Patrice Lawrence MBE, award-winning author of Orangeboy, has been named the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2026-2028. The announcement was made on 7th July, with Lawrence succeeding outgoing Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Previous laureates include Quentin Blake, Malorie Blackman, and Michael Rosen.
Addressing the Decline in Reading Enjoyment
According to the National Literacy Trust, only one in three children enjoy reading. Lawrence sees the Laureateship as a platform to reverse this trend. She told The Mirror: "This role is even more important at this time," referencing the rise of far-right radicalization and recent riots in UK cities like Belfast. "As a Black woman, a child of immigrants, that rhetoric has made me feel less safe. How on earth could that feel for children?"
A Personal Mission to Include Marginalized Voices
Lawrence wants her tenure to explore "how we tell the stories of people who have been pushed to the sides of humanity." Her own background—growing up in foster care, having a parent in prison, and being of Italian-Trinidadian heritage—informs her work. "I grew up in very non-typical families," she said, describing how her foster mother enrolled her in a library as a baby, sparking a lifelong love of reading.
From Internalized Bias to Representation
Lawrence admitted she wrote white characters until age 32 because she had "internalised the idea that I couldn't write Black people." It was reading Malorie Blackman's novels that gave her "permission" to center Black children in her stories. "It never occurred to me that I could be a writer because everything I read was by somebody who was white and dead," she said.
Books as a Springboard for Difficult Conversations
During school visits, Lawrence has witnessed how literature can open dialogue. One young girl of color shared experiences of racism with her, knowing Lawrence would not deny them. A nearby teacher was unaware of the incidents. "Books can be cathartic for children and a springboard for conversations that adults might find difficult," Lawrence explained.
In another instance, a mixed-heritage boy proudly discussed his Trinidadian father after Lawrence mentioned her own Trinidadian roots. "As an adult, it's hard not to burst into tears; it's what I would have longed for as a child," she said.
Looking Ahead
Lawrence received an MBE for Services to Literature in 2021, but she called the Laureateship "the biggest opportunity I've ever had in my life." She added: "An MBE is about the past; the Laureateship is about the future." Her plans include promoting joy in reading and ensuring that all children see themselves reflected in stories.
