Roald Dahl Funny Prize winners

Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011 winners announced

The Roald Dahl Funny Prize celebrates the best in funny literature for children in memory of one of the most inventive and humorous of children’s authors.

This year the two winners who had the judges clutching their sides were Cats Ahoy! by Peter Bently in the six years and under category, and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon in the seven to 14 age group. The winner in each category wins £2,500.

Winners of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Authors Liz Pichon, Peter Bently and Jim Field. Photo: Booktrust.

Bently’s book tells the tale of Alfonso the cat as he plots to secure a boat-load of fish to eat. With its rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, this book is perfect for reading out loud to small children.

Pichon creates the world of Tom Gates as a homework diary and follows his home and school life from disastrous camping trips, to dealing with his teacher Mr Fullerman and parents’ evening. Each page is an explosion of hand-written rants, funny stories and dynamic cartoons which will keep children gripped as they witness Tom’s life and times.
[See also: A retrospective of our favourite children's books]

Michael Rosen created the Prize in 2008 with the Book Trust, as part of his Children’s Laureate work. The Prize aims to reward those authors and artists who write and illustrate their books using humour in their fiction and poetry.