BookTrust comment on the announcement of Lauren Child as the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate

Lauren Child, artist and highly-acclaimed author and illustrator of the bestselling and award-winning Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean picture books and Ruby Redfort novels, has today (Wednesday 7 June) been crowned the 10th Waterstones Children’s Laureate. Child was presented with her medal from outgoing Waterstones Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell at an afternoon ceremony at City Hall in Hull, which is UK City of Culture 2017.

 

BookTrust Chief Executive Diana Gerald on the announcement of Lauren Child as the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate:

 

“BookTrust is very proud to be managing The Waterstones Children’s Laureate and we are delighted that the hugely talented Lauren Child will be succeeding Chris Riddell in this extremely important role. Each of the Children’s Laureates has been wonderfully different from each other, whilst still promoting a core belief of the transformative power of reading. The Children’s Laureate programme is a vital element in championing, and embedding, the importance of children reading for pleasure which fully mirrors BookTrust’s mission- to inspire a love of reading for pleasure in all children through our programmes. We look forward to seeing Lauren shining a cultural spotlight on children’s books and championing creativity for children across the country”