Booktrust is delighted to announce the second Roald Dahl Funny Prize.
Founded by Michael Rosen as part of his work as Children's Laureate 2007-09, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize is the first prize of its kind – founded to honour those books that simply make us laugh.
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize aims to:
> promote laughter and humour as a feel-good factor when reading, by encouraging families to read together and discover the pleasure of humorous (funny) books. This in turn will reinforce the message that reading together promotes family well-being.
> draw attention to funny books as readable and enjoyable books. We hope that the prize will enable these books to gain a profile that makes them more accessible to children and young people. The prize will work to achieve this through a range of activities supported by libraries, teachers and parents.
> reward and encourage authors (and illustrators) who write and illustrate books using humour in their stories, poetry and fiction. By creating these awards we hope to promote a vibrant area of publishing often overlooked by other awards.
2009 prize
The shortlists were announced on Monday 7 September 2009.
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 by Sam Lloyd (Orchard Books)
The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, illus. Bruce Ingman (Walker Books)
The funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen
The Galloping Ghost by Hilda Offen (Catnip Publishing)
Eating Things on Sticks by Anne Fine, illus. Kate Aldous (Doubleday)
Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky 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)
Download the press release (Microsoft Word doc.283 Kb)
Judges
The 2009 prize will be judged by comedian Bill Bailey, illustrator Mini Grey, author Louise Rennison, Michael Rosen (Chair) and author Andy Stanton, one of last year's winners.
Find out more about the judges
Bill Bailey commented: ‘I am very much looking forward to joining the judging panel for this unique prize. I have always been drawn to Roald Dahl’s brilliant dark humour and his surreal inventiveness, and I will endeavour to judge this prize with those qualities in mind.'
Michael Rosen, Chair of judges, said: 'People always want to know of funny books for children. There's always a birthday or a Christmas present to be thinking about, there's always a long journey, there are always wet days on holiday. But where are the funny books?
'They're here! At the Roald Dahl Funny Prize! We choose the top six funny books for the youngest and same again for the older children and then two outright winners from the twelve. It's a feast of laughs and giggles for everyone. I'm over the moon to be one of the judges again.'
Read the press release about the launch of the prize (Microsoft Word .doc 300Kb)
Prize administration
Prize information
Tarryn McKay
t 020 8516 2972
e tarryn@booktrust.org.uk
Press enquiries
Katherine Solomon
t 020 8875 4583
e katherine.solomon@booktrust.org.uk
