Dark Lord: The Teenage Years and My Big Shouting Day won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012. Photo: AFP
The first of two available Dark Lord books stars Dirk Lloyd, a teenage schoolboy whose body is actually home to the Darklands'
banished ruler, who is struggling to exert his authority on earth; it won in the 7-14 age category, despite competition from fellow finalists in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, The Dragonsitter, Gangsta Granny, Goblins and Socks are Not Enough.
My Big Shouting Day, decreed Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under, deals with frustration of another kind as toddler Bella takes readers through a day's worth of tantrum-inducing events -- fortunately, there's a happy ending for all concerned.
Also up for the under-sevens prize were The Baby that Roared, The Pirates Next Door, Stuck, The Worst Princess and Oh No, George!.
Comedian, Great British Bake-Off presenter and Funny Prize judge Mel Giedroyc hailed Dark Lord: The Teenage Years for being "funny-clever as well as funny-silly," while Roald Dahl biographer, children's novelist and prize founder Michael Rosen commended all finalists for being "engaging, fascinating and above all, very funny."