Scholastic’s Lollies 2025 shortlist revealed

Scholastic UK has revealed its shortlist for the 2025 Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (The Lollies). The awards celebrate the funniest children’s books across four categories: Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book, Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 6-8, Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 9-12 and Best Laugh Out Loud Book Non-Fiction.

The Lollies shortlist is chosen by an expert panel led by the founding Lollies judge and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. This year, he was joined by screenwriter Archie Maddocks, author and podcaster Alison Perry and librarian and marketer for specialist children’s book suppliers Sheila Wood. The winners are voted for by children in school or at home across the nation.

The Lollies Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 4th December at London’s Southbank Centre. It will be hosted by actor and comedian Stephen Mangan and promises to be an evening “filled with laughter”.

Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report: UK Edition, revealed that two thirds of children aged six to17 choose “books that make me laugh” as their top pick when reading for pleasure, demonstrating the importance of celebrating funny books.

Rachel Partridge, group marketing and PR and schools commercial director said: “It’s now unbelievably 10 years since we first launched The Lollies. In that time, we have celebrated the most outstanding author and illustrator talent on the shortlists but, more importantly, the awards have acted as a signpost to some of the best books to excite and engage kids via our schools’ channels where we support the shortlists.

“We are proud to be playing a part in supporting the discoverability of great books, particularly as the industry looks for ways to meet kids where they are and get more of them reading. I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of our judges, especially Michael Rosen, our Lollies Ambassador since the beginning whose support for funny books shines as bright as ever.” 

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