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Funny Books for 7 to 9 Year Olds

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

Books that make independent reading feel less like work, selected for strong comic momentum and an achievable age fit.

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30 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

A funny book is often the easiest bridge into a longer reading habit. Let the child choose the premise that makes them laugh, and favour chapter books at the lower end of the age range when confidence is still growing.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

The Jolly Postman
Janet Ahlberg · Picture Book · ages 3–7 · imagination and heritage
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Please Mrs Butler
Allan Ahlberg · Poetry · ages 6–10 · humour and family
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The Worst Witch
Jill Murphy · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · friendship and perseverance
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Father Christmas
Raymond Briggs · Picture Book · ages 4–8 · humour and heritage
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Fantastic Mr Fox
Roald Dahl · Chapter Book · ages 6–9 · courage and humour
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Gangsta Granny
David Walliams · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · family and humour
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The Jolly Postman book cover
The Jolly Postman
Janet Ahlberg
Ages 3–7
The Jolly Postman
Janet Ahlberg · Allan Ahlberg
The Jolly Postman, a picture book by Janet Ahlberg, is selected for children aged 3 to 7. It is illustrated by Allan Ahlberg. Compare it with other books exploring imagination, heritage and humour.
Picture Book1986
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Please Mrs Butler book cover
Please Mrs Butler
Allan Ahlberg
Ages 6–10
Please Mrs Butler
Allan Ahlberg
Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg is a poetry collection for children aged 6 to 10. A useful choice for reading about humour, family and heritage.
Poetry1983
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The Worst Witch book cover
The Worst Witch
Jill Murphy
Ages 7–10
The Worst Witch
Jill Murphy
Mildred Hubble is a pupil at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, where spells, broomstick lessons, and school rules rarely go according to plan.
Chapter Book1974
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Father Christmas book cover
Father Christmas
Raymond Briggs
Ages 4–8
Father Christmas
Raymond Briggs
On the shelf for children aged 4 to 8: Father Christmas, a picture book by Raymond Briggs. It connects with humour, heritage and wonder.
Picture Book1973
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Fantastic Mr Fox book cover
Fantastic Mr Fox
Roald Dahl
Ages 6–9
Fantastic Mr Fox
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
First published in 1970, Fantastic Mr Fox is a chapter book by Roald Dahl for children aged 6 to 9. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. Its themes include courage, humour, perseverance and family.
Chapter Book1970
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Gangsta Granny book cover
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams
Ages 7–10
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams · Tony Ross
Ben expects another dull Friday with his cabbage-loving grandmother until he learns that she claims to be an international jewel thief.
Chapter Book2011
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Winnie-the-Pooh book cover
Winnie-the-Pooh
A. A. Milne
Ages 3–8
Winnie-the-Pooh
A. A. Milne · E. H. Shepard
Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends move through linked adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, from honey-seeking plans to expeditions and rescues.
Classic1926
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Five Children and It book cover
Five Children and It
E. Nesbit
Ages 8–11
Five Children and It
E. Nesbit
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit is a classic for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about adventure, imagination, humour and wonder.
Classic1902
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Just So Stories book cover
Just So Stories
Rudyard Kipling
Ages 6–10
Just So Stories
Rudyard Kipling
On the shelf for children aged 6 to 10: Just So Stories, a classic by Rudyard Kipling. It connects with imagination, humour, wonder and nature.
Classic1902
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The Family from One End Street book cover
The Family from One End Street
Eve Garnett
Ages 7–11
The Family from One End Street
Eve Garnett
First published in 1937, The Family from One End Street is a classic by Eve Garnett for children aged 7 to 11. Its themes include family, humour and heritage.
Classic1937
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Cosmic book cover
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages 9–13
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce is a novel for children aged 9 to 13. A useful choice for reading about family, humour, adventure and wonder.
Novel2008
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The Boy Who Grew Dragons book cover
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Andy Shepherd
Ages 7–10
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Andy Shepherd
The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd is a novel for children aged 7 to 10. A useful choice for reading about adventure, humour, friendship and wonder.
Novel2018
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How to Train Your Dragon book cover
How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
Ages 8–12
How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
Hiccup must capture and train a dragon as part of becoming a Viking hero, despite being smaller and less confident than his peers.
Novel2003
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The Diary of a Killer Cat book cover
The Diary of a Killer Cat
Anne Fine
Ages 6–9
The Diary of a Killer Cat
Anne Fine
The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 9. A useful choice for reading about humour and family.
Chapter Book1994
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Clarice Bean, That's Me book cover
Clarice Bean, That's Me
Lauren Child
Ages 5–8
Clarice Bean, That's Me
Lauren Child
For readers interested in family, humour and imagination, compare Clarice Bean, That's Me by Lauren Child. It is a picture book for children aged 5 to 8.
Picture Book1999
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Double Act book cover
Double Act
Jacqueline Wilson
Ages 8–12
Double Act
Jacqueline Wilson · Nick Sharratt
Double Act, a novel by Jacqueline Wilson, is selected for children aged 8 to 12. It is illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Compare it with other books exploring family, self-reliance and humour.
Novel1995
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Talking Turkeys book cover
Talking Turkeys
Benjamin Zephaniah
Ages 8–14
Talking Turkeys
Benjamin Zephaniah
Talking Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah is a poetry collection for children aged 8 to 14. A useful choice for reading about humour, justice and creativity.
Poetry1994
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A Bear Called Paddington book cover
A Bear Called Paddington
Michael Bond
Ages 5–8
A Bear Called Paddington
Michael Bond · Peggy Fortnum
The Brown family meet a polite bear from Peru at Paddington Station and invite him into their home.
Chapter Book1958
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The Pirates Next Door book cover
The Pirates Next Door
Jonny Duddle
Ages 4–7
The Pirates Next Door
Jonny Duddle
The Pirates Next Door, a picture book by Jonny Duddle, is selected for children aged 4 to 7. Compare it with other books exploring friendship, adventure and humour.
Picture Book2012
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The Wombles book cover
The Wombles
Elisabeth Beresford
Ages 6–9
The Wombles
Elisabeth Beresford
For readers interested in nature, family and humour, compare The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford. It is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 9.
Chapter Book1968
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Horrid Henry book cover
Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon
Ages 6–9
Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon · Tony Ross
First published in 1994, Horrid Henry is a chapter book by Francesca Simon for children aged 6 to 9. It is illustrated by Tony Ross. Its themes include humour and family.
Chapter Book1994
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You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! book cover
You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!
Andy Stanton
Ages 7–10
You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!
Andy Stanton · David Tazzyman
You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton is a chapter book for children aged 7 to 10. It is illustrated by David Tazzyman. A useful choice for reading about humour and justice.
Chapter Book2006
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The Brilliant World of Tom Gates book cover
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Liz Pichon
Ages 8–11
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Liz Pichon
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon is a chapter book for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about humour, family and creativity.
Chapter Book2011
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Kid Normal book cover
Kid Normal
Greg James
Ages 8–12
Kid Normal
Greg James
First published in 2017, Kid Normal is a novel by Greg James for children aged 8 to 12. Its themes include humour, courage and friendship.
Novel2017
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Quick, Let's Get Out of Here book cover
Quick, Let's Get Out of Here
Michael Rosen
Ages 6–10
Quick, Let's Get Out of Here
Michael Rosen · Quentin Blake
Quick, Let's Get Out of Here by Michael Rosen is a poetry collection for children aged 6 to 10. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. A useful choice for reading about humour and family.
Poetry1983
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Who Let the Gods Out? book cover
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
Ages 9–12
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
For readers interested in humour, adventure and courage, compare Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Novel2017
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The Ghost of Thomas Kempe book cover
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
Penelope Lively
Ages 8–12
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
Penelope Lively
First published in 1973, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a novel by Penelope Lively for children aged 8 to 12. Its themes include wonder, heritage and humour.
Novel1973
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The Secret of Platform 13 book cover
The Secret of Platform 13
Eva Ibbotson
Ages 8–12
The Secret of Platform 13
Eva Ibbotson
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson is a novel for children aged 8 to 12. A useful choice for reading about wonder, adventure and humour.
Novel1994
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Truckers book cover
Truckers
Terry Pratchett
Ages 9–13
Truckers
Terry Pratchett
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: Truckers, a novel by Terry Pratchett. It connects with adventure, humour and courage.
Novel1989
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Just William book cover
Just William
Richmal Crompton
Ages 8–12
Just William
Richmal Crompton
For readers interested in humour and adventure, compare Just William by Richmal Crompton. It is a classic for children aged 8 to 12.
Classic1922
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