The Bookseller Children's Conference programme 2024 final details released

A roundtable of industry leaders focused on fighting the UK’s deepening literacy crisis will take place at The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference on 30th September, as final details of the programme are released.

Moderated by Caroline Cummins, director of policy and public affairs at the Publishers Association, the roundtable will bring together Debbie Hicks, creative director, The Reading Agency, Martin Galway head of School Programmes at National Literacy Trust, Alison David consumer insight director at Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books, along with Sanjee de Silva, publisher at indie press Sweet Cherry Publishing. The session will be followed by World Book Day c.e.o. Cassie Chadderton who will speak on making an impact with that initiative.

The session has been convened in response to research from the NLT, which shows that children’s enjoyment of writing and reading has plunged to the lowest level in 14 years, while BookTrust data shows that only half of children aged one to two from low-income families are read to daily.

When combined with library closures, economic inequality and the cost of living crisis, “we risk losing a generation”, according to Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate, whose keynote speech will open the conference.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and co-programmer of this year’s event, said: “To ensure that reading and writing for pleasure become a core aspect of every child’s life, publishing needs a coordinated plan of action. There are many brilliant initiatives already happening, but with a new government entering power this is an unmissable chance for industry leaders to identify gaps, brainstorm solutions and double down on their collective impact.”

Other final sessions to be revealed in the programme include two reading-focused showcases, the first exploring the impact of Penguin Random House’s Lit in Colour initiative and a collaboration between National Book Tokens and Read for Good.

A panel will also unite experts from Yoto, Voxblock, Xigxag and Small Wardour to explore new technologies and opportunities in the children’s audiobook space. Other sessions throughout the day will take on the future of YA, children’s events, activist picture books and author care in a digital age.

Co-programmer Molly Flatt said: “From Frank Cottrell Boyce’s opening rallying call to Jamie Smart’s endnote on the importance of comics, this is shaping up to be a very powerful day. The challenges we face in the UK around literacy and inequality are very real, but so is the depth of talent, passion and skill in children’s publishing. I can’t wait to see the best-in-class work on show, and the new ideas that will emerge.”

The Bookseller Children’s Conference takes place on 30th September, online and in person at County Hall, Waterloo. 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.