Patrice Lawrence Named Children's Laureate! 📚 Championing Reading & Connection
Patrice Lawrence Named Children's Laureate! 📚 Championing Reading & Connection
Award-winning author Patrice Lawrence is the new Children's Laureate! Discover her exciting plans to use the power of books to unite communities and combat isolation for young readers. #ReadingForConnection
Award-winning author Patrice Lawrence has been officially named the new Waterstones Children's Laureate. Known for her powerful YA novels like Orangeboy and Needle, Lawrence steps into the prestigious role following Frank Cottrell-Boyce. The announcement was made at a special ceremony hosted by poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay at London's Barbican Centre on Tuesday.
During her two-year tenure, Lawrence aims to highlight the profound impact reading can have in fostering connection and community, especially in what she describes as "fragmented times." She passionately believes that stories can help children "feel seen, understood and, most importantly, valued," emphasizing that in a world where many feel isolated, "we need this now, more than ever."
Her laureateship will primarily focus on promoting shared reading experiences to cultivate a sense of belonging, particularly for marginalized children, including those in care, refugee children, and children of prisoners. Lawrence also plans to shine a light on the "unsung heroes" who dedicate themselves to nurturing young readers across the country.
Speaking to The Guardian, Lawrence expressed her ambition to build an evidence base that clearly demonstrates the life-changing impact of books on children. This initiative underscores her commitment to proving the tangible benefits of literacy and storytelling in personal and community development.
Patrice Lawrence, 59, has a distinguished career in children's literature. Her novel Orangeboy famously won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Bookseller YA Book Prize in 2017. Since then, she has penned 16 books, spanning picture books to young adult fiction, including titles such as People Like Stars, Is That Your Mama?, and Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush. Her appointment as Children's Laureate is a testament to her significant contributions and her ongoing dedication to the world of children's books.
#ChildrensLaureate #PatriceLawrence #ReadingForConnection #LiteracyMatters
