Children's Laureate 2001-3

Anne Fine was appointed the second Children's Laureate in 2001.

Born in the Midlands, she studied politics and history at University, publishing her first children's book, The Summer House Loon, in 1978.

Since then she has written books for both children and adults. Among her books for younger children, Flour Babies, won a Carnegie Medal (1992) and the Whitbread Children's Book Award (1993), and Bill's New Frock won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Gold Award, 1990).

Her books for older children include: The Tulip Touch, winner of the Whitbread Children's Book Award (1996); Goggle-Eyes, which won another Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (both 1990), and was adapted for BBC Television; and Madame Doubtfire (filmed by Twentieth Century Fox as 'Mrs Doubtfire' starring Robin Williams).

Her books for adults include Killjoy (1986); Taking the Devil's Advice (1990); Telling Liddy (1998); and All Bones and Lies (2001).

Anne Fine is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and lives in County Durham. She was awarded an OBE in 2003.

As Laureate she toured and campaigned to encourage children's reading and raise the profile of libraries.

She compiled three poetry anthologies (A Shame to Miss, volumes 1, 2 and 3) and launched the My Home Library scheme, encouraging children to build their own libraries at home and for which more than 100 artists and cartoonists provided over 150 original bookplate designs.

Find out more about Anne Fine at her website www.annefine.com or at the Contemporary Writers website.