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50-year-old bear from darkest Peru in running for funniest book prize
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent8 Sep 2008
The funniest books for children are named today in a new prize in memory of Roald Dahl.
The latest Paddington story from Michael Bond, now 82, joins books by many of the star authors of children's fiction on the shortlists.
Titles in the books for ages six and under category include Stick Man, who lives with his Stick Lady Love and their three stick children. It is the new title from The Gruffalo creator, Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Sheffler.
Others are Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt, The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers, The Witch's Children Go To School by Ursula Jones, There's An Ouch In My Pouch! by Jeanne Willis and Manfred The Baddie by John Fardell.
Paddington Here And Now, which marks the 50th birthday of the marmalade sandwich-eating bear from Peru, is a contender for the funniest book for children aged seven to 14.
Its rivals include Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, who has also produced screenplays for films including 24 Hour Party People and The Claim.
Louise Rennison gets a nod with Stop In The Name Of Pants! the latest story in the life of teenager Georgia Nicolson - who has been immortalised on screen by Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha in Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging.
The final books in the category are Mr Gum And The Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, Aliens Don't Eat Dog Food by Dinah Capparucci and Urgum And The Goo Goo Bah! by Kjartan Poskitt.
Dahl's granddaughter Sophie, one of the judges, said: "The one common thread all the books on the shortlist share that is they're quirky and funny - properly tears-in-eyes, wheezing, sneezing, snorting funny in the grand tradition of the man the prize is named for."
The prize is organised by the Children's Laureate, the Booktrust charity and the Dahl estate. Winners will receive £2,500 each at a ceremony in London on 13 November.
