Smriti Halls – BookTrust Writer in Residence
AUTHOR has been announced as the BookTrust’s latest Writer in Residence. She took over the role from artist Ed Vere in September and says she will use her six-month residency to encourage children and adults to read aloud and share stories together.
Smriti’s best-selling titles include I Love You Night and Day as well as I’m Sticking with You, Elephant in My Kitchen, Rain Before Rainbows and The Little Island – which was shortlisted in both the 2020 Little Rebels Award and the 2020 Teach
Smriti said: “I am honoured and excited to be joining BookTrust as Writer in Residence. I have long admired the essential work that BookTrust does to get books into the hands of children, to engage parents, teachers and carers in fostering young readers and to effect positive change in the book world. It is a tremendous privilege to be asked to take up this role.”
Primary Awards. Her latest book Rain Before Rainbows, illustrated by David Litchfield and published by Walker Books is out now.
Smriti is keen to use her time as BookTrust Writer in Residence to focus on the power of stories and poetry to give children the knowledge, skills and resilience to cope with difficult times and new experiences. She points to the way literature can “build bridges, rebuild hearts and give readers the emotional language to negotiate the trickiest situations, bringing hope and change in the world.”
BookTrust’s Writer/Illustrator in Residence project has been running since 2009 and has included a host of well-known and influential children’s writers and artists. Smriti joins Cressida Cowell, Sita Brahmachari, Patrick Ness, Polly Dunbar, Bali Rai, Matt Haig, Laura Dockrill, Chris Riddell, Sarah McIntyre, Philip Ardagh, Taran Matharu, Nadia Shireen, Candy Gourlay, Phil Earle and Ed Vere on the illustrious list. Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Smriti as our next Writer in Residence. It’s been a challenging year for families, especially as they navigate this strange new world, so having Smriti help us bring books to life in new and fun ways that offer inspiration and hope is so very exciting.” PEN&INC.
Autumn-Winter 2020 PEN&INC. 13
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