When you need family-friendly entertainment there's nothing better than a funny audiobook to bring everyone together! Whether you're traveling and need an audiobook for a long road trip, or enjoying a quiet afternoon at home on a rainy day, listening to an audiobook definitely counts as reading!
Some of these audiobooks are laugh-out-loud, rolling-in-the-aisles funny. Others are more subtle, with tongue-in-cheek jokes, while others might even be called sardonic. Choose the type of funny audiobook that is best for your family!
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Where to Find Audiobooks
1. Libro.fm supports independent booksellers, has a very large selection and offers a free audiobook with membership if you use the code, SWITCH.
2. Audible.com from Amazon. Audible has a large, reliable selection of audiobooks. You can get two free selections with their free trial. But a little known fact is that if you purchase the Kindle version of a book you can add on the audio version for extra! So essentially you are getting two versions of the book for a single price. If you browse Amazon you can often find great deals this way. The Audible app is free whether or not you purchase a subscription. If you have a Kindle Fire this is an easy solution.
Funny Audiobooks
Note: Age recommendations are listening ages, and are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.
MERCY WATSON (series) by Kate DiCamillo, narrated by Ron McLarty
Everyone loves Mercy Watson! DiCamillo's quirky and amiable pig loves buttered toast and creates all kinds of chaos in the neighborhood. It's hard not to laugh at these stories, no matter your age. Ages 3 and up. 40 minutes
THE CHICKEN SQUAD (series) by Doreen Cronin, narrated by Adam Grupper and Michelle O. Medlin
In this very funny series, Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie are chicks with varying degrees of intelligence. They solve backyard crimes that involve the squirrel population, a friendly dog, and a lot of laughs. Ages 4 and up. 35 minutes.
SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL (series) by Louis Sachar, narrated by Louis Sachar,
This collection of short stories about the goings on at the craziest school you can image is a delight. Grown-ups will love revisiting this outrageously funny 1978 classic book from their childhood, and children will laugh theirselves silly. Ages 5 and up. 2 hours 26 minutes
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A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON (series) by Michael Bond, narrated by Stephen Fry
Sometimes you pick an audiobook just because you love the narrator! It's a double bonus, if you also happen to adore the original book. Every book in the Paddington series had my son bouncing up and down with laughter. The hilarious antics of the bear from "darkest Peru" will most likely have the same effect on your children. Ages 3 and up. 2 hours 39 minutes.
THE TERRIBLE TWO (series) by Mac Barnett and Jory John, narrated by Adam Verner
I cannot count how many times I heard this audiobook playing in the background one year! As of this posting, The Terrible Two is the #1 bestseller in Children's Audibooks on Libro.fm, so that tells you something! There's an epic war of tricks and pranks when Miles moves to Yawnee Valley and finds out the school already has a master prankster in residence: Niles. Miles and Niles join forces to become the "Terrible Two" and attempt to pull off the most legendary prank ever. Ages 6 and up. 3 hours 22 minutes
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BELLY UP ( FunJungle series) by Stuart Gibbs, narrated by Gibson Frazier
The FunJungle series begins with Belly Up, a mystery centered around the strange death of a hippo. The zookeepers insist it was natural, but 12-year-old Teddy isn't so sure and begins to investigate. Each book in the series looks at a different animal-based mystery. Ages 7 and up. 7 hours 26 minutes.
WEDGIE AND GIZMO (series) by Suzanne Selfors, narrated by Johnny Heller and Maxwell Glick
Narration alternates between Gizmo, the self-proclaimed evil genius guinea pig, and Wedgie, the rather dim-witted corgi, who become part of the same household when their families merge. Selfors absolutely nails the personalities of the two creatures and your children will be rolling on the floor in tears of laughter. You'll never be able to say the phrase, "furry potato," with a straight face again. Ages 4 and up. 1 hour 55 minutes
KLAWDE: EVIL ALIEN WARLORD CAT (series) by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth, narrated by Oliver Wyman and Vikas Adam
Klawde is so wonderfully evil and over the top! Wyss-Kuzz, the evil alien warlord has travelled to Earth, the worst place in the universe! He ends up in the backyard of Raj Bannerjee, a sixth grader and reluctant transplant from Brooklyn to nature-filled Oregon. Hijinks and melodrama ensue. The narration alternates between Raj and Klawde. Ages 5 and up. 3 hours 6 minutes
THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM (series) by Christopher Healy, read by Bronson Pinchot
Four bumbling princes are thrown out by their respective fairy tale princesses. The princesses have their own personality quirks, but all together they battle the less savory creatures in the kingdom and have their own versions of happy, mediocre and not-so happy endings. Very funny and hilariously tongue in cheek. It may be a long audiobook, but you will never want the fun to end. Ages 7 and up. 9 hours 4 minutes
THOR'S WEDDING DAY by Bruce Coville, narrated by Ryan Sparkes and the Full Cast Family
I will confess that I was not expecting to enjoy this book, but I liked it just as much as my son and we both laughed out loud the whole way through. It's a very, very funny adaptation of a classic tale from Norse mythology in which Thor must dress as a bride in order to get back his stolen hammer. Ages 5 and up. 2 hours 43 minutes.
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THE ADVENTURES OF NANNY PIGGINS (series) by R. A. Spratt, narrated by R.A. Spratt
Nanny Piggins is one of the funniest books we've ever encountered. This Australian import is a series about three siblings whose father is so frugal he hires a pig to take care of them. Nanny Piggins is no Mary Poppins, however. The enthusiastic circus pig thinks school is overrated, chocolate is a food group and takes the kids on riotous adventures. This is a great book for kids (and adults) who enjoy over-the-top, subversive humor and plain, good fun. If you prefer moral didacticism, move on. Ages 7 and up.
THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH (series) by Dan Bar-El, narrated by Tim Campbell
For families who want gentle humor, this is the funny audiobook for you. I love this book so much and this list marks the 10th time I've recommended it. If your family has not yet enjoyed it as a read aloud, play the audiobook right now. Duane the polar bear has a curiosity and sense of adventure that leads him first to a shipwreck where he meets C.C. the owl. He then encounters even more new friends like Handsome the musk ox, Magic the arctic fox, and Major Puffin. Together, they explore the wonders of the northern landscape. Ages 4 and up. 3 hours 23 minutes
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THE CASE OF THE CASE OF THE MISSING IDENTITY (The Brixton Brothers series) by Mac Barnett, narrated by Arte Johnson
Families who enjoy classic mysteries like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew will love this humorous audiobook about young, would-be detective, Steve Brixton. 12-year-old Steve dreams of being a detective and has studiously read and re-read "The Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook." He knows everything about solving crimes, which comes in handy when he finds himself thrown into the middle of an exciting mystery. Every book in the series has tons of adventure, twist and turns, loads of intelligent humor and a satisfying ending. Ages 7 and up. 2 hours 55 minutes
APPLEBLOSSOM THE POSSUM by Holly Goldberg Sloan, narrated by Dustin Hoffman
A clever and charming tale of young possum siblings making their way in the world. The story turned out to be surprisingly funny, too! Mama Possum teaches her children about how performance is an integral part of life as a possum and they all practice their acting skills, which come in handy on many occasions. When Appleblossom falls down a chimney and is adopted by a girl with a longing for an attentive pet, her brothers enlist the help of their wayward dad and dance-floor loving mom to rescue her. Ages 5 and up. 3 hours and 39 minutes
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STICK DOG (series) by Tom Watson, narrated by Andrew Eiden
My kids were laughing uproariously at the antics of stray dogs who spend most of their waking hours figuring out silly ways to acquire their favorite foods. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it but I really did! Ages 4 and up. 1 hour and 29 minutes.
ZORGAMAZOO by Robert Paul Weston, narrated by Alan Cumming
I highly recommend any of the Roald Dahl audiobooks that are out there, and this is a great choice for families who like Dahl's books. The fast-paced, clever, rhyming story follows Katrina Katrell, who runs away from her evil guardian, and alights on an adventure with a strange creature called a Zorgle from Zorgamazoo. A twisting mystery, with bizarre and hilarious characters follow. Winner of the 2009 E.B White Read Aloud Award. Ages 5 and up. 3 hours and 12 minutes
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THE ENCHANTED FILES: DIARY OF A MAD BROWNIE (series) by Bruce Coville, read by various artists
You may know this story by its revised title, Cursed. Angus is bound by a curse to the girl, Alex. Angus is a mischievous brownie with an extreme penchant for neatness, while Alex is the messiest creature he has ever encountered. Alex and Angus set out to break the curse, but it won't be easy. This book is hilarious and the full cast audiobook rendition is loads of fun. Be sure to listen the companion books, Hatched and Trolled. Ages 5 and up. 4 hours, 56 minutes
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM (series) by Norman Hunter, read by Martin Jarvis
My son adores this book and it is truly hilarious! An English absentminded professor provides lots of entertainment for eager listeners with his misguided inventions like pancake-making machines and burglar-catchers. A 1930s classic that will make modern kids and families giggle! Ages 4 and up. 4 hours, 11 minutes
THE WILLOUGHBYS (series) by Lois Lowry, narrated by Arte Johnson
I've always been impressed that the author of The Giver has written books in such a wide range of genres. The Willoughbys series is great for families who have enjoyed Roald Dahl audiobooks, like Matilda. Fans of Dahl and Lemony Snicket will enjoy this tale of four children, Tim, Barnaby A, Barnaby B, and Jane who fancy themselves to be "old-fashioned" in the vein of book heroes and heroines. When their unpleasant parents go off on a world trip, the siblings are left with a not-so-odious-after-all nanny and end up being semi-adopted by their lonely neighbor who has taken in a baby found on his doorstep.Ages 7 and up. 2 hours 56 minutes
AN OCCASIONALLY HAPPY FAMILY by Cliff Burke, narrated by Michael Crouch
Theo is not looking forward to a camping vacation with his dad and sister in the desert. It's also clear that something suspicious is going on since his dad is keeping part of the vacation plans a secret. I read this book out loud to my son and although there is a serious side to Theo's story, we spent much of the time in stitches, laughing at the hilarious characters that Theo encounters and the misadventures that befall him. Ages 8 and up. 4 hours 49 minutes.
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ONCE UPON A MARIGOLD by Jean Ferris, narrated by Carrington Macduffie
Grown-ups will enjoy recognizing fairy tale and literary references while listening to this funny audiobook. Christian lives with a troll but he's totally smitten with Princess Marigold. He gets a job in the castle as a servant but learns that Queen Olympia wants to marry her off to someone else. As Christian tries to undermine the Queen's plans, a chaotic adventure follows, full of hilarious twists and turns. Ages 8 and up. 5 hours 27 minutes
Chloe Gioia says
I prefer ones for little listeners, please.
Erica says
Hi Chloe, If your listeners need books that are for a younger age than recommended here, your library is a great source for recommendations!
Jess Reed says
Great list! Most of these are new to me, except Paddington, which we’ve listened to *many* times now.
I highly recommend the audiobook series Grimwood, by Nadia Shireen. The single narrator does such an amazing job voicing every character, it’s a delight, and funny for kids and parents.
Erica says
Thanks for the recommendation!