There’s nothing quite like the sound of kids giggling with a book in their hands. Funny books have a special way of turning even the most reluctant readers into eager page-turners and is one of the best ways to help them fall in love with books.

This collection of funny middle-grade stories are more than just silly — they help build language skills, boost imagination, and show kids that reading is, above all, fun.

Introducing Hercules, The Fantastic Intergalactic Hamster from Rachel Morrisroe and Jenny Taylor is packed with laughs, heart and superhero pets! One of seven new funny books in this special collection published by Puffin, each has been certified by one of our expert reviewers as properly funny. Andrea Reece writes "Jack is surprised to discover that his hamster Hercules has superpowers, in fact that he’s one of a whole squad of animals with superpower skills, but when aliens who look just like cute hamsters arrive on Earth, Hercules is the perfect hero to thwart their wicked plans. the story lives up to it, an action-packed mix of silliness, adventure and hamster derring-do. Pet owners will particularly love this, as it suggests their furry friends might have superpowers too, but everyone will find it super entertaining and super readable."

The Day My School Got Famous by Jen Carney is the brilliant sequel to the equally hilarious The Day My Dog Got Famous. Fans of the first will already be familiar with Ferris and his family – his mums, foster sister Keely and dog Aldo - and will be delighted to learn that a new foster sibling, Nile, has joined their family while waiting for his forever home. Nile is full of fun (perhaps a bit too explosive?!) and Ferris must find a way to cope with his zany science experiments whilst trying to win the school's art competition, and keep the peace at home. Packed with comic strip illustrations and cartoons throughout, this is reading entertainment that's highly inclusive and fun-packed.

Written by comedy talent Romesh Ranganathan and Susie Day, Yasmin Bandara Levels Up! is as funny as you'd expect, and also delivers a heartwarming message about the importance of believing in yourself. Joanne Owen writes it's "pacey, and packed with lots of laughs and moving moments, not least when Yasmin’s mum acknowledges that “there’s a lot of pressure on young people these days…it’s good to have something in life you only do for joy”......this funny feast of middle grade fiction shares a heart-warming story of navigating conflict to follow your dreams."

A raucous and very funny contemporary series, starring 12-year-old wannabe ninja-rapper Humza Khan the Little Badman series is fast-paced, funny and infused with a frenzy of madcap adventure. Written by Humza Arshad, creator of the hit YouTube series Diary of a Bad Man, and comedy writer Henry White, each story comes heartily recommended for 8+ year-olds who want to be wildly entertained by a cracking lead character, with sweetness coming courtesy of the theme of friendship, alongside aunties’ sugary snacks. Little Badman and the Game of Nightmares is the latest in the series; "As ever, it’s a brilliant comedy adventure, with whip-smart dialogue but bags of genuine emotion too. Readers will be laughing out loud through this, though – warning – they’ll be devastated by the last line – is this really the last adventure for Little Badman?"

So if you're ready for laugh-out-loud adventures and side-splitting stories, we’ve got seven stand-out funny children’s books guaranteed to bring on the giggles. Whether it’s an out-of-control robo dog, a new teacher called Mr Booger, or a hamster with superpowers, funny books show kids that reading can be just as fun as their favourite games — and maybe even funnier.

And if your kids prefer magical fantasy adventures, check out this Awesome Foursome of Magical Middle Grade Reads.

Click on the books below to read our expert reviews, download an extract or add the books to your basket, knowing that with every purchase on LoveReading4Kids a school close to your heart benefits.