Comedy
What’s the secret of comedy?
Sharp one-liners, chaotic characters or the punchline that always gets you. Comedy is powered by great writing. From classic humour to modern satire, the funniest moments often start on a page.
Here you’ll find a selection of comedy reads to dive right into. From books, to magazines and podcasts, explore what makes you laugh and see where it takes you.
But this is just the beginning – there's a world of stories out there to help you Go All In on comedy, or whatever you’re into.
Reads for 0–5 year olds
Developing a funny bone
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Picture Book
Oi Frog and Friends (Series)
Ages 0-5A hilarious rhyming picture book where Frog questions why all animals sit in specific places, with playful wordplay.
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Picture Book
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Ages 0-5When a bus driver leaves, the reader must stop a determined pigeon from driving the bus! This interactive picture book invites children to say “no” proudly.
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Picture Book
Who Ate Steve?
Ages 0-5Marcel the big bird and tiny worm Steve demonstrate size — until Steve mysteriously vanishes! A humorous, quirky mystery.
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Podcast
Nick Cope’s Popcast
Ages 0-5A warm, playful children’s podcast featuring original songs and gentle stories. Ideal for families to enjoy at home, in the car or at bedtime.
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Picture Book
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Plays Hide and Seek
Ages 0-5Frank the fox and Bert the bear love hide‑and‑seek, but when Bert hides, Frank learns that true friendship matters more than winning.
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Picture Book
Never Teach a Stegosaurus to Do Sums
Ages 0-5A funny ‘what if?’ tale about a Stegosaurus learning maths. As her skills grow, new possibilities unfold – from coding to inventing and even reaching the moon.
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Picture Book
I Want My Hat Back
Ages 0-5A bear searches for his lost hat by asking other animals one by one. When he finally finds the thief, the story takes a surprising, humorous turn.
Ambassador
Nadia Shireen waxes lyrical about funny stories
"I was raised by funny books – Jeeves and Wooster, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13 and a Half – and that led me to comedy scripts and anything funny I could find!"
Reads for 5–11 year olds
Big laughs for
young readers
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Book
The Book with no Pictures
Ages 3-7A book claims to have no pictures, but forces the reader to say increasingly ridiculous words aloud. Children delight in making adults sound silly!
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Picture Book
It Might Be An Apple
Ages 5-7When a child sees an apple on a table, they begin imagining all the surprising things it might be — hollow, exploding, full of tiny apples or something else entirely.
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Book
The Bear and Bird
Ages 5-7Bear and Bird are friends, but Bear’s overenthusiasm starts to cause problems. When Bird needs space, both must learn about boundaries and compromise.
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Picture Book
The Café at the Edge of the Woods
Ages 5-7Rene Raccoon opens a fancy café in the forest, but struggles to please his unusual customers, in this warm, witty picture book.
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Graphic Novel
Detective Beans
Ages 5-9Detective Beans, a clever cat, investigates a curious mystery using careful observation and sharp thinking. Readers are encouraged to join the investigation!
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Comic
Beano
Ages 6-12Beano is the hilarious weekly comic that has inspired generations of children to unleash their creativity and mischief, and discover that reading is fun!
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Book Audiobook
Planet Omar (Series)
Ages 7-9Omar starts a new school and is determined to stay out of trouble. With the help of his imagination, doodles and supportive family, Omar navigates growing up.
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Book
Keisha Jones Takes on the World
Ages 7-9Keisha Jones, inspired by her activist great‑aunt, forms the “Bee Squad” with friends to fight injustices – beginning with a pet shop pricing problem.
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Book Audiobook
Grimwood
Ages 7-9Fox siblings Ted and Nancy flee the city and settle in Grimwood, a forest packed with eccentric animals and odd rules. A hilarious adventure story.
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Graphic Novel
Bunny vs Monkey: The Gigantic Joke Fight
Ages 7-11Expanding the Bunny vs Monkey world beyond longer storylines into a joke‑centric collection that’s designed for fun and giggles. Ideal for fans of comic humour.
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Book Audiobook
Loki – A Bad God’s Guide
Ages 9-11Trickster god Loki is banished to Earth in an eleven‑year‑old’s body and must keep a magical diary to prove he can be good.
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Book
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh
Ages 9-1111-year-old Billy Plimpton dreams of becoming a stand‑up comedian despite having a stammer. His heartfelt, humorous journey inspires confidence and empathy.
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Comic
The Phoenix
Ages 9-11Weekly story comic magazine for children filled with original serialized adventures, humorous strips, puzzles, non‑fiction segments and drawing guides.
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Graphic Novel
Toby and the Pixies (Series)
Ages 9-11Meet Toby! He's a shy and anxious schoolboy… and King of the Pixies who live in his garden! Relentlessly hilarious and full of zany slapstick.
Website
Comedy news, reviews and gigs: read all about it!
A go-to resource for anyone interested in comedy, the Chortle website is full of comedy news, comedian reviews, articles and gig listings.
Reads for 11-16 year olds
Smart, silly and seriously
funny reads
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Book Audiobook
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Ages 9-12Lottie Brooks chronicles school, friendships, family chaos and cringe moments, blending laugh‑out‑loud humour with relatable lessons about growing up.
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Book
Flember: The Power of the Wildening
Ages 11-14Dev and his robot bear Boja trek through mysterious Wildening forests on Flember Island, facing strange creatures in a quirky tale of friendship.
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Graphic Novel
Unicorn Boy
Ages 11-14Brian Reyes reluctantly sprouts a magical unicorn horn and, with his friend Avery, embarks on a colourful, whimsical adventure.
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Book
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Ages 14-16A funny tale of space travel, friendship and aliens!
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Graphic Novel
Nimona
Ages 14-16A shapeshifting anti-hero teams up with discredited knight Blackheart to challenge a corrupt institution, blending action, humour, and heart.
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Graphic Novel
Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life
Ages 14-16Scott Pilgrim has it all, until his dream girl shows up and his life is turned upside down.
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Book Audiobook
Discworld (Series)
Ages 14-16A comic fantasy series set on a flat world balanced on four elephants standing on a giant turtle! It blends satire, magic, and sharp social commentary.
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Book
King of Nothing
Ages 14-16A worried mum makes her rowdy son join local activity group Happy Campers, and the results are unexpected in this heart-warming story of friendship!
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Graphic Novel
Delicious in Dungeon
Ages 14-16When young adventurer Laios and his company are attacked by a dragon deep in a dungeon, the party loses all its money and provisions…and a member!
Book recommendation
Award-winning, best selling autobiography from comedian Fern Brady
Stand-up comedian Fern Brady makes us laugh and cry in this funny, revealing autobiography
Reads for Adults
Comedy is serious business
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Podcast
Wolf and Owl
AdultsListening to the Wolf and Owl podcast is like eavesdropping on two men chatting at a bar. The show has no established format, and the topics change often!
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Book Audiobook
Animal
AdultsAnimal combines autobiography and evolutionary history to create a funny, fascinating insight into the forces that mould and affect modern women.
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Book Audiobook
The Satsuma Complex
AdultsA page-turning story with a cast of unforgettable characters, this is the brilliantly funny first novel by comedian Bob Mortimer.
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Book Audiobook
Chunky
AdultsThis revised edition of Chunky collects the very best of Victoria Wood’s sketches, shows and more.
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Podcast
My Therapist Ghosted Me
AdultsJoin Vogue Williams & Joanne McNally for a weekly chat with 100% honesty guaranteed. Together they give unqualified, unsubstantiated but up front and honest advice.
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Comic
Viz Magazine
AdultsViz Comic, published 10 times a year, has an irreverent mix of foul-mouthed, childish cartoons and sharp satire.
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Podcast
Off Menu
AdultsComedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster invite special guests into their magical restaurant. Ever wanted to eat your dream meal? It's time to order Off Menu.
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Book Audiobook
Sunny Side Up
AdultsComedian and presenter Susan Calman's book brings cheer, spreads joy and encourages us all to be kinder to our fellow humans.
Podcast
Laugh out loud with this podcast
Richard Herring interviews all the big names in comedy. With hundreds of episodes to choose from, you'll be sure to find your favourites.
Laugh-out-loud reads for children
Share these stories for giggles at bedtime
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Picture Book
Oi Frog and Friends (Series)
Ages 0-5A hilarious rhyming picture book where Frog questions why all animals sit in specific places, with playful wordplay.
-
(opens in new tab)
Picture Book
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Ages 0-5When a bus driver leaves, the reader must stop a determined pigeon from driving the bus! This interactive picture book invites children to say “no” proudly.
-
(opens in new tab)
Picture Book
I Want My Hat Back
Ages 0-5A bear searches for his lost hat by asking other animals one by one. When he finally finds the thief, the story takes a surprising, humorous turn.
-
(opens in new tab)
Picture Book
Who Ate Steve?
Ages 0-5Marcel the big bird and tiny worm Steve demonstrate size — until Steve mysteriously vanishes! A humorous, quirky mystery.
-
(opens in new tab)
Book
The Book with no Pictures
Ages 3-7A book claims to have no pictures, but forces the reader to say increasingly ridiculous words aloud. Children delight in making adults sound silly!
-
(opens in new tab)
Comic
Beano
Ages 6-12Beano is the hilarious weekly comic that has inspired generations of children to unleash their creativity and mischief, and discover that reading is fun!
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Book
Minecraft Joke Book
Ages 7-11If you enjoyed A Minecraft Movie, you’ll love this book! Packed full of hilarious jokes that will have you laughing your blocks off!
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Comic
The Phoenix
Ages 9-11Weekly story comic magazine for children filled with original serialized adventures, humorous strips, puzzles, non‑fiction segments and drawing guides.
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Book Audiobook
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Ages 9-12Lottie Brooks chronicles school, friendships, family chaos and cringe moments, blending laugh‑out‑loud humour with relatable lessons about growing up.
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