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Books have the power to make you think, cry or laugh, depending on their content. As much as we love to immerse ourselves in a good sad book, everyone craves a palate refresher every once in a while. And that's exactly when we seek out funny books. Librarians have a great grasp on new and classic books that can make you chuckle, so Parade reached out to a few of them to learn more about the "hidden gem" books that may just be the funniest things you'll read all year.
From funny books for adults to hilarious children's picture books that will make you laugh out loud alongside your kids, the librarians we polled shared a wide array of options for all ages. The one thing they all have in common? Each of these entertaining reads requires a healthy dose of humor and the ability not to take life so seriously.
Before diving in, be forewarned that you might just find yourself in stitches while turning the pages and soaking up a plethora of belly laughs. If you're up for the challenge and are ready to channel your inner comedian, make sure to add these 10 amusing and humorous titles to your reading list.
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10 Funny Books To Read That Are 'Hidden Gems,' Librarians Say
1. 'Don't Get Caught' by Kurt Dinan
Amazon
Adam Vorobok, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, couldn't stop laughing while reading this funny book by Kurt Dinan.
"It's a hilarious YA novel about a prank-pulling student club that gets set up for a crime they didn't commit," he shares. "What makes this funnier for me is that one of my high school teachers wrote this book (and behaved like the main character)."
In the book, Max and four other students get invited to the prank-pulling Chaos Club. While standing on a water tower that's been newly defaced, the five students get "caught" by campus security, but they didn't actually commit the crime. Max isn't willing to take this sitting down, so he devises a plan to get payback.
Related: 45 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time, According to Librarians
2. 'Cute Toot' by Breanna McDaniel and illustrated by Olivia de Castro
Amazon
"Who doesn't love a fart joke?! Two sisters stuck in the house turn a stinky accident into a hilarious adventure," Lauren Mobley, a school library media specialist, says of the book Cute Toot.
Much like Mobley, you'll find yourself giggling as you flip through the pages of this children's picture book with your little ones.
The book description calls it "an explosive ode to the bonds of sisterhood" and "the time-honored tradition of hide and seek." In the book, sisters play a game of hide and seek in the attic when the younger sister suddenly farts and alerts her sibling to her hiding spot. This kicks off the "most phenomenal fart fest this attic has ever seen."
3. 'Redshirts' by John Scalzi
Amazon
Vorobok says fans of Star Trek will devour this comedic novel.
"In Star Trek, there is a trope that if you wear a red shirt, you'll get killed before the episode ends," he explains. "What if all the red shirts realize this and rebel? It's a laugh-out-loud story for the background characters to outshine the main characters."
In the book, Ensign Andrew Dahl is assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid and is prepared to serve on Away Missions with the starship's senior officers. Andrew soon learns that Away Missions come along with a deadly encounter with alien forces and discovers that at least one low-ranking crew member is always killed.
"Then Andrew stumbles on information that transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is… and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives," the book description reads.
Related: 29 ‘Must-Read’ Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians
4. 'Butt or Face?' by Kari Lavelle
Barnes & Noble
Elementary librarian AndreaChildes says this nonfiction picture book will "instantly hook readers with its silly guessing game format."
"Kids will love trying to figure out whether they are looking at an animal's butt or their face," she states. "They will crack up when they learn the truth. The best part is [that] while kids are enjoying a good laugh, they are also learning new facts about the animals they encounter throughout the book."
5. ‘The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan' by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea
Amazon
"Written during the counter-culture days, this trippy novel satirizes conspiracy theories as a way for you to question your own reality tunnel. No book has made me laugh harder than this one," Vorobok says.
Per the book description, this trilogy addresses "all the coverups of our time," ranging from "who really shot the Kennedys to why there's a pyramid on a one-dollar bill."
6. 'Bathe the Cat' by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts
Amazon
Mobley says her daughter is "addicted to this book."
"The ridiculously silly mayhem that ensues when a family tries to prepare for a visit from grandma left us both in stitches," she says.
In the rhyming picture book, a family checks several household chores off their to-do list together. Meanwhile, the family's cat is determined to avoid bath time and gets into plenty of trouble along the way.
"Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order—but will the cat avoid getting his whiskers wet?" the book description reads.
Related: 11 Best Audiobooks on Spotify, According to Librarians
7. 'The Afterlife of Mal Caldera' by Nadi Reed Perez
Amazon
"Who knew being a ghost would be so darn funny? Wonderful characters make this dark story shine with humor and poignancy," Vorobok says.
Readers meet Mal Caldera, a former rock star who has passed away. As she meets other ghosts in the afterlife, Mal craves a connection with her younger sister, Cris, who has to pick up the pieces Mal left behind. Along the way, Mal meets a medium named Ren who agrees to help her pass on a message to Cris.
"Mal knows it’s wrong to hold on so tightly to her old life. Bad things happen to ghosts who interfere with the living, and Mal can't help wondering if she’s hurting the people she loves by hanging around, haunting their lives. But Mal has always been selfish, and letting go might just be the hardest thing she's ever had to do," the book description reads.
8. 'Norman Didn't Do It: (Yes, He Did)' by Ryan T. Higgins
Amazon
Childes appreciates how this funny book "turns big feelings like jealousy into a silly, over-the-top situation."
"Kids cannot help but laugh at Norman the porcupine's dramatic reactions, especially when he insists he 'didn't do it' while clearly causing the problem," she shares. "The expressive illustrations, short texts and relatable humor make a perfect read-aloud book that gets a lot of giggles while still giving a gentle message about friendship and making things right."
9. 'Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales: Unsettling Salad' by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Amazon
Childes says this book "perfectly mixes spooky vibes and silly humor that all kids love."
"The story takes something ordinary, like eating vegetables, and turns it into a ridiculous, creepy mystery where even broccoli might bite back, creating a lot of laughs," the librarian states. "It has a playful tone, relatable characters who hate veggies and suspenseful but not scary moments that make it an entertaining read that keeps kids laughing and the pages turning."
The book is full of creepy stories that the narrator, Jasper the Rabbit, tells as "cautionary tales," per the book description.
10. 'The Third Policeman' by Flann O'Brien
Amazon
"Any book that convinces you that you might be part-bicycle is worth a read in my opinion. And that's not even the most absurd thing about this book," Vorobok states.
Described as a thriller and comic satire, the book tells the tale of a village police force, an "unrequited love affair between a man and his bicycle" and a "chilling fable of unending guilt," per the description, which compares the book to Alice in Wonderland.Up Next:
Related: 50 Books Every Woman Over 50 Should Have on Her Bookshelf, According to Librarians
Sources:
Adam Vorobok is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Lauren Mobley is a school library media specialist.Andrea Childes is an elementary librarian.Hence then, the article about librarians say these 10 hidden gem books are the funniest things you ll read all year was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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