or offering his services to the National Cavity Insulation Association as their “Poet in Residence”, the Timewaster Letters contain some of the most outrageous requests and ridiculous drawings you are ever likely to see. Young readers can stretch their knee-slapping muscles as they match the jokes to their punchlines, complete giggle-worthy stories, and solve side-splitting riddles. This collection of essays is split into two parts: the first is about Sedaris' upbringing in North Carolina and move to New York City; the second is about his move to France, and doomed attempts to learn the language and fit in. Happily, there are a host of witty, satirical and downright hilarious books out there, waiting to put a smile back on our faces.

If you enjoy it, you might try Auslander’s comic novel Hope: A Tragedy, about Anne Frank (yep, “comic novel”, you heard that right) or his most recent, Mother For Dinner, about cannibals.When sensible, sophisticated Flora Poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest Sussex. A perfect rom-com premise: girl wakes up in hospital from a near-death accident next to her ex who she has forgotten to remove as her emergency contact.

A good joke book is always a useful tool to have around whether it’s for easing the tension at your next in-law dinner party or entertaining little kids. From memories of growing up in South London and his school days to early comedy gigs and learning to cope with fame, Gilligan weaves a heart-warming story of comedy, careers and community. A joke is a narrative that is usually of oral and fictitious origin, humorous in tone and provokes laughter in those who read or listen to it. So, whether you're a casual page-flipper or a die-hard bibliophile, don't hesitate to sprinkle a bit of jest into your literary journey.

Your kid will be the funniest one on the playground and in the game with eye-rolling zingers like this — Q: Why is grass dangerous?

It’s 1981, and eleven-year-old Sadie adores her mother Connie, who dreams of making it big as a singer. Before he created lovable characters Duck and Goose and Rocket the Dog, Tad Hills gifted us this little classroom treasure. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie finds herself seeking comfort in all the wrong places. But the geniuses at Who HQ aren’t satisfied with just teaching your kids about history — they want to teach them to be funny too. Kids can fill their pixelated worlds with rib-tickling humor and punny jokes tailored to Minecrafters.

Bleak and acerbic, it's an acquired taste, but once you have it The Pumpkin Eater is uniquely, acidly funny.