New Children's Laureate

I just wanted to say a quick Congratulations to Malorie Blackman who has been announced as the new Children's Laureate. I can't think of anyone more deserving, she has amazing writing talent, a really big heart and is made of pure awesomeness.

The next 2 years are going to be amazing with her in this role, I can see good things coming.

If you don't know what the Children's Laureate is here's a quick summary:

• The role of Children's Laureate is awarded once every two years.
• The post was created to celebrate exceptional children's authors and illustrators and to acknowledge their importance in creating the readers of tomorrow.
• Malorie Blackman is the eighth author to receive the honour - and the first black person to take on the role.
• Past Children's Laureates include Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake and Michael Morpurgo.

(taken from CBBC news article here )

Basically they do a lot of promotion both for books in general and in getting more people to read. It has been said that Malorie is going to back and support libraries, enhance books in the media and look at race equality issues in fiction.

She is best known for her 'Noughts & Crosses' series, which of course deals with issues of race, so she is well suited in her role. 

In 2008, she was honoured with an OBE for her services to children’s literature. 
Although I've never met Malorie, I have read a lot of her books and have her as a Facebook contact and I like what she posts, it's always something encouraging about reading, writing and generally being a better person.

So basically a big well done and congrats. Malorie Blackman - you rock!!!