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Looking for a book that’s funny but is not an adult book. Any recommendations?

Looking for a book that’s funny but is not an adult book. Any recommendations?

Emma #recommend

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174 Answers

Ryan

For kids?

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EmmaQuestion author

For young adults

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Stephanie

For what age? What kind of topic? Fantasy? Realistic?

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EmmaQuestion author

Sorry I was not more clear. For young adults. I’m in middle school so books like that. Funny books is what I have in mind.

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Stephanie

I’m a Terry Pratchett fan, his books are satirical fantasy if that would be of interest. Also somewhere out there is this one:

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EmmaQuestion author

Thank you!

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Abe

Hitchiker’s Guide is very funny, and only verges into adult territory in a few parts in like the third book. David Sedaris’ stories are as well, but not always PG-13.

Don Quixote is absolutely hilarious, and it’s so unexpected b/c it’s this old work with kind of archaic language. Once you get accustomed to that, it’s screamingly funny. Part of the appeal is that I guess I have kind of historical myopia with regard to comedy; I think certain types of jokes only belong to more modern times. Turns out I’m wrong, wits like Cervantes have been able to do this for centuries. Dickens also has moments of comedic genius in his works, again, if you’re willing to acclimate yourself to the language.

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Krista

@Abe I love David Sedaris ‘s writing!

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Elaine

BUT… he is definitely for adults.

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EmmaQuestion author

Thank you for commenting. Will check him out but when I get a little older lol!

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Angie

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

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Daccari

For kids: The Giggler Treatment.

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Victoria

Xanth novels skirt around the idea of “adult” with the “adult conspiracy”, but are cute.

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Amy

I loved Dead End in Norvelt

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Sandy

Bunnicula and The BFG. Both are kids books, but I read them as an adult and thought they were hilarious.

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Elaine

Ok, I have read ( to my young grandkids ) the Bad Kitty series and Scaredy Squirrel books, I got a real laugh out of those , they are for little ones but still…

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EmmaQuestion author

Nothing wrong with loving kid books. Bad kitty happens to be one of my favorite

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Carlene

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship of Her Own Making!

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Valerie

The Discworld books by Terry Pratchett are very doable for kids. Lots of word play and fun ideas.

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Michelle

Hank the cow dog series for kids

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Jeanne

@Michelle All ages in our family loved these laugh out loud books

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Karen

James Patterson kids books. Yes he has a few.

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Patrice

The Phantom Tollbooth

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Elizabeth

The Harry Potter series.

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Rachael

The Chronicles of Nick…. I believe they are YA, southern snark at its best!!!!

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Kimberly

I read Sherrilyn Kenyon, and know Nick from her adult books. I still have read The Chronicles of Nick, however. Need to do so.

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Rachael

I havent read the adult books yet, though I own many of them. Hopefully the Dark Hunter series will be my next.

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Patty

The Fantastic Mr Fox

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Mindy

Anything by R Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James the Champion of the World, The BFG, The Twits…

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Marie

Jo Nesbo’s Fart Powder Series: Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder, Bubble in the Bathtub, Who Cut the Cheese. Kids love bathroom humor.

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Melissa

@Marie I did not know Jo Nesbo had children’s books!!! I’ll check that out!!!

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Amy

Rick Riordan books:
The Percy Jackson Series & all his other ones.

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EmmaQuestion author

Thank you!

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Silvia

if for an ‘adult’ check Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

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Kelly

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman

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Amy

Anything by Christopher Paul Curtis.

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BethAnn
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BethAnn
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BethAnn

Hilarious LOVE THIS book

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EmmaQuestion author

Thank you so much! Looks very good. Will check it out!

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SallyAnn

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheeseman. These are picture books and children enjoy them but it takes an adult to understand the real humor in them.

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Terri

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

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Mary-Ellen

Carl Hiaasen’s kids books like Hoot

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Laura

The Princess Bride

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Michele

Any Rohld Dahl!!!

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Michele

Roald!!

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Jen

Counting by 7’s

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Shelley

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.

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Jennifer

Catherine Called Birdy (newbery honor) so funny as she thwarts suitors!

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Kathy

The Twits, Esio Trot

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Francie

Hank the Cowdog series.

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Katie

Wind in the Willows is funny, sweet, sad and joyful. Great read for kids and adults.

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Carol

“A Long Way From Chicago,” by Richard Peck. Join Joey and his sister Mary Alice as they spend nine unforgettable summers with the worst influence imaginable – their grandmother!

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Barbara

Definitely!

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Marilyn

If looking for a YA novel, I just read – and absolutely loved – HERETICS ANONYMOUS by Katie Henry. It can be quite funny while still addressing deeper issues like teenaged angst and how and why people believe what they do. And the fact that there’s room in this world for different spiritual beliefs. Some hijinks by the kids in this book made me laugh out loud. And yet there’s a lesson re tolerance and understanding.https://www.amazon.com/Heretics-Katie-Henry/dp/0062698877

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Laura

Now I want to check this one out! Thanks!

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Marilyn

@Laura It just came out last month. Still only in hardcover. Excellent read for both teens & adults. Maybe even some pre-teens.

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EmmaQuestion author

Will check it out! Thanks for the link.

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Margarete

I second, _Hank the Cow Dog_, _ A Long Way from Chicago_ , and _A Year Down Yonder_.

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BethAnn

A Year Down Yonder is one of my favorites too!

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Nicole

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

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Charlotte

How to Murder Your Husband and Other Household Tips.

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Ricki

I just read she got arrested for murdering her husband! Really!

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Laura

I can’t find it on Amazon; who is the author?

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Ricki

I don’t know. It was in my news feed. If I find it again, I’ll let you know.

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Ricki

It’s in the Washington Post. Hopefully here’s the link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/09/12/novelist-who-wrote-about-how-to-murder-your-husband-charged-with-murdering-her-husband/

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Vicky

Any Anne George southern sisters mystery. But they are a series.

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Lisa

loved this series, they were laugh OUT LOUD funny!

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Stephanie

Not sure what age group you are looking for but I find Carl Hiassen’s books funny, particularly Chomp. Also, for younger kids Judy Blume’s Fudge books.

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Linda

For the young reader, the Pete the Cat series

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Ricki

Carl Haissen and “Stephanie Plum” books.

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Barb

Both authors, I woke my husband up laughing reading in bed.

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Ricki

I read my first Plum on the train going to work. I was hysterical, by myself. I’m sure people thought I was nuts.

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Karina

The OZ books like Kabumpoo in OZ are funny.

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Jeffrey

Dc Superhero Girls by Lisa Yee (6 to date.) In this series the Super Ladies are teens in high school.

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Lina

Chomp, by Carl Hiaasen

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Deborah

So Not Happening Jenny B. Jones

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Bernice

The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden. Hilarious!

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Kevin

Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot

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Jessica

This is where I leave you.

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Cathie

I loved this one but would definitely say it’s an adult book!

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Jessica

Lol! I read wrong. I thought it said adult book. Oops.

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Jacqueline

Oh, Lordy, the book by Tina Fey “Bossypants” was very funny. Funniest I’ve ever read was “Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris.

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Patti

Love David Sedaris but don’t read in public because you’ll get looks when you’re laughing ?

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Barbara

Any Ronald Dahl books

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Megan

Skinny bones.

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Ann

Richard Peck’s Long Way to Chicago

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Mari

Junie b Jones & the Yuchi bluchy fruitcake

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Sabrina

Secret Life of Bees.

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Gretchen

Roal Dahl books are fun, smart books. James and the Giant Peach is one, but there are other good ones.

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Chris

Shel Silverstein – Where the Sidewalk Ends

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Candice

Mo Willems books (Duckling gets a cookie!?, and Pigeon needs a bath, e.g.).

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Kathy

Beverly Cleary books..several titles…Ramona, Henry Huggins, Beezus and Ramona…Mouse on a Motorcycle.

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Jill

Wee Free men by Terry Pratchett

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Carmen

Carl Hiaseen

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Deborah

@Carmen yes Hoot is so good!

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Joanne

Richard Peck’s Teacher’s Funeral, Best Man

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Mary

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod.

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Wendy

The Watsons Fo to Birmingham 1963 is wonderfully humorous with a serious message.

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Patti

The Wednesday Wars

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Stephanie

Picture books: The Great Pig Escape, Officer Buckle and Gloria, and Turnip Soup.

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Ginny

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis

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Cat

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Ian Fleming.

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Carol

Joey Pigza swallowed the Key by Jack Santos.

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Kathy

Willioughbys by Lois Lowry cracks me up

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Robyn

Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman

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Sue

Spud Murphy by Colfer

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Maureen

Anything by Fannie Flagg. Wonderful.

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Caroline

Yes!! Love her!

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Shannon

Wonky Donkey

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Trudy

I saw the video of a grandmother reading it to her grandson hilarious!

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Tori

Gary Paulsen’s books, How Angel Peterson Got His Name and Harris and Me.

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Sheree

Shoot Low Boys , They’re Riding Shetland Ponies

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Caroline

I use to read Erma Bombeck’s books….like: Grass grows deeper over the septic tank….she had some funny books…

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Kristy

The Watsons Go to Birmingham. I laughed until I cried. And then I just cried. It’s an amazing book.

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Beth

Anything by Christopher Moore. Lamb was my favorite

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Antonia

Eva Ibbotson’s books!

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Antonia

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/351018.Which_Witch_

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Karina

Oh… look for Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. Was turned into a movie

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LScott

Judy Blume

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Judy

The Wolf who cried Boy- hilarious

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Stephanie

Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. The things the two boys get into are a hoot! And Long Way from Chicago by Peck.

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Jennifer

The Nanny Piggins series by R. A. Spratt. Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. My son and I have loved all of them. So, so hilarious.

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Anna

Artemis Fowl

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Donald

@Anna fun book

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Sara

Agree!! Laughed out loud several times at this one!

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Carole

Carl Hiaason’s YA books Hoot, Flush and a couple others I can’t remember off hand.

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Merla

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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Judy

Never could warm up to it. Glad you love it.

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Bonita

Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series…I dare you not to lol!

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Cathie

Bonita Herring – have you read the Timmy Failure books by @Stephan? They’re similar and I like them even more than WK.

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Bonita

@Cathie I have not but will ✔ them out…thx!

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Cathie

Read them in order though! @Bonita

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Sara

@Bonita & @Cathie those books are the BEST!

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Jackie

Richard Peck or Mac Barnett’s Brixton Brothers

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Becky

Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series. Love them all.

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Brandi

Hoot

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Cathie

THe Timmy Failure books by @Stephan. They’re hilarious!! (Be sure to read them in order)

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EmmaQuestion author

Thanks!

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Karen

CDB

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Lisa

Poems by shel Silverstein

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Susan

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck.

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Bonnie

@Susan that’s a good one!

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Julia

Amelia Badelia; Eloise; Junie B Jones; Harry and the Terrible Whatzit; Knights of the Kitchen Table; Emily’s Runaway Imagination;

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Julia

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch; Miss Nelson is Missing

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Beth

Anything by Laurie Notaro. Funny!

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Cyndi

Pendragon

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Samantha

Anything by Terry Pratchett… start with Mort.

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Jody

Flavia DeLuce series by Alan Bradley!

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Kristin

Angus, Thongs and full frontal snogging

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Pam

Nation by Terry Pratchett

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Stacy

“How to Eat Fried Worms” by Thomas Rockwell and all the Great Brain books by John D Fitzgerald

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Pamela

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

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Maria

Daisy Fay And The Miracle Man by Fanny Flagg

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Jane

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series

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Gayle

Anne of green Gables

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Ryan

@Gayle awesome book!

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Laurien

Harry Potter

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Penny

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

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Cindy

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

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Bassil

You may try ‘The World of Norm.’ It’s a series written by Jonathan Meres and published by Orchard.

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Elena

Daniel Pinkwater! His book “Alan Mendelsohn, The Boy From Mars” is a great start.

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Ann

Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

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Patricia

“Harris and Me” by Gary Paulson.

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Bonnie

Sad & funny The Fault in Our Stars

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Jill

Pippi Longstocking

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Charon

Anything by Jen Lancaster

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Ann

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit–Paula Danziger

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Ann

@Ann Good choice!

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Carolyn

For a younger crowd I love the Chicken Squad series!

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Hillary

Almost anything by Judy Blume, Carl Hiaasen’s books for kids (Hoot, Flush, Scat), the I, Funny books, and my kids loved the Wimpy Kid and Big Nate books.

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Camilla

Walking Across Egypt

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Kelly

“This Can’t Be Happening at McDonald Hall” is by far the funniest book I have read with my students. I think I might have laughed harder than the kids! 🙂

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Jacqueline

Cow on a Walker- Amazon. Short but hysterical !

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