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Wang appointed Australian Children’s Laureate 2022–23

The Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation (ACLF) has named Gabrielle Wang as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022–23.

Melbourne-based Wang is an award-winning author and illustrator of over 20 books, including The Lion Drummer (illus by Andrew McLean), A Ghost in My Suitcase and The Wishbird (all Puffin), which each received the Notable Book commendation at the CBCA awards in 2009, 2010 and 2014 respectively. Wang’s work is influenced by her Chinese heritage and experiences growing up, often including elements of Chinese culture, philosophy and mythology.

The theme of Wang’s two-year term will be ‘Imagine a Story’, through which she aims to explore issues of imagination, cultural diversity, visual literacy, audiobooks and reading aloud.

‘As Australian Children’s Laureate I will be encouraging young people to use their imagination by reading, writing and drawing. Nourish your imagination and a garden of delight will grow,’ said Wang. ‘Through story we can be inside the head of someone else, even someone with a different culture or way of life to our own. By reading books about diverse characters by diverse authors, young people can not only gain knowledge but also learn tolerance and empathy.’

Of Wang’s appointment, ACLF chair Bruce Ellis said: ‘From our first conversation I have been impressed by Gabrielle’s commitment to encouraging children to use their imagination in all different ways—drawing, writing and reading. I can’t wait to see how she enriches the lives of young Australians through the power of story.’

Wang is the seventh Australian Children’s Laureate succeeding 2020–2021 laureate Ursula Dubosarsky and previous laureates Morris Gleitzman (2018–19), Leigh Hobbs (2016–17), Jackie French (2014–15) and Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor (both 2013–14).

The Australian Children’s Laureate initiative was established in 2008 and developed by ACLF to ‘promote the transformational power of reading, creativity and story in the lives of young Australians’. For more information, see the ACLF website.

 

Category: Local news