In its fifth year, the Booktrust prize aims to reward authors and artists who write and illustrate their books using humour.
My Big Shouting Day, written and illustrated by Rebecca Patterson, was chosen by judges including former children’s laureate Michael Rosen, as the funniest book for children aged six and under. The Dark Lord: Teenage Years by Jamie Thomson and illustrated by Freya Hartas won the seven-to-14 category.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Unicorn Theatre in London yesterday (Tuesday 6 November), where they each received a prize of £2,500.
Commenting on the winning book for the six and under category, journalist and author Lucy Mangan, who was on the judging panel, said, ‘It just made me laugh and laugh. Who hasn’t had - or, if you're a wretched grown up who is supposed to keep control of herself at all times, at least wanted to have - a big shouting day? Who hasn’t just wanted to go to pieces when faced with "the terrible egg" or toothpaste that is just too minty? And then it has the lovely ending, when our heroine is exhausted and overcome with remorse but wakes up to a better day tomorrow.’
This year’s prize saw schools across the country involved in the judging process. Over 500 pupils from across the UK were selected to read the shortlisted titles and pick their favourite. Their votes were combined with those of the adult judging panel.
The other books which made the shortlist for the Funniest Book for Children aged six and under were:
- The Baby that Roared by Simon Puttock, illustrated by Nadia Shireen
- Oh No George! By Rebecca Patterson
- The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle
- Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
- The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
