Children’s Laureate and BookTrust CEO Meet The Queen to Promote Reading

RECENTLY, Her Majesty The Queen met with multi-award-winning children’s author and Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce to discuss the importance of reading in the lives of children across the UK.

Her Majesty, who is a long-time Patron of the UK’s leading children’s reading charity BookTrust and committed advocate of reading and literacy, met author Cottrell-Boyce to mark his new appointment as the foremost representative of children’s literature at Clarence House alongside Diana Gerald MBE, CEO of BookTrust.

During the meeting, Cottrell-Boyce explained that he has pledged to dedicate his two-year tenure to starting a national conversation about the role books and reading can play in transforming children’s lives, building on the compelling evidence showing that reading for pleasure improves life chances, as well as highlighting the ‘crisis point’ facing the millions of children now living in poverty.

Since his debut Millions won the CILIP Carnegie Medal (and was later made into a film directed by Danny Boyle), Cottrell-Boyce has penned a plethora of much-loved books, published by Macmillan Children’s Books, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again (the official sequel commissioned by the Fleming Estate), Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy and Runaway Robot. He is also a highly esteemed script and screenwriter, devising the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, co-writing the Platinum Jubilee Paddington sketch, alongside writing for Doctor Who, Goodbye Christopher Robin and most recently The Beautiful Game, starring Bill Nighy and Micheal Ward and the screenplay for the film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s beloved 1999 novel, Kensuke’s Kingdom.

Reflecting on his role as Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce said:

“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 life-changing chances.”

Diana Gerald MBE, CEO of BookTrust, said:

“We’re delighted to have been able to meet with Her Majesty the Queen today. Since becoming our patron in 2011, Her Majesty has helped inspire children by being a passionate advocate for reading and shared in our mission to help the most vulnerable in society by fostering a love of books.

“At BookTrust, we know the transformative power of reading on children’s lives and in helping them to overcome disadvantages. Each year, we get millions of children reading, especially those from low-income families or vulnerable backgrounds. We do this because research shows that children who read regularly are happier and healthier, they form stronger bonds and relationships, they do better at school, are more creative and enjoy more success in life. With Her Majesty’s continued support, we can ensure that many more children can experience the life-changing benefits of reading from their earliest years.”

For 25 years, the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate has been the foremost representative of children’s literature, awarded biannually to a renowned writer or illustrator in recognition of exceptional talent. Managed by BookTrust – the UK’s largest children’s reading charity – and sponsored by Waterstones, this prestigious role celebrates creativity and storytelling, promotes the vital importance of reading and children’s literature, and champions the right of every child to enjoy a lifetime enriched with books and stories. Each Laureate brings their own passion and creativity to their tenure. Cotteral Boyce succeeded Joseph Coelho in the prestigious post earlier this year.