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Children's Laureates from 1999-2022
Cressida Cowell
Cressida Cowell is the number one bestselling author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once book series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton.
Lauren Child
Lauren Child was Children's Laureate 2017-19. She is a multi-award-winning, bestselling writer and artist and the creator of characters, including Clarice Bean, Ruby Redfort and Charlie and Lola, that are loved the world over.
Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell was Children's Laureate from 2015 to 2017. He is a prolific writer and illustrator whose work is familiar to both children and adults. He is known especially for his distinctive line drawings with their clever caricature, fascinating detail and often enchanting fantasy elements.
Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman was Children's Laureate from 2013 to 2015. She is acknowledged as one of today's most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers, who effortlessly addresses social and racial issues in her books.
Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson was Children's Laureate from 2011 to 2013. She has worked with many different illustrators and written over a hundred books and plays for children and teenagers, in which her love of song and rhyme shines through.
Anthony Browne
Anthony Browne was Children's Laureate from 2009 to 2011. He is an internationally acclaimed author and illustrator of children's books. He blends near-photographic realism with fantastical, surreal touches and ingenious visual puns.
Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009. He is one of the best-known figures in the children's book world, renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter.
Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson was Children's Laureate 2005 to 2007. Her sensitive understanding of modern children, the way they live and the problems they encounter, together with her sense of humour, have made her an extremely popular author.
Sir Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo was Children's Laureate 2003 to 2005. He is an award-winning writer who believes in 'literature over literacy' and has written scores of imaginative and suspenseful books for children.
Anne Fine
Anne Fine was Children's Laureate 2001 to 2003. She writes for both children and adults and her interest in politics and social issues comes across in many of her books.
Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake was Children's Laureate from 1999 to 2001. Best known for his collaborations with some of the leading writers in children's books, he has an unmistakable drawing style and has truly championed illustration.
In this section
About the Waterstones Children's Laureate
Everything you need to know about the laureateship and the current children's author in the role, Joseph Coelho.
More about Cressida Cowell
Cressida Cowell is the number one bestselling author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once book series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton.
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