[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-roald-dahl-funny-prize-ceremony-2013":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Going as a judge to the Roald Dahl Funny Prize was a perfect excuse to dress up like a loony. But a perfectly colour-coordinated loony! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_sarah_seawigs_zps20b21de9-1f52f50a64.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/519986.html\">Last year\u003C/a>, Booktrust held the ceremony at the Unicorn Theatre, but this year, we got to hold it on the amazing stage set at the Cambridge Theatre for the \u003Ca href=\"http://uk.matildathemusical.com/\">\u003Ci>Matilda\u003C/i>\u003C/a> musical. Very appropriate! Here's former Children's Laureate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.michaelrosen.co.uk/\">Michael Rosen\u003C/a> giving the introduction. (You can see earlier photos from our \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/592209.html\">Judges' Meeting here\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_judges_onscreen_zps7c00fe8c-1b73c8617f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis photo's by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Loogiburoogi\">Mike Richards\u003C/a> and I apologise to any people sitting behind my enormous hair.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_Loogiburoogi_zpse82ddc02-808873c5fd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere we go, all the shortlisted writers and illustrators! Let's see, I might need some help here identifying them all. In the chair on the left is \u003Cb>Michael Rosen\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Philip Ardagh\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>The Grunts All at Sea\u003C/i>), and from left: \u003Cb>Pete Johnson\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>My Parents are Out of Control\u003C/i>, \u003Cb>Jim Smith\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>I am Still Not a Loser\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Mark Chambers\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Noisy Bottoms\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Holly Smale\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Geek Girl\u003C/i>, \u003Cb>Simon Rickerty\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Monkey Nuts\u003C/i>, \u003Cb>Jamie Smart\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>The DFC Library: Fish-Head Steve\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Elys Dolan\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Weasels\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Lee Wildish\u003C/b> & \u003Cb>Charlotte Guillaine\u003C/b> & \u003Cb>Adam Guillaine\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Spaghetti with the Yeti\u003C/i>), in the right armchair: \u003Cb>Sara Ogilvie\u003C/b> & \u003Cb>Amy Sparkes \u003C/b>(\u003Ci>Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo!\u003C/i>) and on the floor from left: \u003Cb>Mark Lowery\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Pants are Everything\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Axel Scheffler\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>The Grunts All at Sea\u003C/i>), \u003Cb>Leigh Hodgikinson\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Troll Swap\u003C/i>). You can find out  more about all of these fine folk and their books over \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes/4\">on the Booktrust awards page\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_shortlist_zps7be83bea-f78cfb8a4e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for more under the cut!-->\\r\nAnd our wonderful presenter was \u003Cb>Melanie La Barrie\u003C/b>, the librarian from \u003Ci>Matilda\u003C/i>! Melanie announced the prizes, going to \u003Cb>Simon Rickerty for \u003Ci>Monkey Nut\u003C/i> and Jim Smith for \u003Ci>I am Still Not a Loser\u003C/i>\u003C/b>. Congratulations, guys! Both wrote and illustrated their books, and there's a wonderful sense of unity in both books between the pictures and text; they very much work together and both rely completely on their illustrations to be funny. Simon's book features two spidery blob characters who play and fight with a peanut, has unexpected twists and ends with excellent headgear. Jim's book made me laugh out loud with its diagram of a dog's bum pushing out a 'hoverpoo' and a picture of how old people's mouths and noses look when they kiss.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_librarian_zpse0f4918a-f350b70dc5.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe were treated to an excellent performance of snippets from Dahl's stories by kids from \u003Ca href=\"http://www.newchurchprimaryschool.co.uk/\">Newchurch Primary School\u003C/a>, who'd come all the way from the Isle of Wight:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_school_zpsba466a8c-06bf547c34.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI manage to nab a photo of Fish-Head Steve (I mean, Jamie Smart) after he'd been mobbed by kids with autograph books:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fishhead_steve_zpse1bd069c-d01abafa2f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's \u003Cb>Liz Pichon\u003C/b>, writer-illustrator of the amazing \u003Ci>Tom Gates\u003C/i> books, and \u003Cb>Holly Smale\u003C/b> (\u003Ci>Geek Girl\u003C/i>), who'd brought her grandad as her plus-one guest! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_pichon_grandad_smale_zpsc8877d1b-b51211a32a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's \u003Cb>Leigh Hodgkinson\u003C/b>, writer-illustrator of \u003Ci>Troll Swap\u003C/i>, the book I raved about in my \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/608760.html\">Christmas Top 20 prezzies list\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_leigh_hodgkinson_zps8c902f36-2f270d75d7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's fellow judge \u003Cb>Jamie Thomson\u003C/b> (the \u003Ci>Dark Lord\u003C/i>'s minion) with \u003Cb>Joe Berger\u003C/b>, who draws the funny \u003Ci>Berger & Wyse\u003C/i> cartoon in \u003Ci>The Guardian Weekend\u003C/i>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_jamie_joe_zpscd6f9139-3a9bb68a66.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI had fun introducing these two fine gents as 'my men', as I'm doing books with both of them: \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> with \u003Cb>Philip Reeve\u003C/b> (already out) and \u003Ci>Jampires\u003C/i> picture book with \u003Cb>David O'Connell\u003C/b>, launching in October. (Dave also writes and illustrates the \u003Ci>Monster and Chips\u003C/i> books.) Philip's \u003Ci>Goblins\u003C/i> book was shortlisted for last year's Funny Prize (which you can read about \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/519986.html\">here\u003C/a>). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_phil_sarah_dave_zpsda2dd59e-cf75308e7a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cb>Julia Eccleshare\u003C/b> from \u003Ci>The Guardian\u003C/i>, Booktrust's \u003Cb>Viv Bird\u003C/b>, and my Scholastic publicist \u003Cb>Penelope Beech\u003C/b>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_eccles_bird_birch_zps27356431-7e92961390.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's fiery writer-illustrator \u003Cb>Babette Cole\u003C/b>, who proves it's not all about size:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_babette_cole_zps9be46537-1f22ce7a78.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nYou can read about the Roald Dahl Funny Prize ceremony over on the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25330571\">the BBC website\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookprizes/10505536/Roald-Dahl-Funny-Prize-2013-winners-announced.html\">The Telegraph\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/books-dahlprize-idINL6N0JP37P20131210\">Reuters\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/dec/10/roald-dahl-funny-prize-2013\">The Guardian\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebookseller.com/news/smith-and-rickerty-win-roald-dahl-funny-prizes.html\">The Bookseller\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\nAfter the ceremony, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/scholasticuk\">Scholastic UK\u003C/a> took David O'Connell (my plus-one guest), Philip Reeve, Liz Pichon and a bunch more of us out for afternoon tea at the Covent Garden Hotel. Here's shortlisted \u003Cb>Mark Lowery\u003C/b> with his partner. (Mark's such a lovely guy; I did an event with him at \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/567259.html\">last year's Hay Festival\u003C/a> and he's very kind as well as funny.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tea_mark_lowery_zps0642a0c1-b4362ad2c9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's my wonderful Scholastic designer, \u003Cb>Rebecca Essilifie\u003C/b>! I love working with this woman.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tea_essilifie_me_zps15d2fa4b-a535070011.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMORE CAKE, MCINTYRE? I'm worried this is going to become my new name. Carrots and water in January, oh yes.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tea_mcintyre_reeve_zps9722f7af-3ac7dd80e1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn the evening, quite a lot of us went on to the \u003Ca href=\"http://nosycrow.com/\">Nosy Crow\u003C/a> Christmas party at their offices. I'm not actually published by Nosy Crow, but they don't tell me to go away when I show up at their fab parties, so I am very grateful to them. (I think I was technically Philip Reeve's plus-one; he goes way back with MD Kate Wilson from \u003Ci>Mortal Engines\u003C/i> Scholastic days.) \u003Cb>Philip Ardagh\u003C/b> decided he needed fancy headgear, too. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/nosycrow_ardagh_me_zps53a9d638-b08e37e86b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nA selfie with Michael Thorn from \u003Ca href=\"http://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/nosy-crow-party/\">Achuka book blog\u003C/a>, who took some great photos that night. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/nosycrow_achuka_michael_zps30b5a15a-9990bf5fc0.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCheck 'em out \u003Ca href=\"http://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/nosy-crow-party/\">on the Achuka blog\u003C/a>!  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/achuka_mcintyre_reeve_zps868b053b-dc3f807e6f.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Michael Thorn on \u003Ca href=\"http://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/nosy-crow-party/\">Achuka\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOkay, now I'm going to be super-vain and include some of Michael's photos here, in case you haven't clicked over. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/achuka_sarah_mcintyre_zps48fff708-411154f2de.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Michael Thorn on \u003Ca href=\"http://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/nosy-crow-party/\">Achuka\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/achuka_philip_reeve_zpsb6eab3e1-a0adfc46a4.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Michael Thorn on \u003Ca href=\"http://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/nosy-crow-party/\">Achuka\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nNosy Crow did a great job making their office look festive with white pom-poms, home-made canapés and a forest of white trees. The fairy lights made the photos look all disco-flash. Look, it's writers \u003Cb>Lucy Coats\u003C/b>, \u003Cb>Andy Stanton\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Francesca Simon\u003C/b>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/nosycrow_lucy_andy_fran_zpsf771e0aa-bef76f422c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd through the sparkles, you can just barely see \u003Cb>Elys Dolan\u003C/b>, RDFP shortlisted for her book \u003Ci>Weasels\u003C/i>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/nosycrow_elys_dolan_zps4104fc28-f44a3c577e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOf course, the highlight of the party was watching \u003Cb>Philip Reeve\u003C/b> do the pom-pom dance to the Beastie Boys.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/roald_dahl_fp_philip_dancing_zps63bee50b-a88de64bac.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nA huge thanks to \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/\">Booktrust\u003C/a> for inviting me to take part in the judging process, Michael Rosen for chairing our judges group, and to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BookEating_Girl\">Rosi Crawley\u003C/a>, who organised the ceremony yesterday. Also thanks to my fellow judges, Scholastic for the cake, Nosy Crow for the party. \\r\n\\r\nGosh, this has been an exciting December. My studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a> posted another photo of the Seawigs tube poster:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigs_tube_laurenpic_zpsed7e27df-527002d36b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd it was exciting to see our book in two more newspaper roundups. Thanks, indie bookseller \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/wallingfordbook\">Wallingford Bookshop\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/10/independents-2013-best-books-indie-bookshops\">The Guardian\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/11/top-20-best-books-of-the-year-for-children-including-mr-tiger-goes-wild-and-fortunately-the-milk-4225259/\">Metro\u003C/a>! (I've read three of the five Metro books and really want to check out the other two.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/10/independents-2013-best-books-indie-bookshops\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigs_guardian_wallingford_zps91e2de8f-cdacdaf2d1.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/11/top-20-best-books-of-the-year-for-children-including-mr-tiger-goes-wild-and-fortunately-the-milk-4225259/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/metro_xmasroundup13_zps8eb60293-224bff1a19.jpg\">\u003C/a>","2013-12-12T09:07:00.000Z","roald-dahl-funny-prize-ceremony-2013",[],"roald dahl funny prize ceremony 2013",1776628726368]