The Bookseller Children’s Conference full programme for 2024 announced

Today, The Bookseller has revealed the full programme for its annual Children’s Conference, taking place in-person and online on 30th September at County Hall, Waterloo.

Featuring keynotes from new Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Bloomsbury children’s publishing director Rebecca McNally and Storymix founder Jasmine Richards alongside two streams of panels and case studies, the conference is shaped around the theme "Heartstarters". Co-programmers Molly Flatt and Philip Jones describe the event as “a pivotal opportunity to reassess what’s working and invigorate the sector.” Panels will explore issues from pre-school to YA, including the literacy crisis, author care, next-generation audio and innovative events.

A new "in conversation" format will see pairs of booksellers and indie publishers discuss the realities of the children’s book market on the ground, while Nielsen will unveil fresh research from 2024. 

One panel will examine how the industry can harness the success of the graphic novel genre to keep teens reading, while two time Nibbies-winner Jamie Smart, author of the bestselling Bunny vs Monkey series, will deliver an endnote asking “what publishing can do to help comics to be taken as seriously as they deserve”.

Other speakers include Ruth Knowles, publishing director at Penguin Random House Children’s; Caroline Cummins, head of policy at the Publishers Association; agent Molly Ker Hawn; Free Books Campaign founder Sofia Akel; and authors and illustrators including Lex Croucher, Dapo Adeola, Candy Gourlay and Ramzee.

“With reading habits evolving post-pandemic, insights emerging into the effects of digital overload on today’s young people and a new government reassessing the UK’s cultural priorities, this is a crucial moment for children’s publishing,” Flatt explains. “We’re bringing together a huge range of talent from within and without the industry to highlight what’s working, unite around what needs to change and explore how we can better advocate for the powerful difference this sector makes.”

“This promises to be a highly energising, inspiring and useful day,” Jones adds. “Our speakers are unafraid to ask hard but crucial questions about what the children’s sector needs to do to become ever more relevant and impactful—while also celebrating all the excellent work that’s already happening.”

The Bookseller thanks its sponsors and partners Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Books2Door, Murdle Junior, Nielsen Book Data, Sweet Cherry Publishing, UCLan Publishing, Wonderful Ideas Project and xigxag for their support.

Subscribers to The Bookseller receive a 15% discount on tickets, which can be booked at www.thebookseller.com/the-bookseller-childrens-conference-tickets/. For group bookings or sponsorship, please email paul.clifton@thebookseller.com.