Children's Laureate, Anne Fine, would like to see fewer books published for young people - and a greater emphasis placed on quality.

"Children should be given the very best writing in fiction, poetry and information books," she said.

"Too many of the books published last year were sloppily written and poorly edited, with grammatical errors, weak plotting and signs of being completed in a rush to meet a deadline," she said.

Anne, who was speaking at the Wessex Book Fair in Winchester Guildhall, is only the second Children's Laureate - illustrator and writer, Quentin Blake, was the first.

It's a position she holds for two years - and she takes it very seriously.

"I have been writing for 25 years and so I was pleased and delighted to be given this honour and tremendous opportunity in May last year."

Her first project was to bring together anthologies of poetry entitled "A Shame to Miss" for three different age groups.

"So much poetry which is offered to children is doggerel which only works when it is performed, or of the 'poo and bogie' variety, which is of little merit. Reading standards have definitely risen, children have a wide emotional range and have had many different experiences and they are ready for high-quality poetry."

The books have been a great success with children, parents and teachers.

Anne's second project is "growing like a benign virus", she says.

She has persuaded renowned illustrators to design bookplates which are freely available from the website, www.my homelibrary.org. Children choose which ones they want to put in their books to create their own library.

"There are inexpensive second-hand books in charity shops all over the country," she explained.

"A child can buy a book, still in good condition, and put a bookplate in it. This is a particularly important way for families in economically-deprived areas to build up collections and the book is read, and enjoyed, again."

The bookplates may be photocopied and are being used extensively in this country and abroad.

The logistics of organising the coaches, author talks and book signings, visits to the displays, and the competitions for the two-day book fair had kept Anne Marley, assistant county librarian, busy for months.

She ensures that schools receive multiple copies of books in advance by the authors they are to meet so teachers can prepare them for workshops. Anne coped with schools arriving in the morning when they had been scheduled for the afternoon and returning lost property - and children - to the right school, all with indefatigable energy and a smile.

"We have all the headquarters staff in, the mobile library drivers and the area librarians. It is hard work, but also tremendous fun to see everyone having a good time and discovering the joy of books," she said.

The event was attended by over 3,300 children from 96 primary schools and, on Friday evening and Saturday, when the event was open to the public, over 6,000 people were there.

"I'm a veteran of book fairs and this one is fantastic," said author, Jacqueline Wilson, "Everything works like clockwork because of the care that Anne puts into the organisation."

Fellow writer, Michael Morpurgo, agreed. "Every child has read at least one of my books before I see them so they can relate to me as a writer and not a 'celebrity'.

"I encourage them to feel they can also write and tell stories. I met children from a special school and they were well prepared with interesting questions and comments."