We love rib-ticklingly funny books and we're very very excited to see the shortlist for the 2016 Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (known affectionately as "The Lollies").

Voting is still open for another couple of months so you've got plenty of time to get your kids - and their schools - involved with this brilliant book award.

There's plenty of information available on the Scholastic Lollies Website: https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies but here are some very talented little munchkins to give you a heads up:


The shortlist is broken into several age categories - so here's the list (with some links through to our reviews of these awesome books):

Picture Book Shortlist: 

Hoot Owl - Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien (Walker Books)






Gracie Grabbit and the Tiger by Helen Stephens (Scholastic)







I Need a Wee! by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (Simon and Schuster)







Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross (Andersen Children's Books)








6-8 Years Shortlist


Badly Drawn Beth by Jem Packer and Duncan McCoshan (Orchard Books)









The Jolley-Rogers and the Cave of Doom by Jonny Duddle (Templar)








Wilf the Mighty Worrier saves the World by Georgia Pritchett and Jamie Littler (Quercus)








Thorfinn the Nicest Viking and the Awful Invasion by David McPhail and Richard Morgan (Little Kelpies)







9-13 Years Shortlist (which we'll be covering in more detail in an upcoming special Chapter Book roundup!)

Danger is Everywhere by David O'Doherty and Chris Judge (Puffin)











The Parent Agency by David Baddiel and Jim Field (HarperCollins Children's Books)










Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco by Ruth Fitzgerald (Little, Brown)











Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon by Pamela Butchart (Nosy Crow)










It's a heck of a brilliant list isn't it. Get involved by visiting the Scholastic Lollies Web Page, read some of the titles with your class and school (or even on your own) and vote your socks off!

Catch up with our post on 16th May where we round-up those gorgeous 9-13 Years titles in a more in-depth set of mini reviews but most importantly GET VOTING!

Be prepared to fall head over heels in love with a rather adorable little doggy! "Oliver and Patch" is a delightful tale about a little boy who spots a little lost dog wandering the streets of a busy metropolis. Oliver and Patch hit it off as soon as they set eyes on each other, but Patch's owner is nowhere to be seen. Oliver decides to take the super-cute little dog under his wing, taking him home for warm cuddles and a slap-up meal

Patch and Oliver become firm friends but one day when they're out for a walk, Patch spots someone in the distance and runs after them. What will Oliver do if he has to give up his new best friend to a complete stranger, a rather forlorn little girl?

We devoured this book. It is an utter joy to read, beautifully melancholy in places but with a heart-soaring conclusion that makes you want to cry and cheer at the same time. We loved seeing Claire Freedman put the underpants down for a mo to come up with a truly lovely tale, and Kate Hindley's illustrations are utterly wondrous from start to finish. If anyone wants us to dog-sit patch for the weekend, we'll definitely be up for that!

Charlotte's best bit: She kept talking about how CUTE patch was, and how she wanted a Patch of her own (er, not a chance sayeth mummy!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: Touching and lovely storytelling, super-sweet illustrations in just the sort of style we absolutely adore. A doggy-treat of a book that's destined to become well loved!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

Like this? We think you'll love these too!

Monsters Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort

How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson and Kate Hindley