The Funniest Books for Children Revealed
http://www.roalddahlprize.org/

The shortlist for the first ever Roald Dahl Funny Prize is announced today by the reading charity Booktrust.
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize is the first prize of its kind; founded to honour those books that simply make us laugh.

The shortlist is:
The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Illus. Axel Scheffler (Alison Green Books)

Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt (Alison Green Books)

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

The Witch’s Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, Illus. Russell Ayto (Orchard Books)

There’s an Ouch in My Pouch! by Jeanne Willis, Illus. Garry Parsons (Puffin Books)

Manfred the Baddie by John Fardell (Quercus Books)

The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen

Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, Illus. David Tazzyman (Egmont Press)

Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond, Illus. R.W. Alley (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Aliens Don’t Eat Dog Food by Dinah Capparucci (Scholastic Children’s Books)

Urgum and the Goo Goo Bah! By Kjartan Poskitt, Illus. Philip Reeve - (Scholastic Children’s Books)

The winner of each category will receive £2,500, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in London on 13 November.

The judging panel comprised the author Sophie Dahl, the comedian Dara O’Briain, author Kaye Umansky and author, illustrator and political cartoonist Chris Riddell. The panel was chaired by the Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen.

Sophie Dahl:
"Each book on the shortlist of this year's Roald Dahl funny prize is unique and has something that sets it apart from the wealth of material that we judges were lucky enough to read. The one common thread that all the books on the shortlist share is that they are quirky and FUNNY - properly tears in eyes, wheezing, sneezing, snorting - FUNNY, in the grand tradition of the man the prize is named for."

Michael Rosen:
“It was a joy and a half to sit round a table, knee-deep in funny books, talking about them with a group of clever, humorous and thoughtful people. Almost all children love funny books; it's what helps hook them into the reading habit. Parents are always on the lookout for funny books to read to their children or to give them as surprises and presents. Now, with these 12 titles, pared down from hundreds that we received, we have the cream of this year's crop. I swear I heard Roald Dahl chortling in the background as we waved the books at each other.”