The Languages of Children’s Books: Celebrating the National Year of Reading at the University of Reading

Co-organised by the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing and Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading, in partnership with Outside in World and World Kid Lit month.

This mini festival will be held in person on the London Road campus of the University of Reading, with some sessions offered for online participants.

The Languages of Children’s Books: Celebrating Translation and Linguistic Diversity

Languages are a central part of bringing diverse books to readers, and ensuring those stories speak to them. This one-day festival celebrates the work taking place across different sectors of the of the children’s book world (academics, advocacy organisations, creators, educators, librarians, publishers, translators) to promote children’s access to stories in translation, multilingual storytelling and linguistic diversity in their books. As part of the National Year of Reading in the UK, we believe it is important to showcase the many ways in which the languages of their books can inspire young people to get reading.

The mini festival will be structured around panel discussions, interactive workshops, showcases, and exhibitions. Confirmed speakers and exhibitors include:

• Jake Hope, The Carnegies
• Dr Megan Farr, Books Council of Wales
• Dr Darren Chetty and Professor Karen Sands O’Connor, authors of Beyond the Secret Garden: Children’s Literature and Representations of Black and Racially minoritised People
• Dr Anish Harrison, National Literacy Trust
• Professor Sabine Little, University of Sheffield
• Dr Sophie Liggins, University of Essex
• Dr Charlotte Ryland, Stephen Spender Trust/ University of Oxford
• Sarah Ardizzone, Translator
• Anam Zafar, Translator/ World Kid Lit
• Pushkin Press Children’s Books
• Thames & Hudson
• Otter-Barry Books
• Mantra Lingua
• Milet Publishing
• The Emma Press
• International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) UK

Full programme and registration details to follow soon. For more information contact Sophie Heywood s.l.heywood@reading.ac.uk.

This event has been generously funded by the AHRC Impact Accelerator fund, the Centre for Book Cultures & Publishing and the Centre for Literacy & Multilingualism.