The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

Children's books win Funny Prize

13.11.08 Katie Allen

Two books about witches and dancing bears have been awarded the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which was announced today by Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen.

For children aged six and under, the winning book was The Witch’s Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, illustrated by Russell Ayto (Orchard Books). For children aged seven to 14, the winning book was Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Egmont Press).   

The prize was launched this year to “promote laughter and humour as a feel-good factor when reading, by encouraging families to read together”. The winning authors received £2,500 each. The judges were author Sophie Dahl, comedian Dara O’Briain, author Kaye Umansky and author and political cartoonist Chris Riddell; the panel was chaired by Rosen.

The other shortlisted titles were:

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Alison Green Books)
Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt (Alison Green Books)
The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
There’s an Ouch in My Pouch! by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Garry Parsons (Puffin Books)
Manfred the Baddie by John Fardell (Quercus Books)

For children aged seven to 14:

Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond, illustrated by R W Alley (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Aliens Don’t Eat Dog Food by Dinah Capparucci (Scholastic Children’s Books)
Urgum and the Goo Goo Bah! by Kjartan Poskitt, illustrated by Philip Reeve - Scholastic Children’s Books)

Prizes children's Michael Rosen Katie Allen Roald Dahl Funny Prize

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