International Laureates
The Children’s Laureate award initially began in the United Kingdom and was given to a "writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field." English Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and children’s writer Michael Morpurgo came up with this idea and the first official Children’s Laureate award was given in England to Quentin Blake in 1999.
There are now Children’s Laureate Programs in the UK, Australia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Wales, Italy; a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature in the USA and the Ti Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador for children and young people.
​
Every two years since 2013 the International Children’s Laureate Summit has been held at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy and each of the Australian Children’s Laureates have attended this important and interesting event.
After a tough 2020, Children's Laureates from around the world united with a special message about the power of books and reading. The International Children's Laureates and Reading Ambassadors believe every child has the right to be a reader. Across the globe, we have continued to write and draw stories that inspire children. Reading is a journey everyone can embark on because books have no borders. We are ready to #ReadAroundTheWorld​ in 2021. Join us!
This video is created with thanks to (in order of appearance):
ÁINE NÍ GHLINN – Laureate na nÓg (Ireland)
ELOISE WILLIAMS – Children's Laureate Wales
GRUFFUDD OWEN – Bardd Plant Cymru (Wales)
CRESSIDA COWELL – Waterstones Children's Laureate UK
HENRIKA ANDERSSON& AMANDA AUDAS-KASS –
Finnish Children's Laureates
ALESSANDRO SANNA – Italian Children's Laureate
BAGIR KWIEK – Swedish Reading Ambassador
MANON SIKKEL – Children's Laureate (The Netherlands)
URSULA DUBOSARSKY – Australian Children's Laureate
Produced by:
The Australian Children's Laureate Foundation (ACLF) www.childrenslaureate.org.au
Music by: Keys of the Moon Music
​