The 10 Funniest Picture Books of 2019
There are few things better in this world than hearing your children laugh out loud. In that moment, it’s comforting to know that the ones you love are feeling waves of pure glee. Something has amused them so much that they’ve been driven to fits of uncontrollable giggles.
In my experience, the best and most consistent source of these powerful giggles by far is picture books - even more so than TV shows. And the huge difference maker is the personal connection and the interactivity during a read aloud - the voices, the repetition, and the timing. Young children are particularly susceptible to the laughing fits that can be brought on by the well-crafted, comedic picture book.
So we’re constantly on the lookout for new picture books that crack us all up, and 2019 was a pretty successful year for that. There were a lot of new books that our 7-year-old and our 3-year-old requested to hear on repeat, and many than even I found hysterical. And that might just be the one thing better than hearing your kids laugh - finding something to genuinely laugh at together.
What actually makes something funny can be very subjective, so our main criteria for our list of funny picture books is the reaction of our own children - how uncontrollably they giggle and how often they ask to hear the book over and over again. And all 10 books on the list definitely come with Mom and Dad’s comedy stamp of approval too.
Hopefully our list of funny picture books from 2019 will lead to some smiles and laughs in your home. Let us know if any of these books lead to any uncontrollable giggles near you - and if we missed your favorite funny picture book of the year. We’re always on the hunt for more laughter.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. Clicking on these links will lead you to view the books’ listings on websites like Amazon or IndieBound.
10. Truman
Written by Jean Reidy and Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Truman is the story of a girl and her turtle. When the young girl goes off to school for the first time, her turtle is left home alone worried and anxious about his friend. So he does what any good turtle would do - he escapes his cage and tries to find his friend.
We all grin ear to ear the entire time that we’re reading Truman. A big part of the charm of this book is in the details of the illustrations. It’s not just the story itself that’s funny - it’s the perspective and the inflated sense of danger and importance about the whole thing. Not to mention the clever silliness of Truman noting that 32 tortoises could have fit in Sarah’s backpack - but zero tortoises did.
9. Everybody Says Meow
Written and Illustrated by Constance Lombardo
One of our 3-year-old daughter’s very favorite funny picture books of the year - Everybody Says Meow is a very popular choice for multiple read alouds with her. The humor features classic elements of surprise and nothing going according to plan. In some ways I think of it like Sandra Boynton’s legendary Blue Hat, Green Hat, because there’s a healthy dose of Schadenfreude and lots of resulting laughter.
Another key element of this book is the timing and your use of voices when reading aloud. The unwavering optimism shown by the cat and the masterful use of the page turn in this book displays a great sense of comedy. And it’s definitely one of the books on this list to get the loudest giggles out of our kids.
8. This Book is Gray
Written and Illustrated by Lindsay Ward
This Book is Gray isn’t just one the funniest books of the year, it’s also one of our favorite picture books about colors ever made. The humor in this one is very much up our alley. There are a few well-written running gags and great use of a goofy, passive-aggressive attitude.
Gray really wants to make his very own all-gray book, because he’s jealous of the attention all the other colors get. The result is a very funny story about a wolf, a hippo, and a kitten that live in a house by the sea - but it quickly devolves into comedic chaos as the other colors intervene.
7. The Boring Book
Written and Illustrated by Shinsuke Yoshitake
All of Yoshitake’s picture books are an absolute pleasure to share with the kids. Not only do they all display comedic genius, but they also include a very heartfelt approach to reflection and philosophy. It’s a delight to get our kids’ take on each and every picture book by Yoshitake - and The Boring Book is no exception.
If you have any little deep thinkers in your household, they’ll get a huge kick out of The Boring Book. It’s a reflection on what being bored actually means and where boredom comes from. By the end, like many of Yoshitake’s books, it has interesting and enlightening points to make about life itself - but kids will delight in the many genius examples of boredom and the many funny pictures.
6. Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows
Written and Illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner
Kevin is not having a very sparkly day. He’s a unicorn that lives in a world where everyone is supposed to smile and sparkle all of the time, but it just isn’t happening today. So a lot of the humor stems from a bit of Schadenfreude - but also from the heavy dose of the sweet-as-syrup environment Kevin lives in and the constant reminders that he should sparkle.
There’s a lot of great visual humor in the beautiful illustrations, and it’s especially funny to watch Kevin’s pent-up anger in his eyes. And, as an added bonus, Kevin the Unicorn serves as a great lesson for kids that it’s okay not to be perfect all the time. And it’s also okay to be yourself and not just do what society expects of you.
For a closer look at Kevin the Unicorn, make sure to read our featured article.
5. Circle
Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Circle is our favorite of Barnett and Klassen’s shape trilogy. Part of its appeal is undoubtedly the elements of fear it contains. Both artists actually display a masterful handling of tension in this story, and they leave the work of the imagination to the reader - resulting in some frightful possibilities.
So there’s definitely a good dose of “laughing because I’m scared” like people do during scary movies, but there is a good display of the classic humor Barnett and Klassen are known for as well. Klassen in particular has made a name for himself with deadpan humor - particularly through his use of facial expressions. And Circle undoubtedly has one of the best deadpan lines of the year: “Triangle went behind the waterfall.”
4. Why?
Written by Adam Rex and Illustrated by Claire Keane
Adam Rex, the creator of our favorite funny picture book of last year - Are You Scared, Darth Vader? - brings the uncontrollable laughter to our house again this year with Why?. I went into Why? knowing absolutely nothing about the story, and, judging by the cover that gives very little away, that seems intentional and well-planned.
I assumed that we were going to be dealing with a precocious and inquisitive child asking “why?” over and over again, but I had no idea her victim was going to be a super villain named Doctor X-Ray who is trying to take over the world. The give and take between these two characters is comedic gold, and Adam Rex is definitely an author to watch if you have little fans of comedy.
3. Pokko and the Drum
Written and Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Pokko and the Drum was one of our very favorite picture books of the year regardless of genre, and a big part of the reason for that is the humor. Like Klassen, Matthew Forsythe has proven to have mastered the art of deadpan humor and the vacant expression on faces - particularly in the eyes.
And it’s not just the obvious things that make this book hilarious, like the wolf being admonished for eating a bandmate - “No more eating band members, or you’re out of the band.” A very significant chunk of the humor is in the details. Like the frog legs of Pokko’s parents sticking out from underneath a llama, or the fact that Pokko’s mother is still reading her book as she’s carried off by a parade. This is top notch humor folks, and a very special book.
For a closer look at Pokko and the Drum, make sure to read our featured article.
2. Just Because
Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Just Because is a rock star match up of artists I didn’t see coming. One of our favorite authors and one of our favorite illustrators have come together to make a beautiful book that celebrates the child’s imagination, and it’s definitely one to remember. And Just Because also happens to be incredibly hilarious.
Like many kids, our son loves asking big questions at bedtime - like “what is rain?” and “what happened to the dinosaurs?” - and Just Because is a story about that. But I only wish I was half as creative as the father in this book. Nobody ever told me I could just make stuff up. Without missing a beat, he gives his kid the most hilariously incorrect answers to every question. And, by the way, Isabelle Arsenault turns each hilarious answer into a beautiful piece of art.
1. Mini Rabbit is Not Lost
Written and Illustrated by John Bond
Funny picture books are in high demand in our house, and our kids tend to choose their favorites over and over again at bedtime. And I think it’s safe to say we’ve read Mini Rabbit is Not Lost more than any other book this year, which bodes well for this contest. It’s definitely our favorite funny picture book of the year.
Mini Rabbit is a very endearing little creature with an infectious positivity, and he’s determined to find berries for his cake. So he goes to ridiculous lengths to find them. And his tunnel vision during his quest for berries is a sight to behold. The use of repetition is perfect, and there’s lots of room to play with the voice and the cadence of the book to make the humor really stand out for your kids.
John Bond is another example of an artist who has mastered the humor found in the eyes. Mini Rabbit has one giant dilated eyeball that just seems to fit the sweet little guy’s obsessive personality perfectly - and seems to add a dry humor to every line he delivers. We certainly fell in love, and we sincerely hope we see more of Mini Rabbit in the future.
For more “best of the year” lists, make sure to check out:
The Best Picture Books of 2019
The Best Scary/Halloween Picture Books of 2019
What was the most popular funny picture book of the year in your house? Have you read any of ours yet? Let us know in the comments and add to our list!
