10th July 2026


1


Feature


Patrice Lawrence outlines her priorities as Waterstones Children’s Laureate


The award-winning writer discusses the power of social justice and shared stories as she takes on the prestigious position


28 J


ust a decade after becoming a published author, Patrice Lawrence ( 1) has been named as the 14th Waterstones Children’s Laureate. Lawrence formally took over from


her predecessor Frank Cottrell-Boyce ( 2) during a ceremony hosted by poet, author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay at the Barbican Centre in London on Tuesday 7th July.


At the ceremony, she delivered a speech outlin- ing the focus of her tenure: the benefits of shared reading and the power of books to create connection, belonging and voice. Managed by children’s reading charity


BookTrust and sponsored by Waterstones, the title of Children’s Laureate is awarded biennially to a renowned writer or illustrator. Born in Brighton and raised in an Italian- Trinidadian family in Sussex, Lawrence writes for children of all ages in all genres. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked for charities promoting the rights of children, families and adults who often go unheard. Her 2016 debut YA novel, Orangeboy (Hodder Children’s Books), won The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Children’s Fiction. She has since published 16 books, which often centre on the experiences of young people today, encompassing inclusivity and representing diverse family structures. In 2021, she was awarded an MBE for Services to Literature, and in 2023 she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.


Feature Waterstones Children’s Laureate


DAVID BEBBER


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44