Growing Reader
Tween
Stand Out at Stand-Up:
9 Truly Funny Joke Books for Kids
by Tom Burns
There are few things funnier than a kid telling a joke. If they nail the punchline, it’s hilarious. If they completely botch the punchline, it’s somehow even MORE hilarious. But, no matter what, everyone gets a huge smile on their face.
It’s time to get your little stand-ups working on their material. Because, even though kids are natural comedians, there’s only so many times a parent can pretend they don’t know “What’s brown and sticky?” (“A stick,” I replied to my daughter for the 50th time. “We both know it’s a stick.”)
If your child loves telling jokes, but they keep trotting out their tired old favorites, definitely introduce them to these side-splitting joke books that will provide little comedians with new material and keep your family laughing — honestly laughing — for weeks to come.
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Knock-Knock Jokes and Silly Stories for Kids
Also available from:Knock-knock jokes have been around forever, and they’re a favorite among kids (and kids at heart). Young comedians and beginning readers will find enough knock-knock jokes in this official Brightly book to keep them giggling for hours. More mature readers will also find longer jokes and laugh-out-loud stories to add to their joke-telling arsenal.
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Highlights Laugh Attack! Joke Books Series
Also available from:There’s a whole series of kid-friendly joke books from Highlights Magazine, home to one of my personal favorite comedy duos of all time, Goofus and Gallant. The newest addition to the series, Best Kids’ Jokes Ever!: Volume Two, has a fantastic selection of old-school, dad-joke knee-slappers. Because, c’mon, parents — it’s our job to teach the next generation, “What’s black and white and red all over?”
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PUNcilmation: A Pencilmation Joke Book
Also available from:Kids who can’t get enough of the popular YouTube animated series will be thrilled to get their hands on this official Pencilmation joke book! This book’s full-color artwork, familiar characters, and hilarious jokes will keep kids coming back for every groan-worthy pun.
(On sale: 4/4/2023)
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Roald Dahl’s Whoppsy-Whiffling Joke Book
Also available from:There are few authors who kids love more than Roald Dahl. In books like Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he just perfectly portrays how bizarre and hilarious the world must seem to children. In this riotous joke book inspired by his fantastic books, kids will learn the perfect jokes to entertain everyone from teachers like Miss Trunchbull or annoying neighbors like The Twits.
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Minecraft: The Official Joke Book (Minecraft)
Also available from:Minecraft has never been this funny! Kids can fill their pixelated worlds with rib-tickling humor and punny jokes tailored to Minecrafters. Your kid will be the funniest one on the playground and in the game with eye-rolling zingers like this — Q: Why is grass dangerous? A: Because it’s full of blades!
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Knock! Knock! Who Was There?
Also available from:You can find the Who Was? biography series in almost every elementary school across the nation. (Thanks to their iconic cover designs, my daughter still calls them the “Big Head” books.) But the geniuses at Who HQ aren’t satisfied with just teaching your kids about history — they want to teach them to be funny too. Kids and history teachers alike will adore this selection of puns and punchlines all about historical figures. (For example — Q: Why did Betsy Ross wear long dresses? A: To cover her colo-knees!)
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Joke Puzzles Big Fun Activity Pad
Also available from:What’s better than a puzzle book? A hilarious puzzle book where every activity ends with a laugh! Young readers can stretch their knee-slapping muscles as they match the jokes to their punchlines, complete giggle-worthy stories, and solve side-splitting riddles.
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Wee Hee Hee: A Collection of Pretty Funny Jokes and Pictures
Also available from:Did you know that telling jokes is linked to higher intelligence, creativity, sociability, empathy, and self-esteem in kids? It’s true. That’s one of many reasons why the creative studio Wee Society put together this collection of “pretty funny” jokes. And, believe me, they ARE pretty. This is definitely the best-looking joke book you’ve ever seen and it even gives kids tips on how to deliver the perfect punchline.
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Funniest Illustrated Jokes for Kids!
Also available from:Aspiring comedians will love this fully illustrated joke book filled with age-appropriate humor. Once your kids have tried out all the jokes in the book, they can write and draw their own cartoons and one-liners! It’s the perfect way to engage reluctant readers and writers.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2022.