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Children's reading lists

16 laugh-out-loud funny books for 9-12-year-olds

Lil' Muffin Drops the Mic

From comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan comes a hilarious and heartfelt tale that proves rap battles and baking muffins really can mix. The perfect story for readers age 8+ and fans of David Baddiel and Adam B Wins the Internet! 
 
Ever since his dad left, James can't seem to stop worrying about everything. His favourite hobby, baking, is a fun (and delicious!) distraction, but no matter how many AMAZING brownies he makes, James still feels like there's a missing ingredient in his life . . . 
 
Until he discovers rapping, and he's COMPLETELY hooked. It's not long before James starts writing his own raps about everything - from music and cakes to his giant pet rabbit, Graham! 
 
So when he hears that grime artist star Brukka is on the hunt for young talent, James starts to wonder: could this be his chance to share his MUFFINS, his MUSIC, and maybe even his feelings with the whole school? If he could only find the confidence . . . 
 
Full of laugh-out-loud illustrations from bestselling illustrator James Lancett, this is the children's read of the summer!

The hugely popular comedian mixes muffins with music in his hilarious debut children's novel

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian, actor and writer. A former maths teacher, he is now known for his award-winning series The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, his weekly topical show The Ranganation, his sitcom The Reluctant Landlord and the BAFTA nominated Asian Provocateur, which features Romesh's mum. 
 
Amongst all of this, he still manages to squeeze in time to record his award-winning podcast 'Hip Hop Saved My Life', to write his regular Midlife Crisis column for the Guardian, and to pen his bestselling autobiography, Straight Outta Crawley. DJ Muffin drops the Mic is his first children's book and gave him an excuse to write about two of his favourite things - hip hop and cake.

From comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan comes a hilarious and heartfelt tale that proves rap battles and baking muffins really can mix. The perfect story for readers age 8+ and fans of David Baddiel and Adam B Wins the Internet! 
 
Ever since his dad left, James can't seem to stop worrying about everything. His favourite hobby, baking, is a fun (and delicious!) distraction, but no matter how many AMAZING brownies he makes, James still feels like there's a missing ingredient in his life . . . 
 
Until he discovers rapping, and he's COMPLETELY hooked. It's not long before James starts writing his own raps about everything - from music and cakes to his giant pet rabbit, Graham! 
 
So when he hears that grime artist star Brukka is on the hunt for young talent, James starts to wonder: could this be his chance to share his MUFFINS, his MUSIC, and maybe even his feelings with the whole school? If he could only find the confidence . . . 
 
Full of laugh-out-loud illustrations from bestselling illustrator James Lancett, this is the children's read of the summer!

21 short stories by top comedians

Comic Fringes

A cracking collection of comic monologues, written and read by leading comedians 
 
Recorded in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this fantastic anthology features a host of diverse short stories, composed and performed by a veritable Who's Who of stand-up comedians. By turns hilarious and irreverent, poignant and bittersweet, together they make up a superb selection box of tasty treats. 
 
Among the all-star line-up, Romesh Ranganathan tells a comic tale of unrequited love among the orangutans; Susan Calman takes a wry look at office politics; Jon Richardson explores the perils of internet dating; and Sarah Millican takes us into the worlds of a compassionate undertaker's assistant and an elderly woman who fears she's becoming invisible. 
 
Russell Kane recalls his tempestuous ex; Aisling Bea recounts the dark, funny tale of a pensioner with murder in mind; Robert Florence reveals the shady doings of the Scottish branch of the Illuminati; and satirist John O'Farrell asks, 'what if Judas had written the Gospels'? 
 
Also sharing their fantastic fiction are a wealth of other literary comics, including Sanjeev Kohli, Joe Lycett, Bridget Christie, James Acaster, Jenny Eclair, Shazia Mirza and Mark Watson. Short story fans, rejoice: here are five hours of some of the most charming, absurd, dark, thoughtful and funny tales you'll ever find in one place. 
 
Contents: 
1. May Contain Nuts by Janey Godley 
2. The Hair of the Dead by Sarah Millican 
3. Gone Phishing by Jon Richardson 
4. The Woman Who Sniffed by Susan Calman 
5. Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Be in the Green by Patrick Monahan 
6. On the Dot by Shazia Mirza 
7. Stairlift Us Up Where We Belong by Sarah Millican 
8. Spooky and the Van by Joe Lycett 
9. A Difference of Opinion by Bridget Christie 
10. The Three Times I Dumped Eleanor, and the Manner of Her Death by Russell Kane 
11. Sorry For Your Loss by James Acaster 
12. Club Sandwich by Mark Watson 
13. The Understudy by Jenny Eclair 
14. Kill Dilly by Aisling Bea 
15. I Bought a Monkey To Stand Out in the New York Art Scene by Sanjeev Kohli 
16. Love and Orangutans by Romesh Ranganathan 
17. Bad Fairytale by Grainne Maguire 
18. The Gospel According to Judas by John O'Farrell 
19. Pick Me Up by Angela Barnes 
20. Apocalypse Soon by Dane Baptiste 
21. Cats Who Walk Like Gentlemen by Robert Florence 
 
Production credits: 
Produced by Kirsteen Cameron 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 August 2009-6 September 2015 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Life Lessons from a Reluctant Adult

As Good As It Gets

The hilarious new book from comedy sensation Romesh Ranganathan - a hugely entertaining and brutally honest account of the triumphs and disappointments of adulting in the modern world.

'There's both side-splitting humour and a tenderness to comedian and writer Romesh Ranganathan's latest book'

Hilariously told, this personal interrogation is both relatable and comforting, recognising that nobody really knows how to be a grown-up.

"One of the funniest people in the world. Annoyingly talented at everything he does which includes writing books. As Good As it Gets is hilarious. Is there anything this man can't do? Yes: most sports."

"Annoyingly I enjoyed this book as much as I do seeing Romesh live"

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian, actor and writer. A former maths teacher, he is now known for his award-winning series The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, his weekly topical show The Ranganation, his sitcom The Reluctant Landlord and the BAFTA nominated Asian Provocateur, which features Romesh's mum. 
 
 Amongst all of this, he still manages to squeeze in time to record his award-winning podcast 'Hip Hop Saved My Life', to write his regular Midlife Crisis column for the Guardian, and to pen his bestselling autobiography, Straight Outta Crawley. DJ Muffin drops the Mic is his first children's book and gave him an excuse to write about two of his favourite things - hip hop and cake.

Confronted by the realities of adulthood, Romesh Ranganathan must face an uncomfortable truth: this is not quite how he imagined it. 
 
Watching his friends descend into middle age, his waist thicken with every meal and his finances dwindle to fund his family’s middle class aspirations, Romesh reflects on the demands of daily life and the challenges of adulting in the modern world. 
 
As he reluctantly concludes that he is indeed a grown man, Rom wrestles with the greater questions that threaten his being: Could I save my family in a crisis? Do I possess the skills to assemble flatpack furniture? Am I too old for streetwear? Is it alright to parent my kids through the medium of Fortnite? Is celibacy the secret to a passionate marriage? 
 
From one of the countries most beloved comedians and author of the Sunday Times bestseller STRAIGHT OUTTA CRAWLEY comes the hilarious and painfully accurate dissection of what it really means to grow up.

Memoirs of a Distinctly Average Human Being

Straight Outta Crawley

The hilarious, best-selling life story of one of Britain's most adored comedy stars.

Very, very funny. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

His ability to produce bitingly fresh gags marks him out from the crowd.

Delivered with consummate skill... totally original.

Irresistible gags with stink-bomb impact.

Romesh Ranganathan, a man who has turned misanthropy into a gloriously enjoyable art.

He has the natural swagger of a comedian who knows how to dominate a room.

Boasts all the classic hallmarks of the stand-up wanting to triumph over trauma. Candidly amusing.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
____________ 
 
Straight Outta Crawley is the hilarious and irreverent autobiography from comedian Romesh Ranganathan. 
 
At the age of 9, Romesh Ranganathan delivered his first ever stand-up set at a Pontin's holiday camp talent competition, smashing the other competitor, a young girl playing the kazoo. 
 
The gig went so well that Romesh retired his comic genius for twenty-two years, hiding behind the guise of a maths teacher, before finally revealing himself again (no, not like that) at the tender age of 31. In 2010, Ranganathan staged his epic comeback gig to an almost silent room, and has since gone on to earn his place as the most in-demand overweight vegan Sri Lankan comedian in Britain. 
 
Now, for the first time, he tells the full story of how he got here. From the delights of Sri Lankan hospitality to his struggles as a child, teacher and now parent, to his adolescent flirtation with a rap career and his attempts to make it in comedy, Straight Outta Crawley is Ranganathan's hilarious and irreverent autobiography.

Romesh Ranganathan

As well as being a hilarious and accessible read, the story also delivers a really powerful and heartwarming message about the importance of believing in yourself and following your dreams.

Yasmin Bandara has NO IDEA what she wants to be when she grows up. 
 
Her parents want her to become a doctor and focus on school, they won’t even let her play computer games unless it’s an educational one called Monkey House. Yasmin’s amazing at it, but yawn! 
 
So when her best friend Zane introduces her to an exciting football game called FifPro, Yasmin can’t get enough! She secretly plays whenever she can, hoping one day she’ll be as good as her favourite gamer, mysteriously known as ‘The Goat’. 
 
But balancing schoolwork with gaming is starting to make Yasmin’s head SPIN. And when she’s invited to play in tournaments for both games, she realises she’s got to make a choice. 
 
Can Yasmin make her parents proud AND beat The Goat, or will it be GAME OVER?

Romesh Ranganathan

Praise for Yasmin Bandara Levels Up!

As well as being a hilarious and accessible read, the story also delivers a really powerful and heartwarming message about the importance of believing in yourself and following your dreams.

Books by Romesh Ranganathan

Articles featuring Romesh Ranganathan

16 laugh-out-loud funny books for 9-12-year-olds

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