On my radar: Cressida Cowell’s cultural highlights
The How To Train Your Dragon author on the most beautiful place on Earth, an epic nature-themed fantasy and the tantalising prospect of a new Jilly Cooper TV adaptation
December 2023
New Quentin Blake museum to provide a London home for a booming art form
The centre – featuring the work of acclaimed artists – will be the only permanent place in Britain to learn about the history of illustration
June 2022
Cressida Cowell renews call for £100m investment in primary school libraries
The outgoing children’s laureate has transformed six primary schools through her Life-changing Libraries initiative, but says a ringfenced fund is needed for lasting impact
May 2021
Children’s authors on Eric Carle: ‘He created readers as voracious as that caterpillar’
Authors from Julia Donaldson to Cressida Cowell pay tribute to the beloved author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, who has died aged 91
April 2021
Children’s laureates campaign for £100m a year to fix primary school libraries
Current laureate Cressida Cowell leads demands to ringfence funds to renew ‘deteriorating’ facilities that fail to appeal to students
September 2020
The Q&A
Cressida Cowell: ‘My favourite smell? Babies, roses and the wind by the sea'
The children’s author and illustrator on anxiety, Abba songs and the value of kindness
May 2020
Books to broaden your horizons, by Hilary Mantel, Simon Schama, Lisa Taddeo and more
If you currently feel confined, reading can open up new worlds. Authors and thinkers at this year’s Hay Festival Digital recommend books to take you on a journey
January 2020
'I'm on the hunt for humour and hope': what will authors be reading in 2020?
Writers including Matt Haig, Gina Miller and Cressida Cowell give their new year’s reading resolutions
October 2019
Konnie Huq and 90 MPs call for end to 'reading tax' in UK
TV star joins delegation to the chancellor of the exchequer demanding an end to VAT on digital books, which traditional publications escape
July 2019
The Guardian view on the creative self: it needs more than 15 minutes
Editorial: Britons need time and space to release their imagination. It would be good for them and for their country
Cressida Cowell: ‘Books are better than films at teaching children creativity and intelligence'
The new children’s laureate and How to Train Your Dragon author talks about how to get kids reading and why we need the space to make mistakes
How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell named new children's laureate
The author and illustrator comes to role with ‘giant to-do list’, which includes making school libraries a legal requirement, and more time for creativity
March 2019
Campaigners warn of 'book poverty' as UK celebrates World Book Day
Show disabled people in stories, authors urge on World Book Day
December 2018
Further reading
Cressida Cowell on the best books to celebrate the magic of Christmas
Children's book reviews round-up
The best children’s books of 2018 for all ages
October 2018
Matilda, stay young: why seeing Roald Dahl’s hero at 30 is bittersweet
Cressida Cowell
Quentin Blake’s new depictions of Matilda highlight how slow progress is in the real world, writes children’s author Cressida Cowell
September 2018
Children's book reviews round-up
Fiction for older children reviews – many happy book returns
With a host of popular characters back this autumn, picking up from where you left off has rarely been more fun
March 2018
Children's book reviews round-up
Picture books for children reviews – strong mums and brave spirits
Naughty kittens light up Cressida Cowell’s latest, while another twist on the Rebel Girls formula is full of spark
November 2017
Neil Gaiman leads authors demanding action to halt decline of school libraries
Open letter, also signed by Philip Pullman and Malorie Blackman, says falling provision risks consigning children to ‘a lifetime of low achievement’
