10+ Best Funny Books for 3-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for a way to tickle the funny bone of your little one? Dive into our handpicked selection of funny books for 3-year-olds that promise giggles and joy. Whether it's bedtime or anytime in between, these books are perfect for sharing laughs with your toddler. Keep reading to discover our favorite funny books that will surely become your child's new favorites!

Fun Funny Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This captivating book tells the story of a hungry caterpillar eating his way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a beautiful butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its engaging illustrations and simple text help young readers learn about counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who enjoy colorful illustrations and learning basic concepts through stories.

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
  • Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: A bus driver takes a break and leaves the reader in charge, asking them not to let the pigeon drive the bus despite its numerous, humorous pleas.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and funny, encouraging children to say "no" to the pigeon, which engages them directly in the story.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love interactive reading and those who enjoy shouting out their answers to books.

• Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Comedy
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Eddie goes searching for his lost teddy in the woods, only to find a giant teddy bear belonging to a real bear!
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhyming text and surprise twist at the end make it both engaging and fun for young listeners and readers.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy playful stories and those with a love for teddy bears and humorous situations.

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
  • Genre(s): Humor, Circular Tale
  • Synopsis: This story explores the chain of events that unfold when a boy offers a cookie to a demanding mouse, leading to increasingly whimsical requests.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches cause and effect in a fun and memorable way, with delightful illustrations to keep children engaged.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy stories with repetitive, predictable structures and silly scenarios.

• No, David! by David Shannon
  • Genre(s): Family, Humor
  • Synopsis: The book follows the misadventures of a young boy named David as he gets into all sorts of trouble, with each mishap followed by his mother’s firm "No, David!"
  • Why we recommend this book: Its simple, repetitive text and relatable storyline help young readers understand boundaries and behavior in a fun way.
  • Perfect for: Children who are beginning to explore their independence and parents who want to gently teach about rules and consequences.

Educational Funny Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A clever mouse invents a creature called the Gruffalo to scare off predators, but then he meets the mythical beast in real life.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creative thinking, problem-solving, vocabulary expansion
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines rhyming text with a clever plot twist, making it a delightful read that encourages imagination and wit.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love mythical creatures and adventurous tales.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet, Rhythm and Rhyme
  • Synopsis: The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree, but will there be enough room?
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, rhythm, and coordination
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, lively text and bold colorful illustrations make learning the alphabet fun and engaging.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who are starting to learn the alphabet.

• The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna
  • Genre(s): Rhyme, Social Skills
  • Synopsis: A glum fish with a perpetual pout learns from his friends that being gloomy isn't the only way to be.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Social skills, emotional recognition, rhyming
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a fun way to discuss emotions and shows how attitude can impact oneself and others.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy sea creatures and stories that feature a moral lesson.

• Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
  • Genre(s): Bedtime, Family
  • Synopsis: Little Llama experiences bedtime drama as he waits for his mama to come back to him after saying goodnight.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional regulation, bedtime routines
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses common bedtime fears and anxieties in a comforting and relatable way.
  • Perfect for: Young children who face challenges settling down at bedtime.

• Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This humorous story explores the love dragons have for tacos and the chaos that ensues when they eat spicy salsa.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sequence of events, cause and effect, culinary curiosity
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a quirky and fun read that combines fantastical creatures with a love of food, sparking both laughter and imaginative thinking.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy silly stories and those with an adventurous palate.

Challenging Funny Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
  • Genre(s): Humor, Concept Book
  • Synopsis: This innovative book proves that words alone can be wildly entertaining as they prompt the reader to say silly and ridiculous things out loud.
  • Why this book is challenging: It lacks illustrations, which are typically crucial at this age, pushing kids to use their imagination purely through text.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces the power of written words in a fun and engaging way, showing that reading can be just as entertaining without pictures.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy laughter and parents who want to encourage imaginative thinking.

• Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: The story follows a boy named Floyd who gets his kite stuck in a tree and throws increasingly absurd items up to try to get it down.
  • Why this book is challenging: The absurdity of the plot challenges young minds to think outside the box and understand a sophisticated level of humor.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's hilariously imaginative, encouraging creativity and problem-solving in a playful way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who like quirky stories and creative problem-solving.

• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
  • Genre(s): Humor, Mystery
  • Synopsis: A bear has lost his hat and politely asks the other animals he meets if they have seen it, leading to a surprising and funny conclusion.
  • Why this book is challenging: The minimalistic text and the dry humor require children to pay close attention to visual cues and infer the plot's subtle nuances.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a witty, understated type of humor and teaches the importance of observation and inference.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy detective stories and those who appreciate a more subtle, dry humor.

• This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
  • Genre(s): Humor, Mystery
  • Synopsis: A small fish steals a hat from a big fish and is confident it will get away with it, unaware of the impending consequences.
  • Why this book is challenging: Like its predecessor, this story relies on visual storytelling and the child’s ability to grasp the concept of right and wrong through minimal text.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a masterful continuation of minimalist humor and moral storytelling, perfect for sparking discussions about ethics and consequences.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who liked "I Want My Hat Back" and enjoy stories with a moral.

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A boy named Duncan finds a stack of letters from his crayons, each expressing their grievances and demands.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book presents multiple perspectives and requires understanding of emotions and humor expressed through the crayons’ letters.
  • Why we recommend this book: It creatively introduces the concept of perspective-taking and emotional expression, all wrapped in a humorous package.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy colorful stories and those learning about expressing feelings and resolving conflicts.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to turn reading into a fun and engaging activity for your 3-year-old, you've come to the right place. Here are some playful exercises that can help your little one develop good reading habits while exploring the world of funny books. Let's dive in!

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: A pre-reading activity where you and your child look at the pictures in a book and guess what the story might be about.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to tell their own story based on the pictures before reading the text.

• Funny Voice Reading
  • What it is: Reading the book aloud using different voices for different characters.
  • How it helps: Makes the reading session more engaging and helps with understanding character emotions.
  • Tips: Let your child choose the voices and maybe even act out some scenes to deepen the fun.

• Find the Rhyme
  • What it is: Identifying rhyming words within the funny books.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness, which is crucial for early reading skills.
  • Tips: Highlight rhyming words as you read and encourage your child to come up with more words that rhyme.

• Character Talk
  • What it is: Discussing characters’ actions and decisions in the story.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and encourages empathy.
  • Tips: Ask questions like "What would you do?" or "How do you think the character feels?"

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: Putting the events of the story in order using physical objects or drawings.
  • How it helps: Builds understanding of narrative structure and sequence of events.
  • Tips: Use simple props or draw scenes on paper to rearrange the story’s events together.

Wrapping up, incorporating these fun exercises into your reading routine will not only make the experience enjoyable but also instill a love for books in your young reader. Remember, the key is to keep it light and playful—laughter and learning really do go hand in hand! Happy reading!