Author Patrice Lawrence has been announced as the new children’s laureate.

The bestselling writer, known for her 2016 book Orangeboy, was presented with the laureate medal by the outgoing children’s laureate, Frank Cottrell Boyce, at a ceremony held at the Barbican Centre in London on Tuesday (7 July).

As children’s laureate, Lawrence will be the foremost representative of children’s literature, responsible for promoting reading, creativity and storytelling.

Lawrence, who was made an MBE for services to literature in 2021 and was later elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023, will hold the post until 2028.

Addressing our “times of fragmentation”, Lawrence said her tenure will “champion the power of books to make us feel like we belong, and shared stories as a tool for bringing people together”.

“We are living in a divided world where many people feel isolated. We need this now, more than ever,” she said.

Lawrence said “stories help children – particularly vulnerable children – feel seen, understood and, most importantly, valued”.

“Stories help readers explore unfamiliar subjects safely with space to pause and reflect on complex emotions. And, just as importantly, reading helps us understand each other’s stories,” she said.

Lawrence published her debut YA work Orangeboy in 2016. The novel follows 16-year-old Marlon who finds his world turned upside down after a date ends in a horrible tragedy that leads to him being hunted by gangs.

The thriller went on to win The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Children’s Fiction and was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award.

She has since published 16 books, including Needle, People Like Stars, Is That Your Mama?, Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush, Our Story Starts in Africa and The Elemental Detectives.

Managed by the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, BookTrust, and sponsored by Waterstones, the title is awarded biannually to a renowned writer or illustrator in recognition of exceptional talent.

Lawrence has her work cut out for her with recreational reading among children and teenagers in the UK at its lowest point in two decades. Just one-third of eight- to 18-year-olds say they enjoy reading in their free time – a 36 per cent decline since 2005.

Her appointment arrives amid the National Year of Reading, a major UK campaign from the Department for Education designed to invite people to fall back in love with books.

Diana Gerald, co-chief executive at BookTrust, said: “All our work and research at BookTrust shows that books can open conversations and deepen understanding for children, and that shared reading experiences create a sense of belonging and safety.

“When children, families and communities don’t see themselves reflected in books, they can struggle to find their place in the world.

“In this National Year of Reading, the appointment of Patrice Lawrence as Children’s Laureate gives a much-needed voice to the vulnerable children pushed to the edge of our society.

“We’re looking forward to supporting her work with communities across the country to explore how sharing stories can strengthen wellbeing, build relationships and nurture meaningful community connection.”

Kate Edwards, chair of the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2026-28 judging panel, added that “Patrice’s remarkable writing for children of all ages draws upon topics that are relevant to many young people’s everyday lives, creating a safe space for them to explore complex, sometimes difficult, issues.

“In the challenging world we find ourselves, the connections that books and reading offer are more important than ever.”

This year marks 27 years of the children’s laureate. Quentin Blake was the first to take on the role in 1999, with other past laureates including Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Lauren Child, and Cressida Cowell.