Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009 - shortlist announced

A prize for books that simply make children laugh, founded by Michael Rosen as part of his Children's Laureateship, has attracted a strong shortlist of highly regarded and well-established children's authors as the comedian David Walliams with his debut novel.
 
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize judges are comedian Bill Bailey, author, founder and Chair Michael Rosen, author and illustrator Mini Grey, author Louise Rennison and author and winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2008 Andy Stanton.

The winner of each category will receive £2,500, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in London on 10 November 2009.
 
The shortlists:

The Funniest Book for Children aged six and under:
 
The Great Dog Bottom Swap 
by Peter Bently, illus. Mei Matsuoka (Andersen Press)

Octopus Socktopus
by Nick Sharratt (Alison Green Books)

Elephant Joe is a Spaceman!
by David Wojtowycz (Alison Green Books)

Crocodiles are the Best Animals of All
by Sean Taylor, illus. Hannah Shaw (Frances Lincoln)

Mr.Pusskins Best in Show (Mr Pusskins)
by Sam Lloyd (Orchard Books)

The Pencil
by Allan Ahlberg, illus. Bruce Ingman (Walker Books)
 
The Funniest Book for Children aged seven to 14

The Galloping Ghost: 0
by Hilda Offen (Catnip Publishing)

Eating Things on Sticks
by Anne Fine, illus. Kate Aldous (Doubleday)

Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky (Grubtown Tales)
by Philip Ardagh, illus. Jim Paillot (Faber and Faber)

The Boy in the Dress
by David Walliams, illus. Quentin Blake (HarperCollins)

Purple Class and the Half-eaten Sweater
by Sean Taylor, illus. Helen Bate (Frances Lincoln)

Ribblestrop
by Andy Mulligan (Simon & Schuster)

All these books are available from Amazon. To order a copy just click the title.