Congratulations to Jamie Smart who picked up two awards at this year’s Laugh Out Loud Awards (Lollies). As well as being named the year’s Best Laugh Out Loud Illustrator, his comic book Bunny vs Monkey: Machine Mayhem (David Fickling Books) was also voted the Best Laugh Out Loud Book in the 6-8 category.

Run by Scholastic UK, the Lollies celebrate the best and funniest children’s books published in the UK and Ireland across seven different categories. While the shortlists were selected by a panel of writers, illustrators, teachers and book experts, the winners were chosen by thousands of young readers across the country.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Lollies Head Judge Michael Rosen said: ‘This is the moment when you can boost children’s love of reading: a brand new tranche of funny books, hitting the button, triggering giggles and laughs. Unmissable!’

Catherine Bell, m.d. of Scholastic UK, said: ‘We are so delighted to see another out-pouring of love and admiration for funny books. We know from our own research that 63% of children would self-select a funny book as a read for pleasure title and in a world where we are experiencing a reading crisis, celebrating the books that children really want to read can only be a good thing. Long live the Lollies and long live the amazing authors and illustrators delivering these fabulous books.’

Congratulations to all this year’s winners!

Category Winners

Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award: I Did See a Mammoth! by Alex Willmore (Farshore).

Best Laugh Out Loud  Book Ages 6-8: Bunny vs Monkey: Machine Mayhem! by Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books).

Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 9-12: How to Survive Time Travel by Larry Hayes, illustrated by Katie Abey (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books UK).

Best Laugh Out Loud Teen Book: You’re Not the Boss of Me! by Catherine Wilkins (Nosy Crow).

Best Laugh Out Loud Poetry Book: The Gecko and the Echo by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field (Orchard Books).

Best Laugh Out Loud Non-Fiction Book: Cats: Understanding Your Whiskered Friend by Dr John Bradshaw, illustrated by Clare Elsom (Andersen Press)

Laugh Out Loud Illustrator of the Year: Jamie Smart.

Find out more about the Laugh Out Loud Awards and how your school can get involved.