Author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs has been named the new Australian Children’s Laureate! The role of the Australian Children’s Laureate is to promote the importance of reading, creativity and story in the lives of young Australians.

Hobbs is known as the creator of such iconic characters as Old Tom, Mr Chicken and Horrible Harriet and over the past two decades has won the heart of many a young fan with his dark humour and distinctive drawing style. The interplay between visual and textual elements has always been a major feature of Hobbs’ work, and is one of the reasons why his work is so beloved. (You can read a great article from author Emily Gale about the importance of visual literacy here.)

Speaking of the appointment, Hobbs said, ‘It’s a lovely thing for me because my books are on the subversive side, and also I think humorous books have been underestimated.’ During his time as Australian Children’s Laureate, Hobbs will visit numerous schools around Australia to meet with children, and will also be working to highlight the essential role of libraries and librarians.

Find out more about the Australian Children’s Laureate initiative here.