Feature Children’s laureate Lauren Child


Conference 2017 in conversation with the Times


W


Times’ arts editor Alex O’Connell about her ambitions for her tenure, her views on the publishing industr


Conference 2017 in co or Ale en


publishing industry, and her aspirations for readers of today—and


When her laureateship was announced in June, the award-winn


readers of today—and the future. When her laureate


une, the award-winning author and illus- trator said she was “s the honour. The timi


significant: it will end in 2019, two decades aſter the UK children inaugurated by SirQ


or said she was “stunned” to be given the honour. The timing of her tenure is significant: it will end


en’s laureate position was


she describes as “a big influence” on her career; and it also ma


children’s literature and other artforms. She also wants to champion creativit. “I really want to talk about the need for children to be allowed and encouraged to be creative. So many ideas come out of not being too focused, allowing yourself to meander along and observe things. Let’s stop boxing every- body in. It would be wonderful if there was more of a chance to e more of a chance t experiment,” she says. Another hope is “elevating the artform of children’s books”, which she feels are “oſten seen as the poor relat seen as the poor relation to adult novels and fine art”. Child, who fine art”. Child, who was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2000 for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, says: “We can be very sniffy about it, but I think illustration is very s oſten the first time a child


build stronger links between the world of children’s literature a champi


During her stint as laureate Child is keen to build stronger link


publication of her first book. During her stint as


talk about the


be allowed and encou So many ideas come focused, allowing you and observe things. L body in. It would bew


Another hope is “e s books”, wh


Greenaway Medal in Never Eat a Tomato, s sniffy about it, but I t i impor


mportant—it’s oſten will have seen a piece She is also positive the kids’ book marke trade voicing concern sit in the industr


children’s transition to being digital natives. “Although there were all these terribly gloomy stories about that hasn’t happened ticularly for litle


power of children’s books has weathered children’s transition “Although there were


book is such a physic beaut of a world tha pages is quite amazing.”


will have seen a piece of art up close.” She is also positive about the state of the kids’ book market, despite some in the trade voicing concern about a lack of diver- sit in the industry, a power of children’s b


inaugurated by Sir Quentin Blake, whom she describes as “a bi


career; and it also marks 20 years since the publication of her fir


TERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAURE- ATE Lauren Child will be speak- ing at The Bookseller’s Children’s


ATERSTONE Lauren TheB


AT


and she believes that the


gloomy stories about the book disappearing, that hasn’t happened. I think it’s because, particularly for litle children, holding a book is such a physical experience. The beaut of a world that’s contained in a few e amazin


WORDS Caroline Carpenter 06 8th September 2017


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