meatloaf Series
Buy from:When you want a goofy and fun book to get your kid excited about reading, you can’t go wrong with this early graphic novel series! Weenie is a meatloaf-obsessed wiener dog who goes to great lengths to get his favorite food. Disguises, mishaps, and irresistible friendship keep kids coming back for more.
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The Book with No Pictures
Buy from:I’m not certain there’s a funnier book around than this one. With zero illustrations, it might look like the opposite of hilarious, but as soon as you start reading aloud, you’ll realize this book is going to be a winner. Especially when you have to say ridiculous things like “BLAGGITY BLAGGITY.”
RELATED: Zany Picture Books That Break the Fourth Wall
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The Underdogs Catch a Cat Burglar
Buy from:Your kids will giggle their way through this hilarious crime-fighting series! With a mischievous cat burglar on the loose, The Underdog Detective Agency wants to crack the case. To do so, they must learn to think like a cat, which means hiring a cat. This rib-tickling series is perfect for fans of The Bad Guys and Zootopia!
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Hamster Princess Series
Buy from:This series of fractured fairy tales starring a lovely hamster (you may not know a good-looking hamster from a homely one, so you’ll have to take Harriet’s word that she’s absolutely stunning) are laugh-out-loud funny and perfect for any fairy-tale lover.
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Dory Fantasmagory Series
Buy from:Dory is the baby of the family, and despite her desperate wishes, her older siblings think she’s too young to play with them. She has to find her own fun, like outsmarting the monsters she’s certain lives in the house and escaping from timeout.
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Penguin Problems
Buy from:You think your life is hard? Well, a penguin life isn’t all fun and games either! First off, penguins have to live where it’s extremely cold. And there are a ton of animals always trying to eat them. And their moms? They all look exactly the same. Yes, penguins definitely have problems.
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George's Marvelous Medicine
Buy from:You always know you’re in for a treat and a laugh with a Roald Dahl book, and this one — in which George is left home with his horrible grandmother and is responsible for giving her a dose of medicine — is no exception. Because, naturally, George can’t help tinkering with her medicine just a bit.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.