10+ Best Funny Children's Books for 5-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 children's books for 5-year-olds that promise giggles and joyous bonding moments. Whether it's silly characters or humorous plots, these books are perfect for shared laughter. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks that are sure to bring smiles and laughter to storytime!
Table of Contents
Fun Funny Children's Books for 5-Year-Olds
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book (ironically, no pictures!)
- Synopsis: This innovative book proves that words alone can be fun and entertaining as it forces the reader to say silly and preposterous things.
- Why we recommend this book: It engages children through its playful use of language and encourages them to imagine the scenarios being read aloud.
- Perfect for: Kids who love laughter and parents who enjoy performing with funny voices and sounds.
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
- Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
- Synopsis: A pigeon dreams of driving a bus and tries every persuasive tactic to get permission from the reader.
- Why we recommend this book: Its interactive format gets children talking and deciding, fostering decision-making skills and laughter.
- Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy interactive stories and those who love saying "No!"
- Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
- Genre(s): Fantasy, Humor
- Synopsis: This whimsical story explores the love dragons have for tacos and what happens when they accidentally eat spicy salsa.
- Why we recommend this book: It combines dragons and tacos—two things many kids love—with a humorous cautionary tale about the consequences of not following instructions.
- Perfect for: Children who enjoy fantastical creatures and fun, quirky plots.
- We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
- Genre(s): Humor, Friendship
- Synopsis: Penelope Rex finds out that it's hard to make friends at school when you have a tendency to eat them.
- Why we recommend this book: It addresses common school fears in a humorous way and teaches empathy and perspective-taking.
- Perfect for: Kids starting school or anyone who needs a gentle reminder about how to be a good friend.
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
- Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
- Synopsis: A boy named Duncan deals with his crayons who have had enough and decide to go on strike, each expressing their grievances through letters.
- Why we recommend this book: It's a funny, imaginative story that encourages creativity and looking at everyday objects in new ways.
- Perfect for: Young artists and any child who enjoys a good laugh and a splash of color.
Educational Funny Children's Books for 5-Year-Olds
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
- Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
- Synopsis: A little chicken interrupts bedtime stories because she can't bear to see the characters make mistakes, but eventually, she learns to listen.
- Skills and subjects this book improves: Listening skills, patience, understanding narrative structure
- Why we recommend this book: It's a hilarious take on classic stories with a twist that keeps children engaged and amused.
- Perfect for: Energetic kids who love to participate in storytime.
- Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
- Genre(s): Humor, Rhyming Book
- Synopsis: The story follows a group of dust bunnies who love to rhyme, except for one who seems a bit off but may just save the day.
- Skills and subjects this book improves: Rhyming, phonetic awareness, quick thinking
- Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, fast-paced rhyming book that teaches children about poetry and timing in an entertaining way.
- Perfect for: Kids who enjoy rhymes and playful language.
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
- Genre(s): Humor, Fairy Tale
- Synopsis: This book offers a humorous retelling of the classic "Three Little Pigs" from the perspective of the wolf, who insists his side of the story is the true one.
- Skills and subjects this book improves: Critical thinking, perspective-taking, narrative skills
- Why we recommend this book: It flips a familiar tale on its head, encouraging kids to think about other viewpoints and the importance of hearing all sides.
- Perfect for: Young readers who like twists on classic stories.
- Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
- Genre(s): Humor, Animal Fiction
- Synopsis: Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself, but his world turns upside down when he becomes the mother to a group of goslings.
- Skills and subjects this book improves: Empathy, responsibility, humor
- Why we recommend this book: It's a laugh-out-loud story with endearing characters that teaches about unexpected relationships and responsibilities.
- Perfect for: Children who love animals and stories about unlikely friendships.
- Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
- Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
- Synopsis: When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he throws increasingly outrageous items up to try to knock it down, leading to absurd situations.
- Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem solving, creativity, cause and effect
- Why we recommend this book: It's a ridiculously funny story with imaginative solutions that will keep kids guessing what will happen next.
- Perfect for: Creative thinkers and anyone who needs a good giggle.
Challenging Funny Children's Books for 5-Year-Olds
- Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
- Genre(s): Humor, Adventure
- Synopsis: Sam and Dave are on a mission to dig a hole and they won't stop until they find something spectacular.
- Why this book is challenging: The narrative uses subtle visual storytelling that complements the text, requiring readers to pay attention to both to fully understand the story.
- Why we recommend this book: It encourages critical thinking and perseverance, as readers can explore themes of exploration and the excitement of the unknown.
- Perfect for: Young adventurers and any child who enjoys a mystery.
- This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
- Genre(s): Humor, Mystery
- Synopsis: A tiny fish has stolen a hat and is quite sure that he will get away with it, even though the odds are against him.
- Why this book is challenging: The book uses irony and requires understanding of perspective to fully grasp the humor and moral of the story.
- Why we recommend this book: It teaches important lessons about honesty and consequences in a very subtle and humorous way.
- Perfect for: Kids who appreciate a bit of sneakiness and learning lessons the fun way.
- Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
- Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
- Synopsis: Annabelle finds a box filled with yarn of every color and begins to knit. However, she soon discovers that the yarn never runs out.
- Why this book is challenging: The story presents themes of generosity and magic with understated humor, requiring readers to think about the impact of kindness.
- Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming story that promotes sharing and creativity, showing how one girl's good deeds can magically transform a community.
- Perfect for: Young knitters and any child who believes in a little bit of magic.
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
- Genre(s): Humor, Mystery
- Synopsis: A bear has lost his hat and politely questions the other animals about it, leading to a surprising conclusion.
- Why this book is challenging: The humor is dry and the plot requires a keen sense of inference to understand the bear’s thoughts and the final outcome.
- Why we recommend this book: It offers a unique narrative style and humor, encouraging children to think critically about the story and its resolution.
- Perfect for: Kids who enjoy detective stories and a good, subtle joke.
- The Skunk by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
- Genre(s): Humor, Suspense
- Synopsis: A man finds himself followed by a skunk and tries to escape, leading to an unexpected and humorous adventure.
- Why this book is challenging: The story plays with themes of paranoia and curiosity, wrapped in a humorous narrative that requires understanding of more complex emotional cues.
- Why we recommend this book: It's a quirky tale that combines suspense with humor, teaching about expectations and surprises in life.
- Perfect for: Children who love a good chase and exploring the emotions of curiosity and bewilderment.
Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit
Hey there! If you're looking to make reading a blast for your 5-year-old, especially with funny children's books, you've come to the right place! Here are some engaging exercises that will not only make reading fun but also help develop good reading habits early on. 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 before reading the text.
- How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
- Tips: Ask your child to guess what the story might be about based on the pictures.
- Read and Act Out
- What it is: Reading the story and then acting out some scenes together.
- How it helps: Improves comprehension and makes the reading experience interactive.
- Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the acting more fun and engaging.
- Funny Voice Reading
- What it is: Reading the book using different voices for different characters.
- How it helps: Keeps reading fun and encourages expressive reading.
- Tips: Let your child choose the voices and maybe even take turns reading.
- Story Sequencing
- What it is: Creating a flowchart or a series of pictures that map out the story.
- How it helps: Helps with understanding the structure of stories and sequence of events.
- Tips: Use large pieces of paper and colorful markers to draw scenes from the story.
- Question and Answer Game
- What it is: You and your child take turns asking questions about the story.
- How it helps: Enhances memory and understanding of the story.
- Tips: Start with simple questions and gradually move to more detailed ones.
- Match the Expression
- What it is: Reading a line from the book and matching it with a facial expression or emotion.
- How it helps: Develops empathy and better understanding of emotions.
- Tips: Make a set of cards with different facial expressions for this activity.
These exercises are not only fun but also incredibly beneficial for developing strong reading habits at a young age. By incorporating these playful and educational activities into reading time, you're setting the stage for a lifelong love of reading. So grab some funny books and let the giggles and learning begin!