Rosen judges Dahl funny book prize
Michael Rosen, Visiting Professor of Children's Literature, leads the judges of this year's Roald Dahl's Funny Prize for children's books.
Michael Rosen, Birkbeck’s Visiting Professor of Children’s Literature, led a panel of children’s authors and illustrators to judge this year’s Roald Dahl’s Funny Prize for children’s books. This year 400 school children also choose their favourite book from the shortlist. Their votes were combined with those of the adult judges to decide the winning titles which were announced in London on November 8.
Rosen said that the two winning books - Cats Ahoy! by Peter Bently and Jim Field and Liz Pichon’s The Brilliant World of Tom Gates - were ‘masterclasses in how to write and how to draw funny.’
Cats Ahoy! won the funniest book for children aged six and under and is a tale of ghostly pirate cats getting the better of cowardly humans. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, winner in the seven to 14 category, will appeal, in Rosen’s words, to ‘anyone who doodles, likes to wind up their sibling, [and] has a serious caramel wafer habit…’
Michael Rosen co-directs the MA in Children’s Literature and the MA in Children’s Literature and writing at Birkbeck, University of London.
Michael Rosen’s website