Roald Dahl Funny Prize winners announced

This year's awards for the funniest books for children go to Jamie Thomson and Rebecca Patterson

Jamie won the category for funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen with Dark Lord: Teenage Years, the story of a dark lord who inhabits the body of a chubby teenager. The category of funniest book for children under six was won by author and illustrator Rebecca for My Big Shouting Day, a picture book about toddler tantrums.

Both winners receive £2,500.

Chair of judges Michael Rosen, who set up the prize, commented: 'I'm very proud of the fact that this is the fifth year of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, an award I cooked up when I was Children's Laureate in order to celebrate books that make  children laugh. That's five years worth of books which are written with fun and enjoyment in mind. We know that reading for pleasure is an engine for attainment and achievement in all walks of life. Children, parents, teachers, librarians and all concerned with reading can find a rich vein of books for all ages in the back lists of this Prize, and this year's shortlists and winners are engaging, fascinating and above all, very funny.’

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