The bestselling and award winning author and illustrator Lauren Child has been unveiled as the 10^th Waterstones Children’s Laureate, taking over from Chris Riddell. 

Lauren Child has written many children’s books including the popular Charlie & Lola series and will take up the post for two years. The Children’s Laureate is a role awarded every two years in recognition of an author or illustrator’s achievements or contributions to the field of children’s literature.

Reflecting on her role over the next couple of years, Lauren Child said ‘I want to inspire children to believe in their own creative potential, to make their own stories and drawings and ignite in them the delight of reading for pleasure’.

Lauren received a specially commissioned Waterstones Children’s Laureate medal from outgoing Laureate Chris Riddell.