Scholastic UK have announced the shortlist for the 2025 Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (The Lollies).

The Lollies celebrate the funniest children’s books published in the UK and Ireland and this year there were four award categories:

• Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book
• Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 6-8
• Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 9-12
• Best Laugh Out Loud Book Non-Fiction

The shortlisted titles were chosen by an expert panel chaired by Michael Rosen, who has been Lollies Head Judge since the awards were set up. The winners, however, will be chosen by thousands of young readers across the country. Voting closes in the autumn and teachers can register their pupils’ votes on the Lollies website.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Rachel Partridge, Scholastic Group Marketing & PR and Schools Commercial Director said: ‘We are proud to be playing a part in supporting the discoverability of great books, particularly as the industry looks for ways to meet kids where they are and get more of them reading. I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of our judges, especially Michael Rosen, our Lollies Ambassador since the beginning whose support for funny books shines as bright as ever.’

A Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report (UK Edition) revealed that two thirds of children aged 6-17 choose ‘books that make me laugh’ as their top pick when reading for pleasure.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators!

Lollies 2025: Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Book

Spyceratops by Alex Willmore (Farshore)

The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat by Em Lynas, illustrated by Matt Hunt (Nosy Crow)

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom by Beach (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

There’s Nothing Faster Than a Cheetah by Tom Nicoll, illustrated by Ross Collins (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Lollies 2025 Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 6-8

Grimwood: Attack of the Stink Monster! by Nadia Shireen (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Keisha Jones Takes on the World by Natalie Denny, illustrated by Chanté Timothy (Little Tiger)

The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams: Big Berry Robbery by Shane Hegarty, illustrated by Jeff Crowther (Hodder Children’s Books)

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger: Toxic Takedown by Olaf Falafel (Puffin)

Lollies 2025 Best Laugh Out Loud Book Ages 9-12

Evil Emperor Penguin: The World Will Be Mine! by Laura Ellen Anderson (DFB Phoenix)

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye (Faber & Faber)

Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express by Gareth P. Jones, illustrated by Louise Forshaw (Little Tiger)

The Boss of Everyone! by Danny Wallace, illustrated by Gemma Correll (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Lollies 2025 Best Laugh Out Loud Book Non-Fiction

Would You Rather? Ancient Romans by Clive Gifford, illustrated by Tim Wesson (Red Shed)

Comic Strip Science: Physics by Paul Mason, illustrated by Jess Bradley (Wayland)

Funny Beasts by Paul Mason, illustrated by Tony De Saulles (Wayland)

Kay’s Incredible Inventions by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker (Puffin)

The winners of the Lollies 2025 will be revealed at a ceremony on 4th December – look out for our winner announcement!