Children's laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce: 'We're in a happiness recession – we need to address it'

It’s been a challenging year for many, but screenwriter and novelist Frank Cottrell-Boyce explains that we have a “duty to be hopeful”.

For the Big Issue’s My Big Year series, we spoke to Cottrell-Boyce about everything he’s hopeful for in 2025 and his highlights of 2024, including his Christmas traditions, being appointed Waterstones children’s laureate, and his terrible Duolingo cheating habit.

Here’s everything Frank Cottrell-Boyce is looking forward to 2025, including a reversal of Britain’s “happiness recession”.

BIG ISSUE: What has been the standout moment of 2024? 

FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE: Well it was pretty great being announced as the new Waterstones children’s laureate. All my family were with me when it happened. That gave me a feeling that I could really make a change. Also, my granddaughter said, “I thought we were getting an accolade.” “We did. It’s this medal.” “OH! I thought it was a kind of drink.”

Are you more or less hopeful than at the start of 2024? 

When things are bad, you have a duty to be hopeful.  The result of the US election is obviously a setback for the planet. But I hope that failure at the top will inspire a hunger for real change from the rest of us. 

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What do you think the world got right this year? 

Giving the Labour Party a massive landslide still feels like it could be a great opportunity.   

What do you think the world got wrong this year? 

So many things… so let’s think about how to fix things. My dad used to say, don’t sing Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead, tell me what’s happening Over the Rainbow… 

• New children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce: ‘Children need reading now more than ever’
• Children’s author Oliver Jeffers: ‘Storytelling is the most powerful force humans have’

What is your cultural highlight of 2024? 

In a year of big, big events, a tiny short story – Better Living Through Algorithms by Naomi Kritzer – is the thing that most resonates with me. It’s about the impact of AI on our lives and it’s not entirely dystopian. It won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. Read it!

What would your browsing history say about you this year? 

That I think I don’t cheat when I do my Duolingo. But I do. 

What’s your biggest failure this year? 

Failing to improve my language skills due to cheating on Duolingo.  

What’s the one conversation you wish you were able to have in 2024? 

If there was a way for me to talk to all the parents, grandparents and carers in the country at the same time, so I could share with them what I’ve learnt about just how valuable it is to share stories with your children when they’re very small, that would be transformative. Nearly 50% of our children are missing out on this.

What is the oddest family Christmas tradition you keep? 

Odd and beautiful – about 30 years ago a Chinese neighbour gave us a big red paper lantern. She’s long dead now but the paper lantern is still – just about – in one piece.  We hang it from the ceiling every year. Then pack it away as if it was the Dead Sea Scrolls. There’s something cheering about being able to keep something so fragile in one piece for so long. 

What’s your big issue for 2025? 

The happiness of children.  We’re experiencing some kind of happiness recession.  We need to address it. 

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