Roald Dahl Funny PrizeA prize for books that simply make children laugh, founded by Michael Rosen as part of his Children's Laureateship, has attracted a strong shortlist of highly regarded and well-established children's authors as the comedian David Walliams with his debut novel.
 
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize judges are comedian Bill Bailey, author, founder and Chair Michael Rosen, author and illustrator Mini Grey, author Louise Rennison and author and winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2008 Andy Stanton.

The winner of each category will receive £2,500, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in London on 10 November 2009.
 
The shortlists:

The Funniest Book for Children aged six and under:
 
The Great Dog Bottom Swapfunnyprize-shortlist 
by Peter Bently, illus. Mei Matsuoka (Andersen Press)

Octopus Socktopusfunnyprize-shortlist
by Nick Sharratt (Alison Green Books)

Elephant Joe is a Spaceman!funnyprize-shortlist
by David Wojtowycz (Alison Green Books)

Crocodiles are the Best Animals of Allfunnyprize-shortlist
by Sean Taylor, illus. Hannah Shaw (Frances Lincoln)

Mr.Pusskins Best in Show (Mr Pusskins)funnyprize-shortlist
by Sam Lloyd (Orchard Books)

The Pencilfunnyprize-shortlist
by Allan Ahlberg, illus. Bruce Ingman (Walker Books)
 
The Funniest Book for Children aged seven to 14

The Galloping Ghost: 0funnyprize-shortlist
by Hilda Offen (Catnip Publishing)

Eating Things on Sticksfunnyprize-shortlist
by Anne Fine, illus. Kate Aldous (Doubleday)

Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky (Grubtown Tales)funnyprize-shortlist
by Philip Ardagh, illus. Jim Paillot (Faber and Faber)

The Boy in the Dressfunnyprize-shortlist
by David Walliams, illus. Quentin Blake (HarperCollins)

Purple Class and the Half-eaten Sweaterfunnyprize-shortlist
by Sean Taylor, illus. Helen Bate (Frances Lincoln)

Ribblestropfunnyprize-shortlist
by Andy Mulligan (Simon & Schuster)

All these books are available from Amazon. To order a copy just click the title.