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New Children's Laureate is announced

Anthony Browne has been named as Children's Laureate 2009-2011. He's famous for his fab gorilla picture books. Have you read any?

The Children's Laureate is a special award given to a great writer or illustrator of children's books every two years.

Photo showing a man giving a medal award to another man at a podium.


Here is Anthony Browne (on the right) getting his medal from Michael Rosen - who used to be Children's Laureate.


Picture courtesy Asimina Giagoudaki © Booktrust


The award also helps everyone to see that children's books are important.

Here's Anthony Browne reading some of the many fan letters he gets from kids.

© Laurence Cendrowicz

 Showing a man smiling at the camera. He has dark hair and is wearing glasses and a black t-shirt.

Showing a man with short, dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt. He is sitting on a chair facing the camera.

Anthony Browne said that he would use his time as laureate to promote picture books, and the reading of both pictures and words:

"Picture books are for everybody at any age, not books to be left behind as we grow older."

© Laurence Cendrowicz





See a video about Anthony Browne and his books on the Children's Laureate site.



Screenshot courtesy Children's Laureate website

 Screenshot showing drawings from a picture book laid out on a drawing board.

The Guardian online has some of Anthony Browne's illustrations for you to look at.

And next time you go to your school or local library, have a look at the Anthony Browne books there. Get in touch and tell us your favourite!