Our Laugh-out-Loud Books Collection highlights titles that bring levity to literature through satire, dark humor, or hilarious dialogue. Representing genres ranging from romantic comedies to classic children's titles, this Collection features titles to tickle every reader's funny bone.
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Humor, Grief / Death, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature
Publication year 1593
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Society: Class
Tags Elizabethan Era, Play: Comedy / Satire, Humor, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Classic Fiction
The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, probably first performed around 1593. While the play’s depiction of women is the subject of much debate among modern readers and scholars, its popularity endures, and the play continues to be reproduced in various mediums. Notable adaptations include the 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and the 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You.This guide refers to the 2014... Read The Taming of the Shrew Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help, Humor, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff, is an introduction to the philosophy of Taoism. Hoff uses Winnie-the-Pooh and other characters from A.A. Milne’s well-known children books to exemplify and explain these principles. The primary character, Pooh, exhibits many qualities that produce contentment. The literal meaning of Tao is “the way,” and the goal of the way is the kind of contentment that Pooh possesses.Many of the book’s passages are devoted to Taoist concepts such... Read The Tao Of Pooh Summary
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
In The Teacher’s Funeral (2004), Richard Peck gives a humorous, heartwarming look back at a changing time in America’s history. Narrator Russell Culver, a mischievous 15-year-old living in rural Indiana, reveals how his delight turned to dismay when his teacher died in August 1904. Peck draws on both his father’s childhood memories and his own recollections of visits to his grandparents’ farm as inspiration for the novel, which won a 2005 Christopher Award. Page citations... Read The Teacher's Funeral Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education
Tags Action / Adventure, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education
Publication year 2019
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race
Tags Realistic Fiction, Play: Comedy / Satire, Holidays & Occasions, Humor, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Humor, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1893
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Humor, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Satire, Race / Racism, American Literature
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Teams
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Humor, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
The Twits (1980) by Roald Dahl is a fantastical and absurd children’s story about a mean couple and how they are eventually outsmarted by the animals they mistreat. The Big Read listed The Twits as one of the 200 greatest books of all time according to the British public in 2003, and in 2012, the Twits appeared on a commemorative postage stamp. The book was adapted for the stage in 2007, and an animated feature... Read The Twits Summary
Publication year 2007
Genre Novella, Fiction
Tags Humor, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
British author Alan Bennett’s 2007 satirical novella The Uncommon Reader, set in modern-day Britain, focuses on the “uncommon reader”—Queen Elizabeth II—who narrates the story as she becomes passionate about reading after a random encounter with a mobile library. As she becomes more interested in reading than with the duties of the monarchy, her fascination with books has major consequences for her, her council of advisors, her family, and her position as monarch. She begins questioning... Read The Uncommon Reader Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Humor, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Romance, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Education
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Education, Diversity, Bullying, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1967
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Asian Literature, Indian Literature, Children's Literature, Asian Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Humor, Classic Fiction
In R.K. Narayan’s novel The Vendor of Sweets, the tension between old and young India is the backdrop against which a father and son clash. Jagan, a 55 year old man who is steeped in tradition, is a bundle of contradictions. He is a passionate follower of Gandhi, embracing non-violent cooperation and an ascetic lifestyle. However, he is also boastful when it comes to his own self-control. It is not enough that he has renounced... Read The Vendor of Sweets Summary
Publication year 1984
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education