18 Hilarious April Fool’s Day Books for Kids
April Fools' Day is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to start planning your prankster escapades! For the uninitiated, April Fools' Day is celebrated every year on the first of April by playing harmless pranks on friends and family members.
If you're looking for some inspiration for your next April Fools' Day prank, why not try one of these fifteen kid-friendly books?
From silly stories that will have your kids laughing out loud to absurd illustrations that will leave them baffled, this reading list of April Fools' Day books are sure to get a giggle (or two).
April Fool’s Day in
the Classroom!
Fourth grade teacher Joe Dombrowski played an April Fools' Day prank on his students that went viral. Can you spell "hilarious"?
1. A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #9: April Fools' Fiasco by Ron Roy
Mr. Paskey, owner of the Book Nook, plays an April Fools’ Day prank on Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. They hatch a plan to get back at him, but then the bookstore is robbed–no joke! Can the kids track down the crook? Or will this April Fools be an April fail? My son loves the A to Z Mysteries. He was pleased to get some new books with the characters he loves. – Amazon Review by Allison H.
Amazon Rating: 4.9
Ages: 6 – 9 years
2. Arthur’s April Fool by Marc Brown
In Arthur's April Fool, Arthur prepares to perform his magic tricks for the April Fool's Day school assembly while trying to keep the class bully from pulverizing him. My son loved this book. he was having a problem with a bully at school and this book really help him see that even big bullies have weaknesses. – Amazon review by Stephanie P.
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 6 – 9 years
3. April Fool’s Day (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #19) by Carolyn Keene
Nancy, George, and Bess have been invited to an April Fool’s Day party at their new schoolmate’s house. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun – each guest is bringing a gag to the party, and the best prank will win a special prize. When two of the guests’ fancy new electronics go missing, Nancy knows something’s up. Is this someone’s idea of a joke? My daughter can’t put them down!! Excellent books for kids. My daughter is 7 and was hooked! I loved Nancy Drew as a child so was so pleased when I found these for my daughter. She has a nice collection already. Can wait to get her started on the classic children's books! – Amazon review by Turquoise Fox
Amazon Rating: 4.8
Ages: 6 – 9 years
4. Wacky Wednesday by Theo LeSieg
In this wacky book by Dr Seuss, every Wednesday is April Fool’s Day! From a shoe stuck on the ceiling to tigers at school to flying cars, this is no normal Wednesday! Kids will love counting up the crazy things they see on every page in this search-and-find activity book. Find each and every wacky mistake in this silly book of errors. I loved this book when I was young, still do! It was the first book I learned to read and I drove my mum nuts requesting to have it as the bed-time story nearly every day, she still grimaces if I say "It all began...." ;-) – Amazon Review by K. Brown
Amazon Rating: 5.0 (Teacher’s Pick)
Ages: 3 – 6 years
5. Addison the April Fool's Day Fairy by Daisy Meadows
This review is by my sweet niece Sara who enjoyed the book: "I thought the book was good and had a nice story to it. Whenever I read one of the problems in the story I was eager to read it which is the reason why I like this book a lot and why it is one of my favorite books in the series." – Amazon review by N. MD
Amazon Rating: 4.8
Ages: 8 – 12 years
6. Judy Moody and Friends: April Fools', Mr. Todd! by Megan McDonald
It’s April Fools' Day — and Judy’s birthday — and Mr. Todd has a trick or two of his own planned in the latest Judy Moody tale for newly independent readers. My 8-year-old daughter loves everything Judy Moody! – Amazon review by Susanna T.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
Ages: 4 – 6 years
7. April Fool! Watch Out at School! by Diane deGroat
How do you trick a trickster? It’s April Fools’ Day, and Gilbert is looking forward to a great time playing tricks on his friends. Love ALL of Diane deGroat's reading books and so do the kids in my class. We read one almost monthly and they look forward to them every time! – Amazon Review by A.
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 4 – 7 years
8. April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman
It's a spring morning on the farm. Grandma is happy the grandkids are visiting―they've picked just the right day!―and Grandpa is fixing breakfast. Suddenly his grandson reports that the cows have got loose! He thinks Big Brown Bessie just stepped on a goose! "Good gracious," Grandpa says as he pours himself a glass of milk. When his granddaughter shouts the chickens are out, Grandpa cooks up some eggs. "Pigs broke the gate", Grandpa fries bacon. Why is Grandpa so cool? Because he knows the kids are trying to play an April Fool's joke! "Zany and inventive, the artwork amplifies the story's humor. A great story hour choice for April Fool's Day or just about any other day."―Booklist
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 4 – 8 years
9. April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill
It might be April Fools' Day, but Punxsutawney Phyllis knows that winter isn't over yet. Her infallible instincts tell her that a blizzard is brewing. Too bad no one will believe her. How can Phyllis prevent the Spring Treasure Hunt from turning into a fiasco? This is a great book to read to kids before April 1st. This book combines a treasure hunt with April Fool's Day pranks. The best part is that my daughter requests that I read this one all the time! – Amazon Review by Ryan R.
Amazon Rating: 4.6
Ages: 4 – 8 years
10. Max and Zoe: Too Many Tricks by Shelley Swanson Sateren
On April Fool's Day, Max plays a variety of pranks on Zoe. Max must learn when practical jokes are funny and when they are hurtful or he might lose his friendship with Zoe forever.
Amazon Rating: 4.4
Ages: 5 – 7 years
11. Barnyard Fun by Maureen Wright
When Sheep found out it was April One, he said, “It’s time to have some fun!” Sheep set his alarm an hour ahead. It woke up Rooster in his bed. Sheep plays April Fool’s jokes on Rooster, Dog, Pig, and Cow. Then Horse decides to play a trick on Sheep-and the farm animals have the biggest laugh of all! I bought this sweet book for my grandchildren. It has bright, colorful pictures that immediately grabbed their attention! I think all young children should read this book. The difficulty level, length of the book, and fun rhyming are perfect for young children. – Amazon Review by Maga
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 3 – 6 years
12. Ellie May on April Fools’ Day by Hillary Homzie
Quirky and funny second grader Ellie May can't believe her class is allowed to celebrate April Fools' Day--so long as it's done in good fun. Soon enough, good intentions turn the classroom and her home upside-down when fake ants, trick tape, and hidden surprises don't go as planned. How far will Ellie May go for a laugh--and a little revenge--when her class is allowed to celebrate April Fools' Day? Ellie May wants to come up with an April Fools' Day joke, but she needs to do research and come up with the perfect strategy to pull it off. This is the kind of story fun-loving pranksters will enjoy - so much fun! – Amazon review by MLG
Amazon Rating: 4.8
Ages: 6 – 9 years
13. April Fool’s Day From The Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
It’s the end of March, and Hubie is struggling to prepare his pranks for the big day. The whoopee cushion, the rubber tarantula, and the fly in the ice cube just aren’t good enough anymore – not when the worst joke comes from the place he least expects it. The joke’s on you in the April Fools’ Day from the Black Lagoon!
Amazon Rating: 4.9
Ages: 6 – 8 years
14. Mud Flat April Fool by James Stevenson
Something peculiar is going on in the village of Mud Flat today. Mr. Duffy has disappeared in a puff of green smoke, and Brian woke up with his head on backward. Doris is greeted by a singing tree, and poor Lila sniffs a rose that promptly squirts in her eye. What is this strange brand of spring fever? James Stevenson provides the happy answer in another hilarious visit with the lovable residents of Mud Flat.
Amazon Rating: 5.0
Ages: 5 – 9 years
15. One Funny Day by Kate McMullan
Wagner has been fooled by just about everyone this April Fools' Day. Tired of being on the receiving end of all the April Fools' pranks, Wagner is determined to have the last laugh. This easy-to-read installment of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning Pearl and Wagner series promises a whole lot of giggles for young readers!
Amazon Rating: 4.9
Ages: 6 – 8 years
16. Jackie's Jokes (The Sisters Eight) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
The Sisters 8 is a great series of books for young girls who love to read. They are about 8 sisters who band together with their magical gifts to solve the disappearance of their parents. Totally fun for girls around the ages of about 8-12. – Amazon review by Nele
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 6 – 9 years
17. Prank Day by Kel Mitchell
This laugh-aloud novel for kids follows Chase as he masterminds a series of epic pranks only to discover that they've all become real on April 2nd. When his tricks become reality in hilarious and disastrous ways, Chase must come clean. How will he set the world right again, catch the eye of his crush Zoe, and keep her from getting flattened by the refrigerator running all over town?
I have a 2nd, 4th, and 5th grader and this book is rarely closed. There has been a line formed on who gets to read it next. This book is great for an advanced 2nd-grade reader all the way to older kids in 6th grade. At 199 pages, this read doesn’t take a ton of time and is a true page-turner. There are frequent pictures that help the younger reader stay engaged and make any reader laugh. – Amazon review by C. Sonnenberg
Ages: 8 – 12 years
18. Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet! by Julie Winterbottom
If your child needs new ideas for a April Fools day, Pranklopedia is a complete prankster’s guide with over 70 guaranteed-to-amuse (or annoy) pranks to be pulled on friends, siblings, and parents! As a scout leader for many years, I tried to explain the difference between mean and funny pranks. This book is so much fun! I spent 15 minutes pre-reading it before I give it to my 8-year-old granddaughter... with three younger siblings. She and I are going to have so much fun with this book this year! – Amazon review by N. Chatterly
Amazon Rating: 4.7
Ages: 8 – 11 years
We hope that your child will find some favorite books from this curated book list of animal books!