Guest Blog: Beach
Author of Poopicorn and The Princess with the Blazing Bottom
Beach’s vibrant new picture book, Poopicorn– a hilarious story about problem-solving and truly magical bottoms. Poopicorn is filled to the brim with unicorns and rainbows (and bottom humour) galore, with an ultimately useful lesson children can take away amongst the silliness.
Meanwhile, The Princess with the Blazing Bottom has been shortlisted for this year’s Lollies (Laugh Out Loud) Awards, in the Best Laugh Out Loud Picture Books category.
In this third book in the bestselling, explosively funny Blazing Bottom series, Sir Wayne and his dragon are BACK and this time they’re out to rescue a princess held captive by a Big Bad Beast. But WHO exactly will save her? Sir Wayne: who can climb every wall – no moat is too deep, no tower too tall. Or Dragon: so muscly and lean – he can fly and fart flames, he’s a fighting machine! If ONLY there was a way to get the best of both!
Beach visits our blog this week to share some book recommendations of magnificently funny picture books for children.
7 Magnificently Funny Picture Books
1. PANTS – Giles Andreae & Nick Sharratt
A masterclass in simple, silly brilliance.
There’s no story – just lots and lots of pants. Gloriously silly rhymes with even sillier pictures.
An absolute joy to read out loud.
2. Aliens Love Underpants – Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
I’m a sucker for comic conspiracy theories and this is one of the best.
A delightfully quirky concept, perfectly paced and beautifully illustrated. If they ever make an MA course for funny picture books then this would definitely be one of the set texts.
(Also featured on: Books For 4 Year Olds, Recommended Rhyming Books and Storytime Favourite Books EYFS).
Fred Benaglia is one of my favourite illustrators and this madcap riff is the perfect showcase for his art.
There’s no narrator here to dilute the monstrous madness – just some deliciously deranged dialogue and oodles of offbeat onomatopoeia.
4. Click Clack Moo Cows That Type – Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
A brilliantly absurdist farmer drama that somehow manages to introduce three-year-olds to the concept of collective bargaining.
The story unrolls with gusto and the brushwork dances across the page with the kind of loose insouciance that most illustrators would kill for.
(Also featured on: Farm Books for Children)
I’ve always loved books with unreliable narrators and No! is one of the best in show.
Wonderfully engaging artwork, a whole host of adorable doggy vignettes, and a charming and unexpected punchline.
6. All You Need To Know About Dogs: By A. Cat – Fred Blunt
I love everything Fred Blunt draws.
If I were an art director, I think I would just give him all the books and then take the rest of the year off. And this book is the perfect summation of his genius – a playful format, buckets of slapstick, and artwork with more cool energy than a supernova in a milkshake.
7. The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It was None of his Business – Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch
There have been many, many funny books written about bottoms and poo since this little mole first emerged from his hole in 1989, but none has yet surpassed this quietly subversive classic. Still as fresh as a cowpat.
Thank you to Beach for visiting our blog this week to tell us more about his book recommendations of funny picture books for children.
Created and managed by Scholastic, the Lollies celebrate the best and funniest children’s books in the UK and Ireland – as voted for by children! Read more about the latest shortlist for the Lollies here.
Readers might also enjoy the following booklists:
- Lollies 2025 shortlist
- Funny books for children
- EYFS booklists
- Picturebooks for KS1
- Storytime favourites
- Best Books for Preschoolers
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month