Best Funny Book Series for 9 and 10 year olds

Time and time again we're asked what books to hand children aged 9 or 10, mostly as they are swaying away from books and moving towards video games or other types of media. And our answer is always the same: MAKE. THEM. LAUGH!

Funny books are a trick way to keep readers on the page. And let's be honest – that sound of a young reader belly laughing to a punchline is priceless! What can also help is getting readers into a series, so that they don't feel intimidated by having to learn new worlds, meet new characters or work out what the premise of a book is. Series are familiar and comforting, and paired with the LOLs, a brilliant way to help children on their reading journey.

Here are our favourite funny books for readers aged 9 and 10.

Georgina Atwell

Toppsta

2026-03-14

2024-05-13

Best Funny Book Series for 9 and 10 year olds

Lottie Brooks Series

If you're a reader aged 9+ and you love funny books filled with illustrations, this is your next read all about growing up and being a teenager! Lottie Brooks is 11 3/4 and her life is ALREADY officially over. This is her diary ALL ABOUT IT. In this fantastically funny illustrated series by Katie Kirby, Lottie navigates the perils of growing up and the pre-teen era. Each book is wonderfully filled with friendship, embarrassing moments and, of course, KitKat Chunkys!

View Lottie Brooks Books in Order

Hari Kumar Series

Written by the fantastic Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrated throghout by Mamta Singh, the books are all journals written by 10-year-old Hari Kumar, who is 75% Indian, 25% French, and 100% going to be a superstar. Because, yes, he is absolutely meant to shine! Over the course of the series, Hari navigates life, which so often, he realises, is not like the movies. The books are funny, full of friendship and might contain some piece-of-work teachers. We love this series because the character is so relatable, and Rashmi captures perfectly the dreams of a 10 year old.

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Emily Sparkes Series

This funny, Dork-Diaries-like series with black-and-white illustrations throughout deals with themes of friendship, change, embarrassment and so many more experiences readers aged 9+ all face. Emily Sparkes is the main character of the series, and she is a girl just like any other: she has best friends, sworn enemies, totally embarrassing parents and stage fright. These books follow all the hilarious trials and tribulations of her everyday life. The books are so funny they were shortlisted for the Scholastic Laugh Out Loud Book Award (The Lollies).

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The Swifts Series

With black-and-white illustrations throughout, whodunit mysteries in each book and a curious main character whose name is Shenanigan, this is a favourite for all children aged 9+. On the day they are born, each Swift is brought before the Family Dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, and it is assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift has other ideas. She wants to be a detective, which is lucky, really, because when one of the Family tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, someone has to work out whodunit. So begins Shenanigan's sleuthing work, thanks to which no crime will go unnoticed.

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The Amazing Edie Eckhart Series

This series is inclusive, heartwarming and so very funny all in one! Written by TV commedian Rosie Jones, all readers aged 9+ should read this black-and-white illustrated series. The books follow eleven-year-old Edie Eckhart who has a disability called cerebral palsy. The series begins when she's just about to start secondary school, and explores how she faces your average school challenges, from joining the school play and being put in a different class to your best mate, to going on school trips and not knowing what you want to be when you grow up.

View The Amazing Edie Eckhart Series

Worst Week Ever! Series

Tom Gates, move over! We've got another hilarious black-and-white illustrated middle grade series that will make readers aged 9+ go BONKERS. The series is made up of seven books, one for every day of the week, and in each one poor main character Justin Chase is having the WORST week ever. The books include vampires, giant toilets on wheels, secret treasures, mistaken identities and even getting trapped underground!

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Little Badman Series

We love this middle grade series for readers aged 8+. All main character Humza Khan wants is to be a rapper. In fact, he is the greatest eleven-year-old rapper Eggington has ever known. But his music is at stake...by some aunties TAKING OVER SCHOOL! This is just the beginning of some truly the-world-could-come-to-an-end adventures. Throughout the series, Humza will have to go through all sorts of trials and tribulations to SAVE THE WORLD, from time-travelling teachers to radioactive samosas that have been contaminated by rocks from outer space.

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Montgomery Bonbon Series

This is one of our must-reads for readers aged 8+ that love detective series. You've never met a detective like Bonnie Montgomery, a well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. In each book, she's got a mystery to solve, from a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum to a mysterious death at Leerie Lighthouse. With lovely black-and white illustrations throughout.

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Who Let the Gods out? Series

Who Let the Gods Out is a laugh-out-loud, Percy Jackson-esque, adventure series for ages 9+ written by bestselling author Maz Evans. The books bring Greek mythology bang up to date, with the story of Elliott, a boy whose life changes forever, when a god crash lands into a dungheap on his family farm.

View Who Let the Gods out? Series

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