Graphic Novel Shortlist – The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2026

Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie

Nina Peanut – super-star in the making, frozen pizza chef, creative genius, owner of the world’s stinkiest cat. The funniest new friend for all kids, everywhere.
Nina Peanut creates amazing videos – so why is it only her nan and best friend Brian who watch them? Surely everyone should be interested in her SERIOUS and NOT-STUPID videos about potatoes with faces?

Nina dreams about being as popular as class queen bee Megan Dunne, who films NOT AMAZING AT ALL content of her pampered dog, Princess Trixie Bell.

So, when Nina’s stinky cat Les wanders into one of Megan’s videos by accident, and goes viral, Nina and Les are suddenly internet famous!

But is overnight stardom as wonderful as Nina always imagined it would be?

Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey

Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this brilliantly funny full-colour graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey or Dog Man.

Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is easily bored and hungry for adventure. Sick to her flippers of the harsh, freezing weather, Splash persuades Pablo to go on a holiday with her. But far from the luxury beach destination that Splash has in mind, the pair end up in a time-travel machine that takes them back to the age of the dinosaurs! Suddenly their icy homeland doesn’t seem so dull …

Looshkin: Honk If You See It! by Jamie Smart

You never know what to expect from Looshkin – except that it will be very, very funny!
Follow the continuing adventures of the maddest cat in the world as he defeats vampires with chicken nuggets, accidentally turns into a duck, becomes a high-flying entrepreneur and gets caught in a time warp. Sometimes all at the same time! It’s an explosion of pure comic comedy joy!

Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy

Meet Nova! She’s a scientist. Some people say she’s a genius. Some people even call her Supa Nova – get it? Like a supernova. Basically she’s a huge star, exploding right at you with her adventures!

When Nova invents a plastic-eating monster, she thinks she’s solved the world’s pollution problem. But she doesn’t expect her monster to start rampaging through the city! Can Nova find a way to save the day?

It will take a genius to figure it out!