Floella Benjamin to give BookTrust annual lecture

Author and TV presenter Floella Benjamin will deliver this year’s BookTrust Annual Lecture.

BookTrust’s aim is get all children reading and every year it invites influential figures to talk about how the industry can make that happen.

“Baroness Floella Benjamin has long been a champion for BookTrust and was an ambassador for our flagship bookgifting programme Bookstart in the early days,” said the charity. “She is passionate about children’s reading and wellbeing. As a member of the House of Lords and a former presenter of Play School and Play Away, Floella is also an accomplished author for adults and children, so is perfectly placed to deliver this year’s lecture and we are delighted to welcome her to the stage in October.”

Benjamin was born in Trinidad and came to England in 1960. She has written 30 books, including Coming to England (Macmillan Children’s Books), which was based on her childhood.

Her lecture will take place on 11th October at Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

BookTrust launched its annual lecture series in 2016, when Michael Morpurgo launched a campaign to reinstate story time in schools. Last year the speaker was children’s laureate Lauren Child, who said children should be allowed to daydream.