thumb | right | Cressida Cowell, the 2019–2022 Laureate

Children's Laureate, now known as the Waterstones Children's Laureate, is a position awarded in the United Kingdom once every two years to a "writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field". The role promotes the importance of children's literature, reading, creativity and storytelling while promoting the right of every child to enjoy a lifetime of books and stories. Each Laureate uses their tenure to focus on an aspect of children's books – these have included poetry, storytelling, readers with disabilities and illustration. The Waterstones Children's Laureate is managed by BookTrust, who supports the Laureate and organise events. In 2000 he published Laureate's Progress, "a kind of diary in pictures".

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|Anne Fine

|<span class=nowrap>2001–2003</span>

|Fine promoted the importance of children's reading and was dedicated to raising the profile of libraries. During her time as Children’s Laureate she also launched the My Home Library scheme, encouraging children to build their own libraries at home. She is the longest-serving Laureate, after having her term extended by one year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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|Joseph Coelho

|<span class=nowrap>2022–2024</span>

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|Frank Cottrell Boyce

|<span class=nowrap>2024–2026</span>

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Comparable offices elsewhere

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Australia

In 2008, an Australian Children's Literature Alliance was founded to select and appoints an annual Australian Children's Laureate. In fact, the first year saw two writers sharing the role. Boori Monty Pryor and Alison Lester were announced in Adelaide in December 2011, with Noni Hazlehurst as patron.

Ireland

Ireland has a Laureate na nÓg, a two-year office inaugurated by the Arts Council of Ireland in May 2010. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is one supporter.

The Netherlands

From 2013, every two years, the Dutch Reading Foundation appoints a well-known children's books author as an ambassador for children's literature. Since 2017, this 'Kinderboekenambassadeur' has a seat in his special embassy in the Children's Book Museum in The Hague.

Sweden

The Swedish Arts Council appoints an author as "Ambassador for reading", Läsamabassadör, for a two-year office since 2011. The ambassador is announced at Gothenburg Book Fair by the Swedish Minister of Culture. As part of the tenure, the ambassador help communicate to children about books and reading.

United States

In January 2008, the Library of Congress inaugurated its National Ambassador for Young People's Literature scheme, as the U.S. equivalent of the Children's Laureate. The inaugural Ambassador was Jon Scieszka. A similar honour is awarded bi-annually by the Poetry Foundation for the Young People's Poet Laureate.

See also

  • Blue Peter Book Awards
  • Carnegie Medal
  • Comics Laureate
  • Guardian Award
  • Kate Greenaway Medal
  • Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
  • Children's Laureate Wales

References

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