Author David Almond has been appointed guest artistic director of next year's Bath Children's Literature Festival.
The writer, who is perhaps best known for his novel Skellig, has twice won the Whitbread Children's Book Award and has also picked up the Carnegie Medal and the prestigious 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award.
As well as his new role at Bath Festivals, Almond was recently appointed professor of creative writing at Bath Spa University.
He said: "This great festival celebrates the fact that children's literature sits right at the heart of our culture. It's a real thrill and honour to be asked to be guest artistic director."
Almond succeeds John and Gill McLay, who founded the festival which is sponsored by the Telegraph and who have been artistic directors since 2007.
Belinda Kidd, chief executive of Bath Festivals, said she had no doubt that he would do a fantastic job: "It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome David Almond to Bath as guest artistic director. My team and I are very much looking forward to working with him and bringing a new look to our much loved children's festival."
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