Frank has pledged to dedicate his two-year tenure to starting a national conversation about the role books and reading can play in transforming children’s lives, building on the compelling evidence showing that reading for pleasure improves life-chances, as well as highlighting the ‘crisis point’ facing the millions of children now living in poverty.
This campaign – which is called Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future – also includes plans for a national summit bringing together expert voices in the political, education, literacy and early years sectors.
His books include Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, Runaway Robot, Noah’s Gold and The Wonder Brothers.
He has enjoyed a long-time collaboration with award-winning illustrator Steven Lenton. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. Frank is also a highly successful screenwriter.
He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and his script for Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom won a British Animation Award. Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.
Frank has been the judge for the 500 Words competition and the BBC's One Show As You Write It competition. Frank is a lifelong champion of children’s books. In 2023 he launched a successful podcast with Nadia Shireen, The Island of Brilliant!, celebrating writing and illustration for children of all ages.
Reading Rights Summit
On January 22 2025, the Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust hosted a Reading Rights Summit to address the 'invisible privilege and inequality' within books and reading.
The day-long summit brought together expert voices in the political, education, literacy, early years, arts and health sectors to recommend an urgent course of action to policymakers that will help ensure that the life-changing benefits of children's reading are taken seriously and made accessible to every child.
In this section
About the Waterstones Children's Laureate
Everything you need to know about the laureateship and the current children's author in the role, Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
More about Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a multi award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal.
Resources for schools
Find lesson plans, a Q&A, book reviews and more to help you celebrate Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce in your school.
Reading Rights campaign corner
Join Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce on his Reading Rights campaign around the UK to get children reading.
Former Laureates
Take a look at our League of Laureates: eleven star authors and illustrators who have previously held the role.
Our supporters
Find out about everyone who supports the Waterstones Children's Laureate and makes the role possible.
Celebrating 20 years of the Waterstones Children's Laureate
In 2019, we reached a milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Waterstones Children's Laureate. Here's what we did to celebrate!
Showing 1 - 10 of 13 results
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Reading Rights Summit: ‘Shared reading is a public health intervention that should be available to all children’
Find out what happened when BookTrust and Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce hosted the Reading Rights summit in Liverpool, as part of a campaign to address the 'invisible privilege and inequality' within children's books and reading.
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Press release: Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce hosts Reading Rights summit
Download the press release about the Reading Rights summit, co-hosted by BookTrust and Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
PRESS RELEASE_Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce Reading Rights Programme.pdf (360.8 KB)
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Reading Rights campaign: “One child saw a book and said: ‘What’s that?’”
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited a school nursery in Liverpool to see why story-sharing interventions during the Early Years are so vital for children.
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Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust host Reading Rights summit
Find out about the Reading Rights summit hosted by BookTrust and Waterstones Frank Cottrell-Boyce, addressing the 'invisible privilege' in children's books and reading.
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce meets BookTrust early years partners
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce met with BookTrust early years partners to explore how his Reading Rights campaign can reinforce their vital work.
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Sharing stories: The incredible bond
Find out what Frank Cottrell-Boyce took from his visit to the University of East London's Baby Lab, where he watched what happens to a baby's brain when they're read to.
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“They were glowing with purpose. They can see that it’s working”: Frank Cottrell-Boyce meets health visitors in Newcastle
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce met with health visitors in Newcastle to learn about their work and their challenges.
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce's visit to Featherstone Prison
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce joined families at a Christmas event at HMP Featherstone.
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"Storytelling can be a shared pleasure": Frank Cottrell-Boyce's visit to a Sheffield nursery
Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce is on the look-out for inspiring examples of sharing books and stories in the early years. Here’s what he took away from his visit to Meadows Nursery in Sheffield.
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Award-winning author & screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce revealed as new Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026
Frank Cottrell-Boyce revealed as new Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026