Joke books for kids became a regular thing in our house when my son went through a stage of telling the same few knock-knock jokes on repeat. I figured if he was that keen to make us laugh, he might as well have some better material.
Over time, these ended up being some of the books he picked up the most, especially on car rides or when he didn’t feel like settling into a longer story.
The ones below are the joke books that actually got used, shared with friends, and read more than once.
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Top Children’s Joke Books
Joke books got a lot of use here once my son realised he could get a reaction out of everyone with a well-timed punchline. Most evenings turned into a back-and-forth of “try this one,” followed by a collective groan.
Some of these were better for quick knock-knock jokes he could memorise, others worked more like flip-through books he’d pick up for a few minutes at a time. I’ve included the ones that actually stayed in rotation instead of being read once and forgotten.
Roald Dahl’s Whizzpopping Joke Book
This worked mainly because my son already knew Roald Dahl’s style. The jokes have that same slightly gross, silly tone, and he liked reading them out loud in a dramatic voice. If your kid enjoys The Twits or The BFG, this fits right in. If not, it may feel a bit odd.
When the knock-knock phase hit our house, this was the book that stopped us hearing the same three jokes on repeat. There’s enough variety that he could flip to a new page each time and “perform” it for whoever was nearby. It’s not really something kids sit and read cover-to-cover, it works best as a grab-and-share book for quick laughs.
Just Joking: Jumbo: 1,000 Giant Jokes & 1,000 Funny Photos
This stayed in circulation because it isn’t just text. The mix of funny animal photos, weird facts, and short jokes kept him engaged longer than a standard joke book would. He’d jump around the pages rather than read straight through, which actually made it useful for short bursts, car rides, waiting rooms, that sort of thing.
Jokes for Kids: Riddles, Tongue Twisters, and One-Liners
This was easy for him to dip in and out of. The jokes are short and simple enough that he could remember them without trying too hard. It ended up living in his backpack for a while and coming out whenever there was dead time.
We used this mostly at breakfast. One joke, quick laugh, move on. Some are better than others, but the daily format kept him coming back to it longer than most joke books we’ve tried.This book makes an awesome stocking stuffer or a fun way to start the day at breakfast!
101 Lunchbox Notes with Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids
This one became more of a routine than a book. I’d tear off a note in the morning and he’d come home telling me which friends had heard the joke by lunchtime. It’s useful if your child likes sharing humor with other kids rather than just reading quietly. The jokes are short and easy to “perform,” which is what made it stick.
The Everything Kids’ Giant Book of Jokes, Riddles, and Brain Teasers
This one slowed things down a bit, in a good way. Some of the riddles actually needed thinking through, which pulled us into it together. It worked better when he was in the mood to puzzle something out, not just fire off jokes.Related: Best puzzle books for kids
National Geographic Kids Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles
Even though it’s smaller than the Jumbo version, this one got picked up more often simply because it was easier to carry around. The photos help break things up, so it doesn’t feel like page after page of text. It worked well for short reading bursts when he only had a few minutes.
The Best Joke Book For Kids: Illustrated Silly Jokes For Ages 3-6.
This made sense when he was younger. The pictures help explain the jokes, and the humor is very straightforward. It’s a good starting point before kids are ready for longer, text-heavy joke books.
We picked this up around his ninth birthday, mostly because he liked the idea of having something “for his age.” The humor is still silly but a little less babyish, which helped keep his interest. It’s an easy gift option if you want something age-targeted without overthinking it.Related: best books for 9 year olds
The jokes here sparked more conversation than most. A knock-knock joke about a historical figure usually turned into “who was that?” afterward. It felt like a step up from pure silliness without turning into a lesson.
This was a grab-bag. Some jokes landed, some didn’t, but a few became long-running family jokes that still get referenced. It’s the kind of book where kids flip until they find something that hits.
This came out most when friends were around. The jokes are quick and familiar, which made them easy to tell without stopping to read. It worked well as a social book rather than a quiet reading one.
If your child loves the call-and-response part of joke telling, this one feeds that habit completely. What helped in our house was the sheer number of jokes, even when he was stuck on knock-knocks for weeks, at least they weren’t the same ones every time. It’s repetitive by nature, but that’s exactly why kids who love this style keep coming back to it.
This one lasted longer than most because of the variety. Some days he’d be into riddles, other days tongue twisters or puns, and this let him switch styles without needing a new book. It’s a good option if your child’s sense of humor changes often or if they like having “sections” to choose from rather than one long list of similar jokes.
Clare Brown is the founder of Homeschool of 1, where she shares free printables and creative learning activities for kids in preschool through 8th grade. Her work has been featured in Parade, HuffPost, Business Insider, Motherly, AOL, and Yahoo. Read more.
