As Malorie hands the Laureateship to Chris Riddell, we look back at her time as Children’s Laureate and what she accomplished in those two years.
Earlier this week, Malorie Blackman handed the Children’s Laureateship over to Chris Riddell after an incredibly successful two years.
During her tenure, Malorie published an anthology of short stories, Love Hurts, featuring short stories and extracts by Patrick Ness, E. Lockhart and Philip Pullman, and a new story by Malorie. She also announced a campaign to support YA fiction in the UK and as part of that, opened the inaugural Young Adult Lit Con (YALC) as part of London Film and Comic Con dressed in a Star Trek outfit and speaking Klingon.
Project Remix, a platform for young people to discover or rediscover well-known titles which they could rework into songs, book trailers or redesign the jackets, was another successful part of Malorie’s Laureateship. It encouraged young people to get involved with reading but in their own way. They could write a song, create a book trailer, redesign the jacket, create a comic strip or write new fiction inspired by their chosen title.
As she handed the Laureateship to Chris Riddell, hundreds of people took to Twitter to share their appreciation for Malorie and the work she’s done as Laureate.
On @malorieblackman‘s last day as Children’s Laureate, we want to #thankyoumalorie for a great job, esp championing YA – you’re our hero!
— The YA Book Prize (@yabookprize) June 8, 2015
I have to say, @malorieblackman was a truly magnificent Children’s Laureate. She championed UKYA and fought for libraries. #ThankYouMalorie — Tanya Byrne (@tanyabyrne) June 9, 2015
Malorie Blackman has been truly amazing as Children’s Laureate, she is completely marvellous #ThankYouMalorie
— Sarah Watkins (@janesharp1671) June 9, 2015
#ThankYouMalorie for ensuring the #WeNeedDiverseBooks debate was had and heard. And for doing it with grace and elegance.
— Louise JohnsShepherd (@Loujs) June 9, 2015
It’s @malorieblackman‘s last hours as #ChildrensLaureate & people are using the #thankyoumalorie hashtag to say – er -thank you! @Booktrust — Philip Ardagh (@PhilipArdagh) June 9, 2015
#ThankYouMalorie for inspiring and encouraging so many young people to relish both reading and writing. Congrats on a job very well done.
— Felicity Box (@flic92) June 9, 2015
Today is @malorieblackman‘s last day as #ChildrensLaureate! Say goodbye & tell her how great she is. #ThankYouMaloriepic.twitter.com/dfh78k7otd — Book Trust (@Booktrust) June 9, 2015
Arriving at YALC to find @malorieblackman dressed up as V for Vendetta + realising everything was going to be awesome #ThankYouMalorie
— Stevie Finegan (@SableCaught) June 9, 2015
Thank you Malorie, and now on to the next chapter!