Anthony Browne  was very warmly received as the new Children’s Laureate by those attending the inauguration event at Centrepoint, including Lord Chris Smith, the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture Media and Sport who first approved funding for the laureateship at its inception ten years ago. Also attending were former Laureates Jacqueline Wilson and Anthony’s immediate predecessor, Michael Rosen, who has done such a remarkable job over the last two years, particularly with the A to Z of Poetry, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat, still on at the British Library until 28th June.

 The announcement of the new Children’s Laureate was made by Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate, who paid tribute to Anthony along the lines of Wallace Stevens’ Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by citing ten ways of looking at Anthony Browne!

In accepting the Laureateship, Anthony appropriately illustrated his declared intention of focusing on picturebooks and encouraging all ages of children and adults to enjoy and appreciate them, by playing his famous Shape Game, with his brother Michael, as they had as children, and then with children in the audience – winners of the competition to predict the new Laureate and write a nomination for him. Anthony noted that this fundamental creativity was still part of the creation of his books. During the next two years he wants to get the whole country playing the Shape Game!

Anthony Browne pictured here receiving his medal from immediate past Laureate, Michael Rosen. Photo copyright Booktrust. Picture credit Asimina Giagoudaki

Report by Kathy Lemaire who attended the ceremony for Write Away.