David Walliams and Greg James make Lollies shortlist

David Walliams and Greg James are among the children's authors recognised by the Laugh Out Loud Awards as judge Michael Rosen hails the 12-strong shortlist that will make you "giggle and laugh over and over again". 

Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, today (Monday 19th August) announced The Lollies shortlist. The awards, now in their fourth year and created by Scholastic UK, celebrate the funniest children's books. 

Nibbies winner Walliams is in the running for Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 6-8 year olds with World’s Worst Children 3 (HarperCollins), illustrated by Tony Ross. They face competition from Bad Nana: Older Not Wiser by Sophy Henn (HarperCollins); The Legend of Kevin by Philip Reeve and illustrated by Sarah McIntyre (OUP) and The Nothing to See Here Hotel by Steven Butler and illustrated by Steven Lenton (Simon & Schuster). 

Meanwhile Radio 1 breakfast show host James and co-author Chris Smith are up for Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9-13 year olds for Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes (Bloomsbury), illustrated by Erica Salcedo. They will go head to head with I Bet I Can Make You Laugh by Joshua Seigal and illustrated by Tim Wesson (Bloomsbury); I Swapped My Brother on the Internet by Jo Simmons and illustrated by Nathan Reed (Bloomsbury) and Planet Stan by Elaine Wickson and illustrated by Chris Judge (OUP).

Baby’s First Bank Heist by Jim Whalley and illustrated by Stephen Collins scores Bloomsbury a fourth nomination and is joined by Spyder by Matt Carr (Scholastic); Ten Fat Sausages by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Tor Freeman (Andersen Press) and You’re Called What?! by Kes Gray and illustrated by Nikki Dyson (Macmillan) in the Picture Book category. 

Rosen said: “Anyone around children looking for books to have them giggling and laughing over and over again, these 12 books will do the job.  Funny books are so important because they draw you through, and you have a wonderful, time and feel good. What could be better than that?”

Alison Leach, founder of BooksForTopics and a primary teacher; Scott Evans, a primary school teacher and blogger; Andria Zafirakou, winner of the $1 million Global Teacher Prize 2018 and Kate Newport, product director for Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs joined Rosen on the judging panel to select the shortlist from nearly 120 titles submitted by children’s publishers. 

Newport added: "I am so excited about the list for this year, I really think it is the best yet. It absolutely reflects what makes kids laugh and what makes kids pick up a book! There is a wonderful variety of genres, comedy styles and types of illustration. I can’t wait to see who wins!"

The Lollies, sponsored by Happy Monkey Smoothies, will be decided solely by children’s votes, with schools and parents encouraged to help kids get involved and vote via the Lollies website, www.scholastic.co.uk/lollies, or via the Lollies PopJam channel. The winning books will be announced in early 2020.