In Week 4, three lucky Press Gang reporters, Archie, Eliza, and Elsie went to the State Library and got to experience the official launch of the 2026-2027 Children’s Laureate, Andy Griffiths.
We took the bus to the State Library and got our Press Gang shirts on to get ready for the big interview with Andy.
I asked Andy what he will be doing while he is the Children’s Laureate. “One of the main things I’ll be doing is travelling around Australia and talking to groups of kids and their parents. I’ll be taking them on imaginary adventures,” he said.
After the interview, we Vox Popped event guests such as Tim Harris, Deb Knight and the Chair of the Laureate Foundation.
The launch was amazing! Andy got awarded a painting of a magpie, which is the symbol of the Children’s Laureate. Andy and Bill Hope (the illustrator) drew a book with Oh No! and Oh Yes! by picking kids out of the crowd with ideas for the book.
Elsie said her favourite part of the day was interviewing Andy and other authors. “Reading these authors’ books is great, but meeting them in person is so much better.’
My favourite person I interviewed was Matt Cosgrove, who is the author of Macca the Alpacca.’
So, why is the Children’s Laureate job so important?
‘The children’s Laureate job is important because it promotes kids to read more and be on their screens
less,” said Elsie.
