Patrice Lawrence named as new children’s laureate

• Bestselling author Patrice Lawrence has been announced as the new Children's Laureate, taking over from Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
• Lawrence, known for her debut YA novel Orangeboy, will hold the prestigious post until 2028, having previously been made an MBE for services to literature.
• Lawrence said her tenure will “champion the power of books to make us feel like we belong, and shared stories as a tool for bringing people together”.
• The appointment comes as recreational reading among children and teenagers in the UK has reached its lowest point in two decades, with only one-third of eight- to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their free time.
• Managed by BookTrust and sponsored by Waterstones, the Children's Laureate role is awarded biannually to a distinguished writer or illustrator.

IN FULL

Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy, chosen as new children’s laureate