Like a dame ... Jacqueline Wilson. Photograph: Guardian/Martin Argles

Maybe, after all the other glass ceilings that have been smashed through by children's authors, Jacqueline Wilson being made a dame of the British Empire is the final bid for parity by those who write for children. After all, many adult authors have been so honoured - Dame Barbara Cartland, Dame Iris Murdoch, Sir Kingley Amis - but, up until now, no children's authors or illustrators have been so illustriously recognised.

So, congratulations, Jackie! It's a very grown-up recognition for an author who is justly beloved by her readers but, sometimes, undervalued by their parents and teachers. And Jackie makes a very, very suitable first to be called dame. She's already hauled in prizes of all kinds - except the Carnegie Medal with which the librarians have yet to honour her; she been the Children's Laureate; she has toppled another dame - Catherine Cookson - from the top of the most borrowed author from the library position; she holds the record for the number of hours that anyone is willing to stand in a queue to get a book signed by an author (over seven, in her case); she has 14 titles in the most recent list of the 200 bestsellers in the UK ... and so on. And, more simply, when children see her, they know her at once as that friendly 'everyone's granny' character who never fails to oblige with an autograph or a friendly pose for the camera. Add to that sales figures topping 20m and translations in more than 30 languages, and the contribution Jackie has made to children's literature (not to mention exports) becomes clear. Her work has singlehandedly created young readers, through her understanding of what they need and through her exceptional ability to give it to them.