Time to choose the next children's laureate

by Alison Flood blogging in The Guardian overnight..........

Michael Rosen (pic by Rex) has been a tireless ambassador for children's literature during his stint as children's laureate – I saw him in action earlier this year, and he was a truly electrifying speaker, making the kids present practically incandescent with excitement – but his two-year tenure is coming to an end next year, so the organisers are asking for nominations for the new incumbent.

One name being bandied around already is poet Roger McGough – he'd obviously be wonderful (and I loved him on QI), but perhaps it'd be nice to follow a poet with a novelist?

How about the beloved Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon, or Anthony Horowitz, who's got thousands of boys reading already with his Alex Rider novels, or Philip Pullman, who's always campaigning about one thing or another. Then again, JK Rowling must have a bit of time on her hands, now that boy wizard's finally grown up.