Posted on Wednesday 7th Jun 2017
Lauren Child, award-winning author of the best-selling Charlie and Lola books, has been named as the new children’s laureate, saying that she wants children to have the "freedom to dream” without being judged.
Ms Child will be the tenth Waterstones Children’s Laureate, and takes over the post from illustrator Chris Riddell.
She wants to use the position to inspire children to be creative, saying that she hopes to spark "random acts of imagination" among pupils. She also plans to build links between the worlds of literature and other arts, including television, during her two-year term.
“In an increasingly fast-paced world, children need the freedom to dream and imagine; to enjoy reading, drawing and telling their own stories without value judgement or restraint,” she said.
“My books have taken inspiration from many different art forms – from the illustrations of E.H. Shepard through Scandinavian design, dolls' houses and miniatures as well as the films of Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock.
Latest News
01/10/21What changes are being made to GCSEs and A-levels next year?
Department for Education says 2022 will be a ‘transition year’
14/09/21Covid: Single jab recommended for 12 to 15-year-olds by UK's top doctors
Healthy children aged 12 to 15 should be offered one dose of a Covid vaccine, the UK's chief medical officers say.
29/06/21Covid: School isolation rules could end in autumn
The Covid control system in England's schools, where groups of pupils have to self-isolate if one tests positive, could be scrapped in the autumn.
26/05/21DfE had no plan for dealing with a pandemic, says critical report by MPs
Public accounts committee also said a failure to set standards for remote learning led to ‘unequal experiences’
25/05/21Exams 2021: How will my grades be assessed this year?
Exams have been cancelled for the second year running due to the impact caused by coronavirus. The government have put schools will be in charge of grades and assessments this summer in a bid to avoid the results day chaos caused by last year's controversial algorithm.