Child calls for children's books to be 'taken seriously'

Waterstones' Children’s Laureate Lauren Child will discuss how children’s books need to be taken more seriously at a BookTrust lecture on Thursday evening (19th October).

The author and illustrator is set to emphasise how illustration should not be seen as “nice” but as something which “communicates something of ourselves”.

The charity’s annual lecture, at RIBA in Portland Place in London, will “illustrate how children’s books can be incredibly sophisticated, powerful and life-changing” and how literary charities should be supported so that every child has access to books, as well as time to be "idle".

Her lecture, entitled ‘What do you think about when you think about nothing’, will also explore how diversity in publishing should be addressed, rather than merely paid “lip service” to.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "Child argues that children should be allowed to dream and to let their creative minds run free in order to explore the true benefits of creativity for emotional support and connectivity to the wider world. Creativity, as she sees it, is a life changer." 

The charity’s c.e.o, Diana Gerald, said: “It is vital that views and issues within the children’s reading space continue to be debated and discussed and this is very positive platform in which to do that. At BookTrust we are all about getting children reading for pleasure. Children who enjoy reading are happier, healthier and more empathetic.

"Children need to be supported to find books that they love and BookTrust delivers books and guidance to over 3.4 million children each year in order to help this happen.”

The BookTrust lecture in 2016 was delivered by Michael Morpurgo, the third children’s laureate from 2003-2005.