Vote LOL!

There’s no nicer sound than a child’s hearty chuckle. And after the horrible events of the last couple of weeks, we could all do with savouring that precious sound.

If you want to enjoy a lighthearted story your little one, the 12 books shortlisted for the 2017 Laugh Out Loud Awards are just the thing.

The Lollies as they are affectionately known were launched last year by publisher Scholastic and the awards celebrate the funniest children’s literature out there.

The shortlist was picked by a judging panel which included former Children’s Laureate Michel Rosen. But the ultimate winners in the three award categories are chosen by children and their parents.

So if you fancy exercising your democratic right this week, head to scholastic.co.uk/lollies and cast your vote. 

The winners will be revealed at the start of 2018.

Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book

Oi Dog by Kes Gray and Jim Field (Hodder Children’s Books)

Eat Your People by Lou Kuenzler and David Wojtowycz (Orchard Books) 

Prince of Pants by Alan Macdonald and Sarah McIntyre (Scholastic) 

Danny McGee Drinks the Sea by Andy Stanton and Neal Layton (Hodder Children’s Books)

Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 6-8 year olds

Thimble Monkey Superstar by Jon Blake and Martin Chatterton (Firefly Press)

Hamish and the Neverpeople by Danny Wallace and Jamie Littler (Simon and Schuster)

Eddy Stone and the Epic Holiday Mash-Up by Simon Cherry (Usborne)

Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom Noms by Jim Smith (Egmont)

Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9-13 year olds

I Don’t Like Poetry by Joshua Seigal (Bloomsbury)

The Best Medicine by Christine Hamil (Little Island Books)

My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord by David Solomons and Laura Ellen Anderson (Nosy Crow)

AniMalcolm by David Baddiel and Jim Field (Harper Collins)