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6 Gross-Out Chapter Books for Reluctant Readers
Some kids can’t get their noses out of a book, while others would rather do anything but read. For kids who are more reluctant readers, sometimes a little gross-out humor is a way to get them laughing and associating reading with silliness and fun, not work. A spoonful of sugar! (Or, quite possibly, boogers.) Here are six books that are up to the challenge.
Beetle Blast, by Ross Collins and Ali Sparkes
In the sixth book in the S.W.I.T.C.H. series, twin brothers Danny and Josh get turned into beetles after eating S.W.I.T.C.H pellets! If getting transformed into a six-legged insect isn’t gross enough, the brothers have to deal with spiders, rats, and some totally disgusting smells. There’s plenty of humor throughout to keep reluctant readers engaged, and seeing the world through a bug’s eye view is pretty cool.
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, by Dav Pilkey
Any book in the best selling Captain Underpants series is bound to hook even the most reluctant reader! Dav Pilkey seems to have tapped into a winning formula, mixing potty humor with elementary-aged superheroes. In this edition, Captain Underpants has to deal with one of his grossest villains ever when the homeroom teacher turns into the wicked wedgie woman. Fourth grade has never been so treacherous!
Day My Butt Went Psycho, by Andy Griffiths
Potty humor aficionados will adore this one. Zack Freeman is on a quest to find his runaway butt. This book starts with a warning for any parent or teacher to put the book down NOW because they will be “totally grossed out by it.” (I’m not going to argue with that!) What better way to get a kid hooked than with such a warning?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Monster and Chips (2): Night of the Living Bread, by David O’Connell
What kind of food do the waiters serve the monster customers at Fuzzy’s Monster Diner? Prepare to be grossed out by the truly disgusting menu full of slugs on a stick, bumbean stew, and toad sausages, just to name a few. You may lose your appetite, but you’ll certainly have fun along the way. Now can anyone tell me if the frog burgers are gluten free?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Gross Out!: Animals That Do Disgusting Things, by Ginjer L. Clarke and Peter Mueller
Sometimes truth is grosser than fiction, and this book, which is chock full of disgusting animal facts, is here to prove just that. Find out which animals suck blood, eat poop, and squirt blood out of their eyes. After reading this revolting science book you will never look at the animal world the same way again! And if your young reader hasn’t been sufficiently freaked out by the end of this book, you can try Freak Out!: Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination for even more unbelievable but true animal facts.
How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell, Emily Arnold McCully (Illustrator)
If you’re not too disgusted by the title of this book, you’re in for a fun and stomach-turning read! Billy made a bet with his friends Alan and Joe that he could eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. If he does, he’ll win $50. (Personally, I would not do this for $5,000, but that’s just me)! Will Billy end up winning the bet or eating his words?
Which of these chapter books would get your reluctant reader to bury their nose in a book?