Laugh Till Your Stomach Hurts: 15+ Funny Titles for Ages 8-12

Summer is here! And that means loads of time for kids to experience books in all their glory. This is also a great time to encourage kids to read the books they choose (without having to worry about school assignments) and to try out new genres that they might be interested in learning more about.
This series will offer titles for toddlers to teens and include a variety of formats. Each week will focus on a different genre and will follow the same format:

• Mondays – Titles for Ages 3-7
• Tuesdays – Middle Grade Titles for Ages 8-12
• Wednesdays – Young Adult Titles for Ages 13+
• Thursdays – Nonfiction pairings
• Friday – Recap of the Week

Middle Grade
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt
When an unexpected nanny in the form of a pig answers the ad, stingy Mr. Green accepts her help and his three children spend a year on adventures, surprises and fun.

The Best Man by Richard Peck
“From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well.” (Taken from Goodreads)

The Bolds by Julian Clary
The Bolds are just like anyone else, except they’re really not. They’re hyenas trying to change the public’s opinion of their species after The Lion King, but what will the neighbors think when they find out the truth?

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald
So far Charlie’s managed to never read a book cover to cover and prides himself in this accomplishment as a middle schooler, but what length with Charlie go to keep his record intact?

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbø
“Eleven-year-old Nilly is new to the neighborhood, but he is quick to make friends: Doctor Proctor, an eccentric professor who invents wacky potions and powders; and brainy Lisa, who is always teased by the twin terrors Truls and Trym. All is good farty fun when Nilly and Lisa help Doctor Proctor develop his latest invention, a powder that makes you fart.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Whoever thought that squirrels couldn’t be friends would be wrong in this story of a squirrel getting sucked up a vacuum cleaner and the girl who saves him.

Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom by Booki Vivat
Abby Wu is trying to navigate middle school while figuring out where she fits in with her family, her friends and at school, all while managing her own “flair for the dramatic and natural tendency to freak out.”

Funny Girl edited by Betsy Bird
25 female writers all provide their own take on what is funny in this anthology of funny women from all walks of life.

Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger
Max’s school is trying out a new robot pilot program and she’s working with a robot named Fuzzy – teaching him everything he needs to know about middle school. But, soon they learn that not all robots are friends and some are going to extremes to create the “perfect student”

Guys Read: Funny Business  edited by Jon Scieszka
Ten short stories make up this anthology of authors writing to make your sides hurt and milk shoot your nose from laughing so hard!

I Funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
“Jamie Grimm is a middle schooler on a mission: he wants to become the world’s greatest standup comedian–even if he doesn’t have a lot to laugh about these days. He’s new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn’t let Jamie’s wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible.” (Taken from Goodreads)

It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
A historical fiction novel set in the 1970s during the Iran Crisis, Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is new at school as she tries to find her place as an Iranian-American student, while managing anti-Iran sentiments from neighbors and other kids at school.

The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
“In the spirit of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters will captivate middle-grade readers looking for humor, hijinks, and a swashbuckling good time.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka
A graphic novel about an unexpected superhero – a school Lunch Lady as she saves the school from a cyborg substitute.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
The family adventures of two dads and four boys as they navigates, sports, school, friends, and a grouchy neighbor.

The Tapper Twins Go To War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey
The Tapper Twins are in the midst of a vicious prank war and are convinced they are each going to best the other in the first of the series.