The winners of the 2023 Laugh Out Loud Awards (Lollies) have been announced! Launched in 2016, the Lollies celebrate the best and funniest children’s books published in the UK and Ireland. This year saw the addition of four new award categories, bringing the total number of categories to seven.

The shortlists were chosen by a panel of writers, illustrators, teachers and book experts but the winners were voted for by thousands of young readers across the country, with over 11,000 votes cast. Many of the young voters joined the online ceremony on Thursday 13th July to hear the winner announcements and enjoy performances from Head Judge Michael Rosen, best-selling author/illustrator duo Stephen and Anita Mangan, and author/illustrator Sarah Bowie.

Congratulations to all this year’s winners!

Category Winners

Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award: Wee? It Wasn’t Me! by Clare Helen Welsh, illustrated by Nicola O’Byrne (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Laugh Out Loud Ages 6-9 Award: A Monster Ate My Packed Lunch by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Thomas Flintham (Nosy Crow)

Laugh Out Loud Ages 9-12 Award: The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter (Scholastic)

Laugh Out Loud Teen Award: Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (Andersen Press)

Laugh Out Loud Poetry Award: Yapping Away by Joshua Seigal (Bloomsbury Education)

Laugh Out Loud Non-Fiction Award: Unleash Your Creative Monster: A Children’s Guide to Writing by Andy Jones, illustrated by Olaf Falafel (Walker Books)

Laugh Out Loud Illustrator of the Year: Dapo Adeola

Find out more about the Laugh Out Loud Awards and how your school can get involved in next year’s awards.