Let’s be honest, ten-year-old humor is a special kind of chaos. Farts, sarcastic animals, and teachers acting like aliens are the holy trinity. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey is the obvious king, but don’t sleep on Dog Man. It’s like a superhero movie written by a kid hopped up on birthday cake.
Another goldmine is The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. It’s about two pranksters who are basically the Taylor Swift and Beyoncé of mischief. Your ten-year-old will read it, look at you with a glint in their eye, and you’ll know you just need to hide the shaving cream.
Then there’s Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. It’s a graphic novel series where the lunch lady is a secret crimefighter who uses spatulas as weapons. If that doesn’t sell them, check for a pulse.
