Boys ‘don’t read girls’ books’

BOYS don’t like reading books if the main character is a girl, making it ‘harder for girls to be equal’, according to the new Children’s Laureate.

Best-selling author and illustrator Lauren Child, who was appointed to the role yesterday, writes the Ruby Redfort books and the Charlie And Lola series, which has been adapted into a hit television series.

But the 51-year-old said she was concerned that boys were quick to shun what they think of as ‘girls’ books’.

‘I don’t know if it’s just in our culture, or whether it’s a boy thing, that they find it very hard to pick up a book or go to a film if the girl is the central character,’ she told the BBC. ‘I don’t know where that comes from but it worries me because it makes it harder for girls to be equal.’

She added that she was concerned that parents think her Ruby Redfort books, about a 13-year-old secret agent, are not for boys.

‘You could quite easily change Ruby’s name to a boy’s name and just change a few details in the book and it works just the same,’ she said. ‘But still parents will come up to me and say, “Do you write books for boys as well?” This is a book for boys. We do still have those problems. It does concern me.’

In a separate interview, she added: ‘I felt it was really important to write the Ruby Redfort series about a strong girl because girls are not represented enough in that sort of lead role.’

Miss Child was appointed Children’s Laureate at a ceremony in Hull, which is UK City of Culture, and takes over from illustrator and writer Chris Riddell.