Funniest Books for Kids
...2009 ROALD DAHL FUNNY PRIZE WINNERS
Along with his fellow judges, Andy Stanton, one of last year's winners of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, read 160 children's books to arrive at two shortlists of six books each for this year's award, the Guardian reported.

"We've come up with a great mix, from well-known names to debut authors." said Stanton. " We were looking for something which makes you laugh--you can get caught up weighing the books against Roald Dahl, which is a pretty high standard to live up to. We wanted the books to make us laugh, and to be in the right sphere of excellence." The finalists:

Funniest book for children aged six and under:
1. THE GREAT DOG BOTTOM SWAP by Peter Bently, illustrated by Mei Matsuoka
2. OCTOPUS SOCKTOPUS by Nick Sharratt
3. ELEPHANT JOE IS A SPACEMAN! by David Wojtowycz
4. CROCODILES ARE THE BEST ANIMALS OF ALL! by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Hannah Shaw
5. MR PUSSKINS BEST IN SHOW by Sam Lloyd
6. THE PENCIL by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingman

 The funniest book for children aged 7 to 14:
1. THE GALLOPING GHOST by Hilda Offen
2. EATING THINGS ON STICKS by Anne Fine, illustrated by Kate Aldous
3. GRUBERTOWN TALES: STINKING RICH AND JUST PLAIN STINKY by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Jim Paillot
4. THE BOY IN THE DRESS by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake
5. PURPLE CLASS AND THE HALF EATEN SWEATER by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Helen Bate
6. RIBBLESTROP by Andy Mulligan