The illustrator and best-selling children’s book author will hold the prestigious position for two years.

Leigh Hobbs, the best-selling author of more than 20 children books, has been announced as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2016-17.

The Australian Children’s Laureate is hosted by the Australian Children’s Literature Alliance, and aims to promote the importance of reading, creativity and story in the lives of young Australians. Hobbs’ cartoons have been featured in the Melbourne Age newspaper, and he was the creative mind behind the creature that sits atop the ‘spider’ ride at Melbourne’s Luna Park, but primarily Hobbs is known for his work as the writer and illustrator of lovable characters Old Tom, Mr Chicken and Horrible Harriet.

 One of Hobbs’ most beloved characters, Old Tom

“I am not interested in doing wordless picture books because I love having the text saying one thing in an adult voice, but the picture subverting what the text does,” Hobbs said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. “Kids love that because it makes them stretch – they see the picture, they read the text and think that’s not what Old Tom is doing, he’s playing up, and it’s a sort of game for them.”

During his two-year term as the Australian Children’s Laureate, Hobbs aims to champion creative opportunities for children, and to highlight the essential role libraries play in nurturing our creative lives. “Libraries have played an enormous role in my life,” he said. “ Reading and exploring history and art is something I have been able to do because of libraries. I’m passionately interested in histories and cultures and I hope that through my work I can encourage children to explore and experience these things too.”

Hobbs will make his first public appearance as the new Laureate at the State Library of Victoria’s Kids’ Big Book Spectacular on this Saturday, 13 February. ABC Splash and the Centre for Youth Literature will stream a live interview and Q&A session over the internet on 25 February at 2pm (AEDT). For more information, visit the ABC Splash website.