Joseph Coelho hands on the mantle of Children’s Laureate to Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, multi award-winning author and screenwriter, has been named Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024 – 2026.

He was presented with the bespoke silver Laureate medal by outgoing Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, at a ceremony held at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds today, Tuesday 2 July.

Warning ‘we risk losing a generation unless we act’, Frank Cottrell-Boyce chose to launch his Laureateship with a powerful speech declaring his ambitions for children’s books and the life-changing benefits of reading to be ‘taken seriously’.

Quoting 18th century philosopher and activist Tom Paine, ‘We have it in our power to begin the World anew’, he is pledging to dedicate his two-year tenure to igniting a ‘fierce’ national conversation about the role books and reading can play in transforming children’s lives, referencing the wealth of compelling evidence showing that reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor impacting the life-chances of a child, as well as the ‘crisis point’ facing the millions of children now living in poverty.

His Laureate campaign will be called, Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future, and also includes plans for a national summit bringing together expert voices in the political, education, literacy and early years sectors.

He said, ‘Our children are living through the aftermath of a series of crises, the pandemic, a series of wars and an unfolding environmental crisis. The only public conversation is about how we can make our children “catch up” – which seems to me a kind of code for forgetting this ever happened. None of us has the slightest idea about what the future now holds for them – but the one thing we do know is that they will need to know how to be happy.

Every child has to have the opportunity to begin to build the apparatus of happiness within themselves.

I will use my time as Waterstones Children’s Laureate to call for a reset in our attitude towards how we value children’s books and reading – to start this story again – and to campaign for the millions of children living in poverty to be given the same life-changing chances. To stand up for the children in this country and their Reading Rights.’

Looking ahead to the results of Thursday’s general election he challenged the next government ‘So, whoever wins Thursday’s election has a huge responsibility. Whoever we wake up to Friday morning, they have the power to make a revolutionary change in children’s lives.’

Kate Edwards, Chair of the Waterstones Children’s Laureate Steering Group and Chair of the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-26 Judging Panel, said. ‘The Waterstones Children’s Laureate selection panel invites nominations from a range of organisations across the UK representing librarians, critics, writers, literature development workers and booksellers – on behalf of everyone, I extend Frank our warmest congratulations. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Frank to this prestigious role as the Laureateship celebrates its 25th anniversary – not only does his wonderful writing entertain and inspire, but he has long been a passionate voice in the campaign for children’s books to be given the value and recognition that they deserve. Frank is a wonderful Laureate for these times and the Steering Group is looking forward to working with him over the next two years, helping to bring his vital plans and ambitions to life so that every child can enjoy a life rich in books and reading.’

Look out for an interview with Frank Cottrell-Boyce in the forthcoming issue of Books for Keeps.