Walliams nominated for children's book prize

'Little Britain' star David Walliams has been nominated for a top children’s book prize for a second year running, it was announced today.

Fri, 17 Sep, 2010 - 08:42

'Little Britain' star David Walliams has been nominated for a top children’s book prize for a second year running, it was announced today.

The comic’s latest kid’s title 'Mr Stink' – about a child that befriends a whiffy tramp – is in the running for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which is awarded to humorous tales.

It is one of six titles up for the seven to 14-year-old category, which will be awarded on November 1 with a prize of £2,500 (€3,000).

A further six books compete for the six and under category, with a panel of judges including comedian Shappi Khorsandi and previous winner Philip Ardagh, known for his Grubtown Tales.

Illustrator Quentin Blake has a double reason to celebrate today’s shortlists as his book 'Angelica Sprocket’s Pockets' is up for the younger category, and he has also provided the artwork for Walliams’s entry.

Blake was also the artist for almost all the children’s books by late author Roald Dahl, after whom the prize is named.

Also making the shortlists are 'One Smart Fish' – a book about evolution for young readers which recently won the Booktrust Early Years Award – and a sci-fi tale about Einstein’s old undies.

Khorsandi said: “Reading the very high standard of children’s books reminded me how I came to love reading in the first place.”

Award founder and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen said: “What a bumper crop of fantastically funny stories we’ve had from both age categories. If you want giggles, laughs, roars and riots these are the books for you and your children.”

The shortlisted books are as follows:

Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under:

:: 'Angelica Sprocket’s Pockets' – Quentin Blake

:: 'Dogs Don’t Do Ballet' – Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

:: 'Dog Loves Books' – Louise Yates

:: 'The Nanny Goat’s Kid' – Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross

:: 'One Smart Fish' – Chris Wormell

:: 'The Scariest Monster in the World' – Lee Weatherly, illustrated by Algy Craig Hall

The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to 14:

:: 'The Clumsies Make a Mess' – Sorrel Anderson, illustrated by Nicola Slater

:: 'Einstein’s Underpants and How They Saved the World' – Anthony McGowan

:: 'The Incredible Luck of Alfie Pluck' – Jamie Rix, illustrated by Craig Shuttlewood