Children’s writers from His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman to Julia Donaldson, creator of the Gruffalo, have joined forces to write a letter to The Times in protest at the departure of its children’s book reviewer Amanda Craig. The letter, which has 425 signatories, has been sent to The Times editor John Witherow in the hope of publication.
It recommends Craig, also a novelist, as “a unique advocate for children’s books” and notes that she spotted and championed JK Rowling, Anthony Horowitz, Philip Pullman, Francesca Simon and Cressida Cowell, “inspiring uncountable numbers of children to become passionate readers”.
Craig had been paid a small fee for writing the column over the past decade but the job has now gone in-house. No sign of the letter in today’s Times. Maybe tomorrow?
