Each Children’s Laureate brings something new and amazing to the role, my personal favourite has been Malorie Blackman due to the frankly amazing work she has done in raising the profile of teen fiction and YA engagement in general.
When Chris Riddell’s name was announced yesterday I punched the air and whispered “Yeah!” (I was in the Library), I think he is a brilliant choice and has appeal from small children to their parents and grandparents as well as everyone in between.
I am a big fan of Chris Riddell’s work and after hearing his views on libraries, reading, illustrations and how he let his chidren draw in his sketchbooks with him, I have become a fan of the man himself!
At his unveiling as Laureate he released his Five Point plan for the next two years and School Libraries feature heavily:
Chris Riddell on Illustration:
During my term I want to use the immediacy and universality of illustration to bring people together and lead them all into the wonderful world of books and reading
On School Libraries:
It’s bizarre that it is not a requirement for the very places where children will learn how to read, draw, think and create to have a space for books…
I want to help and encourage every school to do more for readers. If they have nowhere to read, create a space with a few books; if they have a bookshelf, have two; if they have a reading room, aim for a library.
I am looking forward to following what he does as Laureate and will be sharing it with the students in my school and encouraging them to pick up pencils and paper with their books.
Find out more about Chris, his plans and previous Laureates at the Children’s Laureate site here:
http://www.childrenslaureate.org.uk/
Follow his Laureate Log here: chrisriddellblog.tumblr.com
