Michael Morpurgo questions status of children's books
15th February 2011
Award-winning author and former children's laureate Michael Morpurgo has called for children's books and the people who write them to receive greater recognition.
Tonight the writer will deliver the 35th annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture on BBC One and will call for all forms of children's arts – from literature to theatre – to be given parity with more adult-oriented entertainment.
The lecture will be broadcast as part of the BBC's Year of Books and Morpurgo, whose titles include War Horse and Kensuke's Kingdom, said those who work with or for children are often erroneously given a lower status in society.
'Whether we are talking about children's theatre, children's television programmes, children's films or children's books, it is the same - you are at the bottom of the pile,' he explained.
Last year's Richard Dimbleby Lecture was delivered by bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett, with the Discworld creator addressing how modern society needs to redefine the way it deals with the issue of death.