Today, a child needs uplifting, positive messages more than anything in order to brave the constantly changing, unpredictable world we live in according to newly appointed Australian Children’s Laureate, Morris Gleitzman.
The Jewish-Australian award-winning author aims to use this honour to spread the word about the importance of books in a child’s life and why the involvement of parents is the key to a successful progression.
“As Laureate, I’ll champion stories and everything stories can offer. I aim to be a kind of ambassador for young readers, and for the community of people who write for them,” says Gleitzman.
Gleitzman’s many successful books include the likes of the ‘Once’ series, tracing the life of a Polish-Jew during the Holocaust. Through familial inspiration, Gleitzman is able to show the strength of human resilience when faced with utter hardship.
The theme for Gleitzman’s two-year term as Australian Children’s Laureate will be ‘Stories make us; stories create our future”.
For the last 30 years, Gleitzman has been writing stories for children that are not only funny, but are confronting and serious, making for an eventual inspiring message. Gleitzman hopes his two-year term will help bring encouragement for young people in a challenging world.
“I want to engage young readers in a celebration of stories and all the precious things they get from them while at the same time encouraging adults to think more deeply and perceptively about the transformative qualities of good stories for young people.”
The Australian Children’s Laureate initiative was established in 2008 to promote the importance of reading and creativity in the lives of young Australians.
Morris Gleitzman succeeds author Leigh Hobbs as he takes over the position for 2018/19.