Ages 9–12 Shortlist – The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2025
Ages 9–12 Shortlist – Lollies 2025
We’re very excited to announce the Lollies shortlist for 2025! Our judges had a tough time choosing just four books per category, so we hope you are excited to read the shortlisted books and vote for your favourites.
Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer
Kofi had an idea… one big lightning bolt of an idea that hit him like electricity. And all it needed was Kelvin’s incredible memory for words.
Kofi is used to stuff going wrong. He’s usually in detention or about to be. But when he finds out his best friend Kelvin has a photographic memory, he comes up with a genius money-making scheme. The whole school is obsessed with music, but no one can ever make out the words, so the boys hit the jackpot selling a new fanzine full of song lyrics: PAPER JAM . It’s not long before one of the teacher’s tells Kofi: ‘You could be a real leader at this school, you know that?’ and… suddenly it’s turning out to be the best summer ever!
Jeffrey is an author, broadcaster, educator and journalist with a particular interest in issues surrounding race, masculinity, education and popular culture.
Beth is a mixed-race London-based illustrator whose uplifting work is rooted in colour and connection. Her work has a strong focus on community and diversity.
Paul is a freelance illustrator based in Florida, with roots in watercolor painting. Paul strives to create a sense of flow and rhythm within his work, overlaid with juicy hue vibrations.
Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express
One puzzling mystery. Several slippery suspects. Endless possibilities!
Welcome to Haventry, a town where the ordinary and extraordinary collide! With ghosts, werewolves and zombies living side by side, trouble is always brewing. And when a fiendish crime is committed, YOU are the detective in charge of the case.
All aboard the Transylvanian Express! YOU and your yeti boss Klaus are headed to Castle Ursprung, home of the infamous vampire Count Fledermaus. But before you get there, you have a mystery to solve: Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the train.
Someone onboard must have played a role in his disappearance but who has the strongest motive? Could it be Franklefink’s archnemesis Bramwell Stoker? Or is Sandra Rigmarole, elf District Governor and colleague of the Night Mayor, a more likely suspect? Or perhaps Franklefink’s monster wife has suddenly turned against him? YOU decide!
With hundreds of paths to choose from and no dead ends, you’ll solve the mystery every time!
Gareth is the author of many books for children, including the Ninja Meerkats, Pet Detectives, and The Considine Curse, for which he won the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012.
Louise is an illustrator (and sometimes author) who works from home in a small studio, supervised by her three noisy and very mischievous Jack Russell Terriers.
The Boss of Everyone!
Ten-year-old Joss’s greatest ambition is to be Class Monitor at school. But she’s about to go one step further. It’s Take Your Kid to Work Day, and Joss’s dad takes her to the games company he works for. When the boss calls a meeting and tells them he’s giving his job away to the person with the best idea for a company game-changer… Joss sticks her hand up. And the next thing she knows, Joss is the boss. Joss is thrilled. Dad is horrified: he’s going to have to be on his best behaviour all the time! As Joss whips everyone into shape, maybe they can all learn a lesson or two… even Joss herself.
Danny is an award-winning writer who’s done lots of silly things. He’s been a quiz show host. A character in a video game. He’s also made TV shows about monkeys and robots.
Gemma is an award-winning cartoonist, writer, and illustrator. Originally from Britain, she now lives in California with her husband and two pugs.
Evil Emperor Penguin: The World Will Be Mine!
Evil Emperor Penguin’s plans to take over planet Earth are in place, and nothing can stop him… wait, is that his arch-nemesis, Evil Cat?! Surely the world is too small for TWO evil geniuses!
Who will become the cutest evil genius in the world?
Giggles are guaranteed in this delightfully silly comic, with extra how-to-draw content so young readers can become creators, too!
Laura grew up in Essex spending almost every day drawing or creating in one way or another! Unable to keep still, she is constantly up for adventure whether that be in her imagination or the real world!
Buy the shortlist
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4books
Lollies 2025 Ages 9-12 Shortlist Pack- eur prices
- Price: €22.00
- Rewards: €44.15
