I was thrilled to have the opportunity to travel to Chile and Argentina at the end of March to talk about being Children's Laureate, and about the importance of creativity, visual literacy and picture books. Despite getting off to a slow start when my flights were delayed by the BA strikes, my visit to the cities of Santiago and Buenos Aires were packed with events, and a hugely enjoyable highlight of my time as Laureate so far.

After travelling for 25 hours, I arrived in Santiago, Chile, where I was taken straight to the Centre of Resources for Learning in Spanish, an organisation that provides books for school libraries and organises programmes for promoting literacy. I was immediately struck – as I always am in Latin America – by the openness and warmth of the people, and their passionate enthusiasm for books and children.

Next up was a huge book signing at the Universidad Catolica de Chile, the most prestigious university in the country, where I gave a talk on the relationship between words and images in picture books to an audience of academics and students of design, education and literature. I was very pleased to be invited to judge the first ever picture book competition for students at the university, and was impressed with the high standard of the entries.

Later, I visited a hospital where the university works with sick children, reading and creating picture books. There, I taught an enthusiastic group of children and their carers how to play the Shape Game, and helped them make up a story, using the bear with the magic pencil as the starting point. Like the children I meet all over the world, they had some incredibly imaginative ideas and responses!

The next few days were packed with events, from busy book signings in beautiful Santiago bookshops to talking with teachers from the Association of British Schools in Chile and a visit to my Chilean publisher, Fondo de Cultural Economica. One afternoon I was able to take a break to visit the beautiful city of Valparaiso, and the stunning house where the poet Pablo Neruda had lived.

Later the same day, I was taken to a shopping mall in a poor district of Santiago. In this rather depressing environment, I was astonished to see a beautiful, stylish library – an oasis in the desert! This was the Biblioteca Viva, run by the Fundacion le Fuente, who promote children’s literacy by creating free libraries in shopping malls, where children have access to reading activities and the chance to meet authors. Apparently there are 16 of these throughout the city – what a fantastic idea! I took part by leading a drawing workshop with the children, which was brilliant.

My time in Santiago came to an end with a breakfast with a range of people working in institutions relating to children and literature. Sitting next to the Chilean Minister of Culture, an ex-actor, we agreed that there were some similarities between our roles! Finally, before I left for Argentina, there was another mammoth book signing at a large bookstore, leaving me in no doubt of the high level of enthusiasm for picture books in Chile.

The next day, I flew to Buenos Aires, where I was greeted equally warmly by my Argentinian publishers. My time in the city began with interviews with two journalists from the government’s education website, followed by giving a talk at a conference for teachers, librarians and children’s book experts in the beautiful Argentinian Ministry of Education and Culture.

The next few days were filled with interviews from Argentinian newspapers and magazines, as well as a book signing in the appropriately named El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookshop, housed in an old theatre. Highlights included speaking to children at School number 3 of Cabalito (animated, excited, imaginative and creative – and that was just the staff!) and giving a talk at the leading art museum of Buenos Aires, the Malba Museum.

What a fabulous trip – and how wonderful to have the opportunity to share my experiences as Children’s Laureate, as well as my belief in the importance of creativity, visual literacy and picture books, with some of the warmest, friendliest, happiest and most vital people I have encountered!

Take a look at some pictures from my trip:

Signing books at Antarctica Books, Santiago, Chile



The packed auditorium for my public interview with Jennifer King in Santiago



Exchanging gifts with the Chilean Minister for Culture



The incredible El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina



The Malba Museum in Buenos Aires... those who couldn't get a seat in the auditorium watched my talk live outside on the video screen.