'Every child has the right to...' Read Cressida Cowell's giant to-do-list as the new Waterstones Children's Laureate

Published on: 09 July 2019 Author: Cressida Cowell

New Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell is full of exciting plans and wants EVERY child to read for fun and get something out of books. Here, she shares her Children's Laureate Charter with you all...

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. She has sold over 11 million books worldwide in 38 languages. 

She's also just become the new Waterstones Children's Laureate, which means she's here to champion children's books and get even more kids reading.

Read Cressida Cowell's to-do-list

More about the role of the Waterstone's Children's Laureate

What do you think of Cressida Cowell's charter as the new Children's Laureate? 

Every child has the right to...

1. Read for the joy of it

2. Access NEW books in schools, libraries and bookshops

3. Have advice from a trained librarian or bookseller

4. Own their OWN book

5. See themselves reflected in a book

6. Be read aloud to

7. Have some choice in what they read

8. Be creative for at least 15 minutes a week

9. See an author event at least ONCE

10. Have a planet to read on

Download the Charter as an A3 poster (PDF)

Read the news story: learn more Cressida Cowell's new role