Cottrell-Boyce’s books for children include Millions, Cosmic and sequels to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is also a screenwriter, whose credits include 24 Hour Party People – and, along with Danny Boyle, he devised the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.
He succeeds Joseph Coelho as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate. The post was set up 25 years ago by Ted Hughes, then Poet Laureate, and Michael Morpurgo, and is held for two years. Previous holders include Quentin Blake, Jacqueline Wilson and Malorie Blackman.
Inequality has risen since the laureateship was created, Cottrell-Boyce said: “We’ve lost a thousand libraries. In the meantime, sales of super yachts have risen by 42 per cent.”
The father-of-seven called for national provision so that every child, from their earliest years, has access to books.
He said that his tenure “will be about campaigning for a visible sign that this country values its children – to show them they are important.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to get reading as a right for all into the national conversation.”