Geoff Rodkey has been nominated for a Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, for his book Deadweather and Sunshine. In the past, Rodkey has focused his attentions on screen writing and, in 1994, wrote an episode on the uncouth MTV cartoon Beavis and Butthead. Other credits to his name include the comic movie Daddy Daycare, starring Eddie Murphy. He also wrote 6 episodes of the series Politically Incorrect, which landed Rodkey with an Emmy nomination.

Deadweather and Sunshine is the first in a series of pirate books for children, named the Chronicles of Egg adventures, The Telegraph reports. The sequel, New Lands is due to be published in May this year. It’s a far cry, no doubt, writing novels for children, from coming up with the coarse jokes and crude humour required for a Beavis and Butthead script. Still, Rodkey has come up with the goods once more and finds himself with another award nomination for his writing efforts.

This is the ninth year that Waterstones have run their annual childrens’s book prizes. There are three categories: picture books, fiction for ages 5-12 and teen books. The winner of each category receives £2,000 and an overall winner received an additional £3,000. The managing director of Waterstones, James Daunt, commented “The diversity and quality of the shortlists demonstrates that the world of children’s books is as exciting and innovative as ever.”