Children's Books Ireland International Conference
The Children's Books Ireland International Conference is a weekend-long celebration of the very best in children's books. Anyone with an interest in and a passion for children's books is welcome to attend and participate in what is always an outward-looking, lively and thought-provoking event.
The Children's Books Ireland International Conference 2023 takes place in the Light House Cinema, 16–17 September.
This year’s conference theme, ‘Risk and Reward’, asks attendees and speakers to reflect on occasions where they took risks; calculated or on the fly; both in their work and career development.
What rewards can be reaped when risk is in the mix?
Featuring an array of international children’s authors and illustrators the conference’s theme, Risk and Reward asks what the benefits and disadvantages of taking risks are and how they are reflected in the richness and depth of books created for children and young adults today.
Conference artwork taken from Julia and the Shark © Tom de Freston 2021.
Get tickets
For the first time, tickets are available for both in-person and online attendance at conference. Weekend tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite.ie.
The line-up
Fans of children’s literature will be delighted to see international artists such as wife and husband team Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston (Julia and the Shark, Leila and the Blue Fox), authors Katherine Rundell (Impossible Creatures, The Explorer, Rooftoppers), Ross Montgomery (Spellstone, Sheep School, Fortune’s Fools) and Manjeet Mann (The Crossing, Run, Rebel) on the lineup.
US illustrator Shawn Harris (The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, Have You Ever Seen a Flower?) completes the list of international speakers announced so far.
On the home front; Black and Irish and Little Island Books will be talking about their collaboration, the New Voices panel returns, featuring 10 debut Irish artists, picturebook creator Tarsila Krüse (Púcaí Schmúcaí! Agus dánta eile, Ná Gabh ar Scoil!) joins and Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde addresses the audience.
New Voices
Children’s Books Ireland is dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the work of debut Irish authors and illustrators. This includes a recurrent New Voices slot at our Annual International Conference, where debut children’s artists have the opportunity to present or read from their book alongside their peers. In 2023 Children’s Books Ireland has selected eleven New Voices to take part – find out more at the link below!
Unwaged persons wishing to attend can avail of a limited number of in-person and online conference tickets, which have been set aside at no fee.
Please do get in touch as soon as possible on (01) 872 7475 or at info@childrensbooksireland.ie.
Children’s Books Ireland can also provide some financial support towards travel, accommodation and child care costs, please let us know about your needs and what level of financial support would allow you to attend the conference.
Please let us know whether you would like to avail of this opportunity before 5pm on 1st September 2023. All information shared is strictly confidential.
