Humorous Stories
An Annotated Bibliography of stories to make you giggle
for grades 2 and up
 The Many Troubles of Andy Russell
David A. Adler
J ALD / 133 pages / grades 3-6
When some of his gerbils escape and he gets in trouble for not paying attention in class, fourth-grader Andy Russell worries about asking if a friend can move in with his family-- especially when he learns that his mother is going to have another baby.
The Woman Who Won Things
Allan Ahlberg
J AHL / 78 pages / grades 2-5
As Mr. Gaskitt takes a series of jobs and Mrs. Gaskitt keeps winning prizes, their nine-year-old twins, Gus and Gloria, follow a substitute teacher who seems too good to be true.
Don’t Rent My Room!
Judie Angell
J ANG / 138 pages / grades 7-9
Fifteen-year-old Lucy is apprehensive about leaving the city for the country when her parents decide to run an inn on the New England coast.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Richard Atwater
J ATW / 138 pages / grades 4-6
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions.
Mom is Dating Weird Wayne
Mary Jane Auch
J AUC / 146 pages / grades 5-8
Jenna objects to her mother's new boyfriend, a wacky weatherman, and exerts every effort to prevent his becoming her new father.
Romeo and Juliet—Together (and alive!) at Last
Avi
J AVI / 122 pages / grades 7-9
The eighth grade's plan to get two reluctant "lovers" together by means of a classroom production of Shakespeare's play has some very unexpected results.
Selby: the Secret Adventures of a Talking Dog
Duncan Ball
J BAL / 102 pages / grades 3-4
Follows the adventures of the world's only talking dog as he tries to keep his talents a secret from his owners.
My Mom Married the Principal
Margaret Bechard
J BEC / 168 pages / grades 5-7
Eighth-grader Jonah Truman's life gets more complicated after his mom marries his school's principal during summer vacation.
Double Fudge
Judy Blume
J BLU / 213 pages / grades 3-6
His younger brother's obsession with money and the discovery of long-lost cousins Flora and Fauna provide many embarrassing moments for twelve-year-old Peter.
Part of the Fudge series
Fairy Nuff: a Tale of Bluebell Wood
Herbie Brennan
J BRE / 121 pages / grades 2-4
After mistakenly burning down his own cottage, Fairy Nuff finds that not only are the Widow Buhiss and some African ants after him, but also that the Queen urgently needs his help.
Stanley, Flat Again
Jeff Brown
J BRO / 87 pages / grades 2-4
After Stanley Lambchop goes flat once again, he uses his flatness to help win a sailboat race and to rescue a classmate from a collapsed building.
Part of the Stanley series
Nasty, Stinky Sneakers
Eve Bunting
J BUN / 105 pages / grades 4-7
Will ten-year-old Colin find his missing stinky sneakers in time to enter The Stinkiest Sneakers in the World contest?
The Amazing Adventures of Soupy Boy!
Damon Burnard
J BUR / 96 pages / grades 2-5
An accident involving radioactive tomatoes at The Gloop Soup factory transforms Ashley Fugg from an ordinary baby into a can of soup who develops into a crime fighter with super powers.
Ramona the Pest
Beverly Cleary
J CLE / 192 pages / grades 3-6
Ramona meets a lot of interesting people in kindergarten class, including Davy whom she keeps trying to kiss and Susan whose springy curls seem to ask to be pulled.
Part of the Ramona series
Mishmash
Molly Cone
J CON / 114 pages / grades 3-6
Pete's parents finally say he can get a dog, but aren't prepared for the huge, black, friendly mutt he brings home.
Annabel the Actress Starring in Just a Little Extra
Ellen Conford
J CON / 63 pages / grades 2-5
When she learns that a famous director is making a movie in her home town, ten-year-old Annabel is determined to get a part in it.
Part of the Annabel the Actress series
Dear Mom, Get Me Out of Here!
Ellen Conford
J CON / 160 pages / grades 5-7
Trapped in a dreadful boarding school, Paul joins his classmates in attempting to uncover the shocking past of their headmaster Mr. Pickles.
The Frog Princess of Pelham
Ellen Conford
J CON / 106 pages / grades 4-6
When a kiss from Danny turns Chandler, a wealthy but lonely orphan, into a frog, Danny's humorous attempts to change her back into a human land the pair on a television talk show.
My Mom the Frog
Debbie Dadey
J DAD / 48 pages / grades 2-5
Jason is convinced that his mother turned into a frog after kissing the wart on his hand.
The Twits
Roald Dahl
J DAH / 76 pages / grades 2-4
The misadventures of two terrible old people who enjoy playing nasty tricks and are finally outwitted by a family of monkeys.
There’s a Bat in Bunk Five
Paula Danziger
J DAN / 150 pages / grades 7-9
On her own for the first time, 14-year-old Marcy tries to cope with the new people and situations she encounters while working as a counselor at an arts camp.
Horace Splattly: the Cupcaked Crusader
Lawrence David
J DAV / 137 pages / grades 2-4
When his little sister's magic cookies transform him into a flying, fire-breathing superhero, ten-year-old Horace Splattly has adventures which include confronting the monster at the school playground.
Part of the Horace Splattley series
Annie Pitts, Burger Kid
Diane De Groat
J DEG / 75 pages / grades 2-4
Third-grader Annie Pitts loves hamburgers and is determined to become the Burger Barn's next poster child.
The Case of the Haystack Kitties
John R. Erickson
J ERI / 113 pages / grades 3-4
Hank the Cowdog's adventures include being trapped in a runaway pickup truck and later discovering a nest of trespassing stray cats in a haystack.
Part of the Hank the Cowdog series
Apple Island, or, The Truth About Teachers
Douglas Evans
J EVA / 143 pages / grades 4-6
When Bradley and his class are taken on an unexpected field trip to Apple Island, he discovers a group of evil teachers plotting to take over the schools of America and "misteach" all the children.
Once Upon a Marigold
Jean Ferris
J FER / 266 pages / grades 4-9
A young man with a mysterious past and a penchant for inventing things leaves the troll who raised him, meets an unhappy princess he has loved from afar, and discovers a plot against her and her father.
Harriet the Spy
Louise Fitzhugh
J FIT / 298 pages / grades 4-6
Harriet's ambition to become a writer motivates her to write down in a secret notebook everything she sees, which causes her to get into big trouble when her notebook is found and read out loud by her classmates.
The Annoyance Bureau
Lucy Frank
J FRA / 169 pages / grades 4-7
While spending his Christmas vacation in New York City with his father and new stepfamily, twelve-year Lucas meets a rebellious agent of the secret Annoyance Bureau, which exists to control or eliminate all sources of annoyance in the modern world.
Nerd No More
Kristine Franklin
J FRA / 143 pages / grades 4-6
Wiggie Carter gets himself into real trouble because he tries desperately to be a cool kid instead of a nerd with a mom who hosts a TV science show.
Jack’s Black Book
Jack Gantos
J GAN / 165 pages / grades 4-6
Comic misadventures ensue when seventh-grader Jack tries to write the great American novel.
Club Earth
Gail Gauthier
J GAU / 152 pages / grades 3-6
When their house becomes a vacation resort for aliens from other planets, Robby and Will enjoy the excitement before finally finding a way to get rid of their free-loading guests.
My Life Among the Aliens
Gail Gauthier
J GAU / 104 pages / grades 3-6
Two brothers begin to wonder if it is their mother's unusual cooking that is attracting the aliens that keep showing up at their house.
Kenny Wild’s Hair
Janet Greeson
J GRE / 125 pages / grades 4-6
Tired of being nagged by his parents about his messy hair, ten- year-old Kenny Wild makes a wish for really wild hair--a wish he soon comes to regret.
Captain Tweakerbeak’s Revenge
Charles Haddad
J HAD / 185 pages / grades 3-6
When mischievous nine-year-old Calliope Day talks her rich new friend into bringing Captain Tweakerbeak the parrot to school for a prank, the results are so hilarious Calliope decides to keep the bird for herself.
The Mystery of Mr. Nice
Bruce Hale
J HAL / 96 pages / grades 3-6
When the principal of his school begins acting nice to him, Chet Gecko realizes that he is an imposter and so sets out to find the real one.
Part of the Chet Gecko series
The Fantastic Stay-Home-From-School Day
Nancy Hayashi
J HAY / 106 pages / grades 3-6
Best friends Leona and Eddie plan a fantastic day at home, but it backfires when Eddie gets sent to school, and separately they each go from disaster to disaster.
Eddie’s Friend Boodles
Carolyn Haywood
J HAY / 74 pages / grades 2-5
A visit to the circus inspires Boodles to experiment with clown makeup and to try to teach his dog Poochie to do tricks.
It Came From Beneath the Bed
James Howe
J HOW / 90 pages / grades 3-6
With help from his Uncle Harold, who wrote books about Bunnicula, Howie the wire-haired dachshund writes a story in which he saves the world from a science experiment gone awry.
Part of the House of Bunnicula series
In Ned’s Head
Anders Jacobsson
J JAC / 133 pages / grades 3-6
Eleven-year-old Ned, who prefers the name Treb, uses his diary to record his wild thoughts about romance, school, and the rest of his eventful life.
Funny Frank
Dick King-Smith
J KIN / 108 pages / grades 2-4
Gertie the hen is appalled when her son Frank wants to swim with the ducks, but Jemima and her mother, the farmer's wife, make him a special outfit so that his dream can come true.
Sophie’s Snail
Dick King-Smith
J KIN / 65 pages / grades 2-4
Follows the humorous adventures of four-year-old Sophie as she pursues her dream of becoming a farmer.
Regarding the Fountain
Kate Klise
J KLI / 138 pages / grades 3-6
When the principal asks a fifth-grader to write a letter regarding the purchase of a new drinking fountain for their school, he finds that all sorts of chaos results.
The 6th Grade Nickname Game
Gordon Korman
J KOR / 154 pages / grades 4-6
Eleven-year-old best friends Jeff and Wiley, who like to give nicknames to their classmates, try to find the right one for the new girl Cassandra, while adjusting to the football coach who has become their new teacher.
The Twinkie Squad
Gordon Korman
J KOR / 194 pages / grades 4-6
Chaos spreads when Douglas, the most eccentric sixth grader in Thaddeus G. Little Middle School, joins the Twinkie Squad, a special counseling group for problem students.
Lenny and Mel
Erik Kraft
J KRA / 60 pages / grades 2-5
Twin brothers observe a year's worth of holidays in some very unusual ways.
The Killer Underpants
Michael Lawrence
J LAW / 132 pages / grades 4-6
Jiggy has a devil of a time with a new pair of underwear that refuses to be removed and which, when they start rippling and itching, cause strange things to happen.
Part of the Jiggy McCue series
Gooney Bird Greene
Lois Lowry
J LOW / 88 pages / grades 2-4
A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow second graders by telling absolutely true stories about herself, including how she got her name.
No More Nasty
Amy MacDonald
J MAC / 171 pages / grades 4-6
When Simon's Great Aunt Matilda becomes the substitute teacher for his unruly fifth-grade class, her unique way of looking at things gives the students a new perspective on learning.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic
Betty MacDonald
J MAC / 126 pages / grades 3-6
Seven families are helped out by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's magic cures when they are faced with thought-you-saiders, tattletales, bad table manners, interrupters, heedless breakers, never-want-to-go-to-schoolers, and waddle-I-doers.
Part of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series
Four Stupid Cupids
Gregory Maguire
J MAG / 183 pages / grades 3-6
The students' scheme to find a love match for their beloved teacher on Valentine's Day turns into a comedy of errors when four stupid cupids from Ancient Greece try to help.
Part of the Hamlet Chronicles series
Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days
Stephen Manes
J MAN / 76 pages / grades 4-6
Milo, tired of problems with his sister, parents, and classmates, finds a book in the library which promises to make him perfect in just three days.
Make Four Million Dollars by Next Thursday
Stephen Manes
J MAN / 87 pages / grades 4-6
Jason attracts a lot of attention when he starts following the zany advice in a get-rich-quick book by the bizarre Dr. Silverfish.
The Quigleys
Simon Mason
J MAS / 148 pages / grades 2-5
The adventures and misadventures of the four members of the Quigley family--Mum, Dad, Lucy, and Will.
Doggone… Third Grade!
Colleen O’Shaughnessy McKenna
J MCK / 82 pages / grades 2-5
Third-grader Gordie is not only having problems with his best friend, he also has to teach his not-so-smart dog some tricks for the upcoming school talent show.
Elvis is Back- and He’s in Sixth Grade!
Stephen Mooser
J MOO / 129 pages / grades 3-6
Eldon used to be the most unpopular kid in school until he received a shock from his electric guitar while doing an Elvis impersonation for the school talent show. Now he walks, talks, and even performs like the real Elvis!
A Book of Coupons
Susie Hoch Morgenstern
J MOR / 62 pages / grades 2-6
Elderly Monsieur Noel, the very unconventional new teacher, gives coupon books for such things as dancing in class and sleeping late, which are bound to get him in trouble with the military discipline of Principal Incarnation Perez.
Amelia’s Notebook
Marissa Moss
J MOS / 32 pages / grades 3-6
The hand-lettered contents of a nine-year-old girl's notebook, in which she records her thoughts and feelings about moving, starting school, and dealing with her older sister, as well as keeping her old best friend and making a new one.
Part of the Amelia’s Notebook series
My Life as a Screaming Skydiver
Bill Myers
J MYE / 119 pages / grades 4-6
When Wally becomes involved in international espionage, rocket-powered toilet paper, and exploding dental floss, he ends up having to become a skydiver to save his life and the entire free world.
Part of the Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle series
Skinnybones
Barbara Park
J PAR / 112 pages / grades 4-6
Alex's active sense of humor helps him get along with the school braggart, make the most of his athletic talents, and simply get by in a hectic world.
A Long Way From Chicago
Richard Peck
J PEC / 148 pages / grades 4-8
A boy recounts his annual summer trips to rural Illinois with his sister during the Great Depression to visit their larger-than-life grandmother.
Mr. Little
Robert Newton Peck
J PEC / 87 pages / grades 4-6
Greatly disappointed that the celebrated Miss K will not be their teacher, Finley Streeter and Stanley Dragavich pull pranks on the new teacher in their small town.
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Dav Pilkey
J PIL / 117 pages / grades 2-6
When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.
Part of the Captain Underpants series
Ricky Ricotta’s Giant Robot
Dav Pilkey
J PIL / 111 pages / grades 2-6
Ricky Ricotta, a small mouse, saves a giant robot from his evil creator, Dr. Stinky, and in turn, the robot protects Ricky from the bullies at school and it saves the city from Dr. Stinky's plan to destroy it.
Part of the Ricky Ricotta series
Fat Camp Commandos
Daniel Pinkwater
J PIN / 88 pages / grades 2-6
Ralph and Sylvia Nebula and their friend Mavis Goldfarb are bitter at being sent to a bogus weight-loss camp, so they decide to escape and find a way to take revenge on those responsible for promoting the idea that thin is better.
Part of the Fat Camp Commandos series
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
Daniel Pinkwater
J PIN / 83 pages / grades 3-6
Arthur goes to pick up the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner but comes back with a 260-pound chicken.
The Magic Pretzel
Daniel Pinkwater
J PIN / 78 pages / grades 2-6
Fourth-grader Norman Gnormal, who behaves a lot like a dog, finds his first real friends when the principal signs him up for the Werewolf Club at school.
Part of the Werewolf Club series
Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case
Mordecai Richler
J RIC / 151 pages / grades 3-6
Eight-year-old Jacob Two-Two enlists the aid of his new neighbor, master spy X. Barnaby Dinglebat, when I. M. Greedyguts, the new headmaster at his school, makes the lives of the students miserable.
Part of the Jacob Two-Two series
How to Eat Fried Worms
Thomas Rockwell
J ROC / 115 pages / grades 3-6
Two boys set out to prove that worms can make a delicious meal.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Louis Sachar
J SAC / 124 pages / grades 3-6
Humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.
Part of the Wayside School series
The Amazing Adventures of Albert and his Flying Machine
Thomas Sant
J SAN / 108 pages / grades 4-6
When twelve-year-old Albert inherits a thousand dollars from an uncle, he decides that what he needs most is a zephyrcar--a flying machine that skims over the ground--to help him deliver papers on his morning route.
Summer Reading is Killing Me
Jon Scieszka
J SCI / 73 pages / grades 3-5
At the beginning of summer vacation Joe, Sam, and Fred find themselves trapped inside their summer reading list, involved in a battle between good and evil characters from well-known children's books.
Part of the Time Warp Trio series
The Circus Lunicus
Marilyn Singer
J SIN / 168 pages / grades 4-6
Solly's stepmother forbids him to go the Circus Lunicus, but gives him an inflatable lizard that turns into his fairy godmother and teaches him how to turn into a space lizard as well.
Chocolate Fever
Robert Kimmel Smith
J SMI / 93 pages / grades 3-5
From eating too much chocolate, Henry breaks out in brown bumps that help him foil some hijackers and teach him a valuable lesson about self-indulgence.
There’s a Girl in My Hammerlock
Jerry Spinelli
J SPI / 199 pages / grades 5-9
Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins her school's formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.
Oliver Dibbs to the Rescue
Barbara A. Steiner
J STE / 122 pages / grades 4-6
Beginning by painting his dog with tiger stripes, ten-year-old Ollie embarks on a series of sometimes disastrous moneymaking ventures to raise funds on behalf of wildlife preservation.
Dear Mom, You’re Ruining My Life
Jean Van Leeuwen
J VAN / 153 pages / grades 5-9
Samantha Slayton's eleventh year includes losing her last baby teeth, towering over every boy in dance school, and being mortified by everything her mother does.
Wizard at Work
Vivian Vande Velde
J VAN / 134 pages / grades 3-6
A young wizard, who runs a school to teach wizards, looks forward to a quiet summer off but is drawn into adventures with princesses, unicorns, and ghosts instead.
The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein
Ross Venokur
J VEN / 152 pages / grades 4-8
Thirteen-year-old Meatball, an overweight vegetarian, discovers that eating meatballs gives him the magic power of turning into anything he wants, and he uses this ability to fight his principal's diabolical plot to eliminate fun from the planet.
Beany Goes to Camp
Susan Wojciechowski
J WOJ / 110 pages / grades 2-4
Beany definitely does not want to spend her summer vacation at camp, but she endures bugs and a bossy cabin-mate, finds a new friend, and has an okay time after all.
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