Celebrate National Humor Month by reading and laughing! These books will prompt giggles from April 1 (April Fools’ Day) to 30.
Games of peek-a-boo, silly rhymes, hyperbole, wordplay and wit: these are a few of the preverbal and language-related ways that youngsters engage in humor as they develop through childhood and adolescence.
In Kids Who Laugh, Dr. Louis Franzini explores language-based and other forms of humor. The physical, social and mental benefits are many. Humor can help children to bond with others and make friends. It can enhance resilience, confidence, mood and learning. A good laugh can relieve stress and lower blood pressure. (And all this applies to adults as well.)
But because humor is often learned behavior, it’s important to guide youngsters to recognize when it veers into unkindness. Mocking others and hurtful teasing and pranks are never okay.
For maximum fun, this month you might ask each family member to share their favorite funny children’s book. Who knows, this might set off a year-long fest of guffaws and goofy read-alouds!
Tots to age 7
Buffalo Fluffalo
Illustrated by Erin Kraan
Random House Studio, 2024, $18.99
Rollicking rhymes chronicle the tale of a proud, puffy buffalo who is “ever so snarly and gnarly and tuffalo.” He rebuffs overtures of friendship from a ram, prairie dog and crow – only to be humbled by a rainstorm. With flattened fur, the pip-squeak-sized buffalo discovers – thanks to his friends – that he is now happily “hugly and snugly.” The hilarious illustrations perfectly complement the book’s lively wordplay and cranky refrain (which youngsters will love to chant).
Return of the Underwear Dragon
By Scott Rothman
Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Random House Studio, 2021, $17.99
In this entertaining sequel to Attack of the Underwear Dragon, Sir Cole tries to teach a dragon to read. Though the frustrated student torches the book, Sir Cole refuses to give up. With the help of a more interesting book and a resourceful friend, the two finally succeed. The dragon’s reward? Underwear spiffily decorated with letters of the alphabet. The tale balances humor with heart as the dragon learns the value of persistence and of patient, understanding teachers.
Preteens
Bibsy Cross and the Creepy-Crawlies
By Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Dung Ho
Knopf, 2025, $16.99
This third chapter book in a series about a curious, chatty third grader is as delightful as its predecessors. Acclaimed author Liz Garton Scanlon draws on ordinary school and family life for amusing, relatable complications. Working with classmates on a science project, Bibsy “finds it hard to coexist with the other organisms in her habitat.” In keeping with the nature theme, Dung Ho adds pops of Kelly green to her black-and-white spot art.
Mexikid
By Pedro Martín
Dial, 2023, $14.99
Looking for laughs and adventure? Pile into the family Winnebago with young Pedro and his eight siblings, bound for Mexico. Their mission: to return with their abuelito, who will live with them in California. During a trip of 2,000 miles, they contend with corrupt border guards, raw milk and a toy called the Little Peepee Man. But soon Pedro is trying to capture his grandfather’s songs and tales on paper. In doing so, he connects more deeply with his abuelito and with Mexican culture and history. In 2024, this funny, moving graphic memoir won a Newbery Honor and the Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Awards.
Teens
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
By Deya Muniz
Little, Brown, 2023, $17.99
The titular comfort food plays an important role in this graphic novel, included on several 2024 “Best of” lists. And an activist princess named Brie, a disguised count and plot twists galore add unexpected spice. Set in the kingdom of Fromage, this witty fairy tale upends gender tropes to serve up a delectable rom-com.
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker.
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Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
