Humorous Stories

Books for Readers in the Primary Grades

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

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Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish.
BR 10284 or LP 1025 or RC 40183.
A literal-minded housekeeper causes a ruckus in the household when she attempts to make sense of some instructions. For grades K-3. If you would like to read more stories about Amelia Bedelia, call the library.

Beats Me, Claude by Joan Lowery Nixon.
RC 26245.
Exciting escapades follow Shirley's attempts to make an apple pie for Claude until one day an orphan boy makes a pie that wins him Claude's favor. For grades K-3.

Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
BR 50322 or LP 1100 or RC 39425.
The four Hatford brothers, ages seven through eleven, lose their best friends when the Bensons, who live in the house across the river, move away. When the Malloy family, replete with three girls, moves into the house, the Hatfords declare war with a comic vengeance! But they fail to take into account the ingenuity and tenacity of the girls—who trade insults prank for prank. For sequels to this book, call the library. For grades 3-6.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin.
BR 13089 or LP 786 or WOD 318.
When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. For grades K-3.

The Clown-Arounds Have a Party by Joanna Cole.
LP 321.
The funniest family in town pulls some of its best high jinks to cheer up homesick Cousin Fizzy. For grades K-3.

The Contests at Cowlick by Richard Kennedy.
BR 3199.
Little Wally outwits a gang of outlaws and saves the town of Cowlick by losing a race. A Wild West comedy. For grades 2-4.

Curious George by H.A. Rey.
BR 50240 or RC 28932.
Curious George, a very curious little monkey, has such difficulty adjusting to city life that he keeps getting himself and his owner in one scrape after another. For grades K-3.

Deputy Dan and the Bank Robbers by Joseph Rosenbloom.
BR 7327.
Dan, the new deputy sheriff in peaceful Gulch City, devises a plan to catch the notorious bank-robbing Scrambled Eggs Gang. Easy reading for grades 2-4.

Farewell, My Lunchbag by Bruce Hale.
RC 54319.
When 4th-grade private eye Chet Gecko is called to catch someone who is stealing food from the school cafeteria, the lizard finds himself framed for the crime. For grades 3-6.

Four Stupid Cupids by Gregory Maguire.
LP 823.
The students' scheme to find a love match for their beloved teacher on Valentine's Day turns into a comedy of errors when four stupid cupids from Ancient Greece try to help. For grades 3-6.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin.
BR 51200.
When Farmer Brown goes on vacation, leaving his brother Bob in charge, Duck makes trouble by changing all his instructions to notes the animals like much better. For grades K-2.

Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary.
BR 7214 or RC 27315.
Father promises to take Henry Huggins salmon fishing if he can keep his dog Ribsy out of mischief for a month. Hilarious accidents recur as the dog steals a policeman’s lunch and bothers the garbage collector. Henry finally becomes a fisherman in spite of Ribsy. For grades 3-6.

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood.
BR 51206 or RC 24651.
Fun-loving King Bidgood is having a wonderful time in his bathtub. Despite the pleas of his queen and all his court, he refuses to leave his bath for a battle, the Masquerade Ball, or even for lunch. For grades K-3.

Magic Pretzel by Daniel Pinkwater.
BR 13565.
Norman Gnormal believes his parents really wanted a dog because they trained him like a puppy. The barking, howling fourth grader joins the Werewolf Club and makes his first friends. Together they help their sponsor Mr. Talbot, who is stuck between being a wolf and a man. For grades 2-4.

Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard.
BR 6127 or LP 50132 or RC 54287.
The kids in room 207 giggle, throw spitballs, and are rude to their good-natured teacher, Miss Nelson. When she disappears, the worst-behaved kids in school face a mean substitute, Miss Viola Swamp. Print/Braille. For grades K-3.

The Pelican Chorus by Edward Lear.
RC 42464.
Three humorous tales in verse include "The New Vestments," in which a man fashions an outfit made out of food, only to have it eaten off his body. The couple in "The Owl and the Pussycat" take "some honey and plenty of money" in search of a ring. In the title story, two pelicans are saddened when their daughter chooses the king of the cranes to wed. For grades 2-4 and older readers.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren.
BR 7770 or LP 42 or RC 24423.
Pippi is a nine-year-old Swedish girl who lives alone with her horse and monkey and shares her wild doings, feats of strength, and tall tales with the nice, normal little boy and girl who live next door. For grades 3-6.

Superfudge by Judy Blume.
RC 40741.
Not only does Peter's brother Fudge grow more troublesome with age, but Peter's parents make things worse by producing a baby girl. After Fudge tries unsuccessfully to sell the baby or give her away, he plasters her with trading stamps in hopes of exchanging her for something good. For grades 3-6.

A Traitor among the Boys by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
RC 51328.
Despite a New Year's resolution to be nice to their neighbors the Malloy girls, the Hatford boys find themselves continuing their rivalry and war of practical jokes. For grades 3-6.

Velcome by Kevin O’Malley.
BR 12005 or RC 46415.
Collection of creepy and terrifying stories that also have humorous endings. A young boy is followed home by a coffin, and a young girl home alone keeps getting phone calls from the Viper, who says he is coming up to her apartment. For grades K-3.

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman.
BR 13875 or RC 53369.
This book uses traditional reading techniques—rhyme, rhythm, and repetition—to invite young children to read along with an adult. For grades K-3.