Anthony Browne, who has just been appointed the sixth children's laureate, is a writer and illustrator with simian sympathies. He first sprang to fame with a book about a friendly gorilla, and went on to win international acclaim with Willy the Wimp, a weedy chimp who overcomes his anxieties to defeat the neighbourhood bullies. Here he discusses why animals make such good heroes for picture books and why he's not afraid of scaring his readers.
He's also a sharp social commentator, whose counterpoint of words and text has set new standards of sophistication in picture books. He explains why pictures can often say more than words and gives a glimpse into his working partnerships with other writers. He also explains why the children's laureate is important, and reveals what he hopes to achieve in his two years in the role.
