The shortlists for The Lollies, have been announced. Celebrating the funniest children’s books, The Lollies Award shortlists are chosen by an expert judging panel led by Michael Rosen and the winners are voted for by children.

With the National Year of Reading on the horizon, funny books have consistently topped the list of books that kids find joy in and would choose for themselves. Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report: UK Edition revealed that nearly two thirds of kids aged 6–17 chose ‘books that make me laugh’ as their top pick when reading for pleasure.

This year, The Lollies will celebrate four categories – Picture Books, Fiction 6-8 years, Fiction 9-12 years and Non-fiction.

The Lollies judging panel was led by founding Lollies judge and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. This year, Michael was joined by Archie Maddocks, Olivier award-nominated and Offie-winning screenwriter, playwright, and stand-up comedian who has adapted Alex Wheatle’s Crongton Knights for television; Alison Perry, author, content creator and podcaster with Not Another Mummy Podcast; and Sheila Wood, Chartered Librarian and marketer for specialist children’s book suppliers to schools and public libraries.

The shortlists for each category are:

Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book

Spyceratops by Alex Willmore (Farshore)

The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat by Em Lynas and Matt Hunt (Nosy Crow)

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom by Beach (Simon & Schuster Childrens Books)

There’s Nothing Faster Than a Cheetah by Tom Nicoll and Ross Collins (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 6–8

Grimwood: Attack of the Stink Monster by Nadia Shireen (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Keisha Jones Takes on the World by Natalie Denny and Chanté Timothy (Little Tiger)

The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams: Big Berry Robbery by Shane Hegarty and Jeff Crowther (Hodder Children’s Books)

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger: Toxic Takedown by Olaf Falafel (Puffin)

Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 9–12

Evil Emperor Penguin: The World Will Be Mine! by Laura Ellen Anderson (David Fickling Books)

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye (Faber Children’s)

Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express by Gareth P. Jones and Louise Forshaw (Little Tiger)

The Boss of Everyone! by Danny Wallace and Gemma Correll (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Best Laugh Out Loud Book – Non Fiction

Would You Rather? Ancient Romans by Clive Gifford and Tim Wesson (Red Shed)

Comic Strip Science: Physics by Paul Mason and Jess Bradley (Wayland)

Funny Beasts by Paul Mason and Tony De Saulles (Wayland)

Kay’s Incredible Inventions by Adam Kay and Henry Paker (Puffin)

Rachel Partridge, Group Marketing & PR and Schools Commercial Director said, ‘It’s 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 and whose support for funny books shines as bright as ever.’

The winners will be announced on Thursday 4 December at London’s Southbank Centre in The Lollies Awards Ceremony, hosted by Stephen Mangan.