Bullied ‘Loser’, peanut tale take Dahl ‘funny book’ honors in UK

LONDON - The fictional diary of Barry Loser, an unfortunately named American schoolboy, and a second book about two creatures tussling over a peanut in a shell won this year's Roald Dahl Funny Prize on Tuesday.

The prize, now in its sixth year, was inspired by Dahl, who wrote much-loved children's classics including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "James and the Giant Peach" and "Matilda", featuring dark humor and wry plot twists.

The winners picked up their prizes in a London theater at a ceremony organized by the British literary charity Booktrust.

"I Am Still Not a Loser" by Jim Smith—the second book in the Barry Loser series—was judged the funniest book in the children aged 7-14 category.

It recounts the daily life of the hapless hero and his battles with school bully Darren Darrenofski.

"The old adage that no one likes a loser is gloriously subverted with Barry who is both lovable and hilarious," said Michael Rosen, chairman of the judges' panel.

"The mix of words and drawings are a playful reminder of everyone's home-grown cartoons and the big-nose motif has become a cult," Rosen added, referring to the main character's prominent proboscis.

"Monkey Nut", which won the age six and under category, is a boldly illustrated picture book with just 41 words by Simon Rickerty that portrays two creatures battling for a peanut in a shell.

"Just as Jonathan Swift [in the 18th-century classic 'Gulliver's Travels'] told us about pointless battles over which way to put an egg in its cup, so Simon Rickerty has created a comically pointless struggle over a monkey nut [in its shell]," Rosen said.

"With brio and inventiveness he fills the pages with splashes, squabbles, contrast and laughter."

The prize was dreamt up by Rosen when he was Britain's Children's Laureate, a position awarded every two years to a book writer or illustrator, to reward authors and artists who write and illustrate their books using humour.

The winner was decided with a combination of votes from a panel of judges and votes from more than 400 school children from across Britain. — Reuters