Roald Dahl Funny Prize: The view from the judges part 2

The 2012 Roald Dahl Funny Prize judges

Next Tuesday sees the announcement of the winners of this year’s Roald Dahl Funny Prize. We’ve heard what the judges had to say about shortlist for the 0-6 age category, so now read on for their comments on the books shortlisted for the 7–14 age group.

Prepare yourself for nudity, goblins, grandmas behaving badly, an evil overlord, a magical car and a very badly behaved dragon…

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce, illustrated by Joe Berger

‘This version of the classic tale manages to bring it really cleverly, right up to date with plenty of laughs along the way. It’s got masses of very recognisable family humour and I think it will appeal even to those who don’t know the original story. (Extra book fact is that Roald Dahl wrote the original screenplay for the film -and added the Child Catcher who wasn't in the original book!) I loved the illustrations too – they complement the text without dominating the story.’
-    Liz Pichon

The Dragonsitter by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Garry Parsons

‘Uncle Morton’s gone off on his exotic travels leaving his dragon to be looked after by Mum and Edward Smith – Pickle…with very few instructions. This book maybe short, but it is jam-packed full of very funny situations on every page. The story's told by a series of emails from Edward to his Uncle looking for advice on how to handle a troublesome dragon - who's busy trashing their house. Garry Parsons illustrations help tell a simple story in a really engaging way. I was really pleased this book was on the short list as it genuinely made me laugh!’
- Liz Pichon

Dark Lord: The Teenage Years by Jamie Thomson, illustrated by Freya Hartas

‘It’s a brilliant concept: mighty power crushed – suddenly – into a human teenage boy. I can’t actually remember any of the details as I read it so fast, but I will go back and savour it a second time. It made me read as if I were a child again, which is obviously the best way to read’
-    Lucy Mangan

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams, illustrated by Tony Ross

‘This story got you hooked straight away – with the supposedly dull granny having a secret life as a jewel thief. It’s a complete page turner and very easy to read, with plenty of humour that both adults and children will find funny. I think the characters will also appeal to both girls as boys. And in the best tradition of Roald Dahl books, the illustrations by Tony Ross are brilliant and full of additional humour – especially granny.’
-    Liz Pichon

Goblins by Philip Reeve, illustrated by Dave Semple

‘I really didn’t expect it to be so funny, I thought it was just going to be a boysy quest book. So it surprised me by just how incredibly funny it was, how the humour was woven in throughout the book – it really crept up on you. On top of that it was very well written and genuinely gripping – the fact that it was also funny was a great bonus. From the first page this book is both brilliant and clever.’
 -       Ed Vere

Socks Are Not Enough by Mark Lowery

‘This is a book that is both rude and about rudeness – it’s stuff to do with bodies. It’s about a boy that’s bothered about his body – and guess what happens to him? His parents become nudists. What could be worse? I thought this was a clever, funny, serious book.’
-    Michael Rosen

Read about what the judges thought of the books shortlisted for the 0-6 category

Take a look at what our judges got up to on a day out at the Roald Dahl Museum