The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter (author) and Andrew Bannecker (illustrator)

‘Very funny, very touching, very truthful – a total delight to read.’ Jacqueline Wilson
‘Amazing’ Noel Fielding
A laugh-out-loud, against-all-odds triumph of a story: the funniest debut of 2021

• WINNER OF THE LOLLIES AWARD 2023


• SELECTED FOR THE 2022 READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION

Billy Plimpton is an eleven-year-old boy with a big dream.
He wants to be a stand-up comedian when he grows up: delivering pinpoint punch-lines and having audiences hang on his every hilarious word.
A tough career for anyone, but surely impossible for Billy, who has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won’t let him speak?
The idea for this story came from Helen Rutter’s son, who has a stammer: she wanted to write the book that he would love to read, starring a child like him.

Don’t miss the second book in Billy’s adventures: The Funniest Boy in the World

More praise for The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh:

• SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD
• SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

‘This incredibly debut tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh out loud in equal measure. I guarantee you’ll be cheering along in the final pages!’ Lisa Thompson, author of Goldfish Boy
’It’s Wonder with one-liners.’ Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher
‘As warm and wise as it is funny.’ Shappi Khorsandi
‘A laugh out loud story, the like of which I’ve never read before.’ Kerry Godliman
‘This book is a great way of showing children how to be confident and winners by having a sense of humour and making others laugh.’ Baroness Floella Benjamin
‘This book is brilliant. It is funny, wise, kind and exciting.’ Marcus Brigstocke
‘So funny and joyful.’ Rachel Parris