Patrice Lawrence expressed disbelief when she received the call informing her of her appointment as the UK’s next children’s laureate. "I was in absolute shock," she recalled. At 59, Lawrence joins a prestigious lineage that includes figures like Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake, and Malorie Blackman, all of whom have significantly influenced her work. "Without Jacqueline Wilson, I wouldn’t write the kind of books that I do," she stated, emphasizing Wilson's role as a pioneer in social realism for children.
Read More
Lawrence, an acclaimed author known for her young adult novels, such as Orangeboy and Indigo Donut, has received numerous accolades, including the Waterstones children’s book prize. She takes over from Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who focused on promoting reading for pleasure during his tenure. Lawrence intends to continue this mission while addressing what she perceives as increasing social divisions in Britain. "We’re such a fractured society at the moment," she noted, adding that her own feelings of insecurity as a Black woman and child of immigrants highlight the importance of fostering belonging through literature.
Having spent years working for children’s rights and social justice, Lawrence published her breakthrough novel Orangeboy in 2016 at age 49. She advocates for gathering evidence to show how stories can transform lives, particularly for marginalized children, including those in care and refugee families. Lawrence's own upbringing offers a test case for literature's impact—born in 1967 to Trinidadian parents, she was privately fostered by a white family in Brighton. Her foster mother raised her on a steady diet of books, which became a constant in her life.
However, Lawrence grew up with the belief that children's literature was the domain of white authors. "I presumed children’s books were written by people who were white and dead," she said. It wasn't until watching a 1999 adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s Pig-Heart Boy that her perspective changed. "It was life-changing," she commented on how it inspired her to write stories featuring characters from her own background.
Lawrence published her debut book, Granny Ting Ting, in 2009, but it was the success of Orangeboy that marked her arrival on the literary scene. In her role as laureate, she aims to ensure all children see themselves reflected in literature, especially those from working-class or unconventional family backgrounds.
Visiting schools, Lawrence finds that many students feel comfortable sharing their own stories with her, indicating literature's resonance with their lives. Her recent picture book, Is That Your Mama?, addresses experiences of mixed-race identity, striking a chord with readers who relate to its themes.
Amid a literacy crisis where only one in three young people report enjoying reading, Lawrence acknowledges the multifaceted nature of the issue. She argues against blaming parents alone, citing financial pressures and the closing of libraries as contributing factors. Additionally, she expresses concern that reading in schools has become overly connected to assessment, overshadowing its inherent joy.
Yet, Lawrence remains optimistic about children’s engagement with books, noting her encounters with enthusiastic young readers across the country. "There are amazing things happening already," she said, highlighting her frequent visits to schools and libraries, where she witnesses a passion for reading that often goes unreported.