Conference

The Federation’s annual conference, organised by one of our local children’s book groups in collaboration with the National Executive, takes place every year in spring, in different locations around the country. Talks, debates, seminars, workshops and exhibitions all feature at the conference which provides a great opportunity to hear authors and illustrators talk about their work, and to socialise with others who are passionate about children’s books and getting kids reading.

logo created by Corina Fletcher

2019 conference

Our next conference, Opening Doors, hosted by Lewes and Oxted CBGs, will take place at Woldingham School, Caterham from 12th -14th April 2019. Bookings are now open.

Speakers and sessions will include:

Nick Sharratt
Jeremy Strong
Guy Parker Rees
Francesca Simon

Panels
Empathy with Miranda McKearney, Ross Montgomery, Sita Brahmachari
Representation Matters with Knights Of and Cynthia So
Middle grade Fiction with Candy Gourlay, Marcia Williams and Serena Patel
Is this a Golden Age of Non-Fiction? With Nikki Gamble, Sam Hutchinson and Yuval Zommer
An evening of poetry and music with Ed Boxall, Liz Brownlee, Brian Moses, Laura Mucha, Roger Stevens, Neal Zetter
Cocktails to celebrate 30 years of Elmer
Tea to celebrate 20 years of Giraffes Can’t Dance

The provisional programme is available for download here: Conference 2019 provisional programme The list is provisional and subject to change.
Book your place without delay. Just download the booking form: FCBG Conference 2019 full rate booking form

2018 conference

The 2018 conference, A Golden Treasury: Hidden Gems, Bright Futures, was held at Queenswood School in Hertfordshire. Held in the year of FCBG’s 50th anniversary, the very special conference programme featured former Children’s Laureates Sir Michael Morpurgo and Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

Michael Morpurgo receiving his award

Delegates enjoy socialising at mealtime

Zeb Soames, one of the speakers

The publishers’ exhibition

James Mayhew does live collaging

One of the many cakes

2017 conference

The 2017 conference, Write Around the World: Broadening Horizons, took place in Reading at The Oratory School. Speakers included Chris Riddell, Lucy Worsley, Petr Horacek and Nicola Davies. Click here to see some photos of the event. 

See here for past conferences.