Best Joke Books for 5 Year Olds (2026): 5 Compared

Finding the best joke books for 5 year olds gets easier once you know the reader: some five year olds want pictures with every punch line, and others want to memorize knock-knock jokes for the dinner table. We compared five books by listed reading age, grade level, print length, publication date and what each description says, so you can match the book to the child in front of you.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Funniest Illustrated by Nguyen	9.7/10	Buy
2	Awesome Jokes by Waugh	9.7/10	Buy
3	Silly Jokes by Chase	9.7/10	Buy
4	Hilarious Jokes by Fox	9.6/10	Buy
5	Best Kids' Jokes by Highlights	9.5/10	Buy

1

Funniest Illustrated by Nguyen

Jeremy Nguyen·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a five year old who wants a picture with every joke; skip it if the child prefers long joke collections.

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Pros

• A funny illustration for every punch line, 58 pictures, per the description
• Reading age 5 to 7 years with grade level Kindergarten to 2 stated
• Bonus joke-writing practice, per the description

Cons

• 5 to 7 range may outlast a strict 5 year old focus
• No answer key is needed, but none is stated
• 64 pages is the shortest book here

2

Awesome Jokes by Waugh

Mat Waugh·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a five year old starting a joke book series; skip it if the child wants the newest book.

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Pros

• Written for five year olds, per the description
• Reading age 5+ years with grade level Kindergarten to 1 stated
• More than a hundred jokes with illustrations throughout, per the description

Cons

• 2018 publication date, the oldest here
• No joke count beyond more than a hundred is stated
• Illustration count is not stated

3

Silly Jokes by Chase

Edwin Chase·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a five year old who wants classic jokes and knock-knocks; skip it if the child needs pictures on every page.

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Pros

• Reading age 5 to 6 years, marked as from customers
• 75 pages with a 2023 publication date
• Side-splitting jokes for the whole family, per the description

Cons

• No grade level is stated
• No illustration count is stated
• No joke count is stated

4

Hilarious Jokes by Fox

Hayden Fox·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a five year old who wants the most variety; skip it if the child needs a stated reading age.

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Pros

• Over 400 items including jokes, riddles and tongue twisters, per the description
• Vibrant illustrations, per the description
• Newest here, published January 2024

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• 111 pages is long for a five year old
• No illustration count is stated

5

Best Kids' Jokes by Highlights

Highlights·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For a confident reader at the top of the range; skip it for a just-turned five year old.

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Pros

• 365 jokes in 128 illustrated pages, per the description
• No bathroom humor or humor at the expense of others, per the description
• Trusted children's publisher, per the description

Cons

• The title says Ages 69 while the spec table says 6 to 9 years
• Reading age starts at 6, above a five year old
• No answer key is needed, but none is stated

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More picks to compare

• Knock-Knock Jokes by HighlightsFor ages 6 to 9, 128 pages of knock-knock jokes and riddles.Check on Amazon
• Cool Kids Joke Book by Tickety BooFor ages 4 to 9, a 40-page illustrated joke book.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Four of the five picks list a reading age, and three of those also list a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best joke books for 5 year olds

Reading age and grade level

Three books name a five year old reader outright: Awesome Jokes lists a reading age of 5+ years, marked as from customers, with grade level Kindergarten to 1. Silly Jokes lists 5 to 6 years, marked as from customers. Funniest Illustrated Jokes lists 5 to 7 years, marked as from customers, with grade level Kindergarten to 2. Hilarious Jokes states no reading age. The Highlights book lists 6 to 9 years, which sits above a five year old reader.

Pictures and joke types

Funniest Illustrated Jokes includes a funny illustration for every punch line, 58 pictures in total, which suits a five year old who reads with a parent. Hilarious Jokes lists over 400 items including knock-knock jokes, riddles, tongue twisters and facts. Silly Jokes and Awesome Jokes list illustrations too, at 75 and 68 pages. A child who wants pictures on every page fits the Nguyen book; a child who wants variety fits the Fox book. See every picture book list for more illustrated options.

Length and edition

Print lengths run from 64 pages for Funniest Illustrated Jokes to 128 pages for Best Kids’ Jokes Ever. Publication dates run from 2018 to 2024, with the newest being Hilarious Jokes from January 2024. Shorter books finish faster for a five year old; longer books last more car rides. Check the publication date on the listing when choosing between similar titles.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age on the listing, and note when it is marked as from customers rather than the publisher.
• Check whether the listing gives a grade level too, and whether the two agree.
• Check the print length against the child’s attention span before buying a long collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which joke books state a reading age for 5 year olds?

Awesome Jokes lists 5+ years, Silly Jokes lists 5 to 6 years, and Funniest Illustrated Jokes lists 5 to 7 years, all marked as from customers. Hilarious Jokes states no reading age.

Which book has the most jokes?

Hilarious Jokes lists over 400 items including jokes, riddles, tongue twisters and facts. Best Kids’ Jokes Ever lists 365 jokes.

Which book has a picture for every joke?

Funniest Illustrated Jokes includes a funny illustration for every punch line, 58 pictures in total, per the description.

Still deciding? Our top pickFunniest Illustrated by Nguyen

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Related lists

See every Picture Books list and all Kids and Teens lists.

More lists: browse funny books for kids, bedtime books for 5 year olds and knock-knock jokes for kids.