Wednesday, November 27, 2013

HARPERCOLLINS CONGRATULATES NEW AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S LAUREATE JACKIE FRENCH


HarperCollins is delighted to congratulate Jackie French on her appointment to the role of Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-15.


‘Jackie French is one of Australia’s most amazing authors and we are thrilled to see her contribution to Australian storytelling recognised,’ says HarperCollins chief executive officer James Kellow. ‘We are enormously proud to be her publisher and look forward to introducing many more Australian children to Jackie’s wonderful and engaging range of books during her tenure.’

Jackie French's writing career has so far spanned 25 years, 248 wombats, over 140 books, 36 languages and more than 60 awards in Australia and overseas. Her books have sold almost 2.5 million copies globally.

‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term. Three key beliefs will inform her championing of children’s literature: 

·                   Every child has the right to have a book to go to bed with - and a bed to read it in.
·                   Every child has the right to be taught to read, because without that they have lost the most vital social, educational and professional communication in the modern world.
·                   Every child has the right to be guided to the books they need, and the books they will love, in schools, in libraries, and in a safe place they can call a home.

French will take over from the inaugural Laureate – a position shared between Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor – from February 2014.  

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