Ages 9–12 Shortlist – The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2024

How to Survive Time Travel by Larry Hayes and Katie Abey

Fresh from saving their parents from the jaws of frenzied billionaire Mr Noah, ten-year-old Eliza and her genius little brother, Johnnie, are called upon once again. Their parents have disappeared into thin air and it’s up to the kids to save the day, travelling back in time to 5000 BC Egypt!

Can they overcome friendly locals, a mysterious boy-god, snakes, a rainbow-coloured Sphinx and another plot to end the world? And – most importantly of all – will they survive TIME TRAVEL?

Maddy Yip’s Guide to Holidays by Sue Cheung

A madcap new story from Sue Cheung, winner of the Diverse Book Award, filled with belly-laughs and packed with drawings!

Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent – except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev. There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes, and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with an escaped guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling?

The Mega-Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby

Lottie Brooks is BACK for more extremely embarrassing adventures as she goes on holiday and gets her very first boyfriend!

• Have the most disgusting little brother in the entire world
• Have to get braces when am on the brink of having my first kiss
• Mum is making cottage pie for dinner. VOM.

Finally summer has arrived and Lottie has BIG plans – scrolling through Instagram, dreaming about MEGA-crush Daniel and sunbathing by the pool on their family holiday to France.

Then Lottie meets new CRUSH Antoine. The language is a tiny bit of a barrier but does it matter when he’s THAT good looking?

The Underpants of Chaos by Sam Copeland, Jenny Pearson, Robin Boyden and Katie Kear

Something BAD is happening at Little Strangehaven Primary.

What are the peculiar SHIVERS that keep striking the school, bringing Strangeness in their wake – from uncontrollable ballroom dancing to an attack by military chickens?

Spy-detective Agatha Topps is determined to find out. She’s the only person who doesn’t forget the Strangeness as soon as it’s over. At least, until new boy Lenny Tuchus turns up and remembers too.

Their spy-detectoring leads them to the Book of Chaos, an ancient text which has been hidden away in the Room of Forbidden and Dangerous Books. Can Agatha and Lenny fight off attacks from evil underpants and Transylvanian gargoyles to stop the SHIVERS before their town is sucked into oblivion?

Because power lies in books – especially this one . . .