4 Funny Middle Grade Books by Diverse Authors
There’s a month left of summer break, and the library where I work is still delightfully overrun with kids enthusiastically asking for recommendations. Many have specifically been on the hunt for funny middle grade books, so here is a list of four of those by BIPOC authors and illustrators. Make sure to add these to your fave kiddo’s summer reading challenge lists if they are looking for something to make them chuckle.
Ultimately, I love recommending a funny book during school break because it’s when kids just want to relax, have fun, and soak in some warm sunlight. These four middle grade books will brighten their day while keeping them reading happily.
A Fishboy Named… Sashimi by Dan Santat
This first book in a new graphic novel series is about a fishboy creature who wants to fit in with humans by going to elementary school. The story mixes humour and adventure, making it a huge hit with kiddos who worship characters like Dog Man. Santat never disappoints, and this madcap, hijinks-filled tale will immediately engage readers.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim
Yumi is spending her summer enrolled in test-prep tutoring instead of doing what she really wants, which is watching YouTube comedians and practicing her own stand-up routines. When the opportunity to sign up for a comedy camp comes up, she attends by impersonating another kid. This mistaken identity narrative perfectly mixes funny and heartwarming moments.
J Vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
J and K are fifth graders who love their respective storytelling forms—J draws wordless illustrated stories while K focuses on writing. But they fall into an intense rivalry when a competition comes up that they both plan to enter and win. Creators Alexander and Craft are giants of the middle years book industry, and their collab is sure to have kids laughing along with the characters’ increasingly wacky double crosses.
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The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy by Donna Barba Higuera and Juliana Perdomo
The cucuy is a mythical creature that eats or kidnaps misbehaving kids. This cucuy is young and inexperienced, sent off to scare his first child. The kid, Ramón, is anxious about starting a new school and has no time to be afraid of monsters. This illustrated novel is both spooky and funny, with the inexperienced cucuy trying to understand humans and their world. It will be great for kids who enjoy folklore woven into their fiction.
Interested in other recommended books for middle grade readers? Well, you’ll find some fantastic ones in our selection of The Best Middle Grade Books of the Year So Far.
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