Inaugural Lollies shortlist revealed

Authors such as Sue Hendra, Jonny Duddle, Pamela Butchart and David Baddiel have made it onto the shortlist for the first Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (Lollies).

Scholastic, which set up the award last year to celebrate funny books for children, received more than 120 entries, from which chair of the judges Michael Rosen, along with comedian Jenny Eclair, film producer Will Clark and gamer AmyLee33, chose a shortlist of 12 books.

Four books are shortlisted for the best laugh out loud picture book award: Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien (Walker Books); Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross (Andersen Press); Gracie Grabbit and the Tiger by Helen Stephens (Scholastic); and I Need a Wee! by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (Simon & Schuster Children's).

There are also four books in the running for the prize for the best laugh out loud book for 6-8 year olds: Badly Drawn Beth by Jem Packer and Duncan McCoshan (Orchard Books); Wilf the Mighty Worrier: Saves the World by Georgia Pritchett and Jamie Littler (Quercus Children’s); The Jolley-Rogers and the Cave of Doom by Jonny Duddle (Templar Publishing); and Thorfinn the Nicest Viking and the Awful Invasion by David MacPhail and Richard Morgan (Kelpies)

In the final category, best laugh out loud book for 9-13 year-olds, the shortlisted books are: Danger is Still Everywhere: Beware of the Dog by David O’Doherty and Chris Judge (Puffin); Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon by Pamela Butchart and Gemma Correll (Nosy Crow); Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco by Ruth Fitzgerald (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); and The Parent Agency by David Baddiel and Jim Field (Harper Collins Children’s Books).

Michael Rosen, author and chair of the judges, said: “The Lollies are your first port of call for books that will get your child reading or keep them hooked. Humour brings us together and there's nothing better than children, parents, grandparents, relations, teachers and librarians sharing the jokes of funny books. This old, old tradition is alive and well and the Lollies have come up with the best of this year's crop.”

School children can now vote for the winner by submitting a class vote online via the Lollies website.

The winning three books will be announced at a gala ceremony in London in June.