Funny books

Lounging on a plate between a buttery corncob and crunchy fries, Hot Dog leads a happy life … until lunch time comes around and the truth dawns on him: he is about to be disturbed by a hungry human! Backflips, diversions and other hilarious elaborate plans ensue, as Hot Dog tries to wiggle out of his brioche bun on his way to freedom, all with the help of the friendly narrator. This unlikely hero’s bravery and his quest make for a whimsical story that might well turn every meal into a reenactment of The Great Escape.

When Luke’s reckless mate Finn announces that he’s come up with the perfect get-rich-quick scheme, Luke is cautious. Finn wants to start a bank. They’ll lend money to their classmates, take deposits and even invest in clever business ideas like dating apps and performing pigs. The other lads think it’s a great idea, and even Luke is impressed when business starts to boom, but in the back of his mind he still wonders if financial success can really be this easy …

‘Brothers are much like cheese. They come in all shapes and sizes, often a bit stinky, and some more mature than others, but together they complement each other to make up a varied cheese board.’

Khayaal Theatre, one of the parties behind the composition of Riding a Donkey Backwards came into being to help people move away from the narrow views they might have of Muslim culture. This book, which also enjoys the writing skills of Sean Taylor and the illustrative work of Shirin Adl, admirably fulfils this aim and much more.

This wonderful 2013 book has been translated from the original Polish by its author, Przemysław Wechterowicz. The story follows Little Bear and Daddy Bear, who, having feasted on a delicious breakfast of honey, decide to spread the sweetness around by hugging every woodland creature they meet. Mr Beaver gets a hug, as does Ms Weasel, as do the Hares. Even the Big Bad Wolf gets a hug.

Fox and Chick have many adventures together. Fox and Chick are funny and have fun. Fox and Chick do not always agree. But nevertheless, Fox and Chick are always friends.

Izzy O’Neill is a brash, funny eighteen-year-old; she’s had some tragedy in her life, but she has two brilliant friends, Ajita and Danny, and lives with her amazing Grandmother Betty. Everything is going fine in Izzy’s world until a nude selfie sent without much thought creates a massive scandal that puts her under international scrutiny and threatens her future.

Ping and Pong are two edamame beans who share a dream to become the best table tennis player in the world. They train together night and day while defeating everybody in their way. Soon the day will come for them to become adversaries. But who will prove the best and what will happen to their friendship?

It’s clear that llamas have achieved a level of cult status akin to that of the unicorn. Although they lack the mysticism of the latter, their distinct silhouette lends itself perfectly to the graphic world of greeting cards and picturebooks. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that Janik Coat draws upon the uniqueness of this much-loved creature to illustrate the rather complex world of homophones – words that sound the same but have very different meanings.

Rory Branagan thinks his life is pretty amazing. Most afternoons he and his best friend, Wikins Welkin, mess about in the park. Even though Wikins is a neighbour’s sausage dog, they have sleepovers. The thought of Wikins’s doggy dreams make Rory smile. His sole night worry is that no one tells him anything. Specifically, he wants to know about his dad, who left when Rory was three, that is to say seven years ago.