The U.K. bookstore chain Waterstones has named the country’s new Children’s Laureate.
Patrice Lawrence is the 14th writer to be named to the position, the bookseller announced. She succeeds Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who was the Children’s Laureate from 2024 to 2026.
Lawrence first rose to prominence in 2016 with her young adult novel Orangeboy, which won the Bookseller YA Book Prize and the Waterstones Prize for Older Children’s Fiction. Her other books include the young adult novels Needle and Rat and the children’s books Our Story Starts in Africa, illustrated by Jeanetta Gonzales, and Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush, illustrated by Camilla Sucre.
In a statement, Nick Campbell, children’s campaign manager for Waterstones, said that Lawrence’s “irresistibly compelling novels illuminate the lives of today’s young people, and we can’t wait to see her bring the same energy and compassion to her Laureateship. We’re proud to support her in this vital role, championing the life-changing power of stories.”
And Lawrence said, “During my tenure as Waterstones Children’s Laureate, I will champion the power of books to make us feel like we belong, and shared stories as a tool for bringing people together. We are living in a divided world where many people feel isolated, we need this now, more than ever.”
The Waterstones Children’s Laureate position was established in 1999. Previous laureates include Quentin Blake, Julia Donaldson, Lauren Child, and Joseph Coelho.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
