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.

The 2022 conference will be hosted by the National Executive, at Woldingham School, Caterham from 8^th – 10^th April. The speakers include past Laureates, Michael Morpurgo, Anne Fine and Lauren Child, current Laureate, Cressida Cowell and past Welsh Laureate, Eloise Williams. We also have John Agard, Anna James, Nadia Shireen, Petr Horacek, Nicola Davies, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntyre, Sue Cheung, Janina Ramirez, Coral Rumble, Roderick O’Grady, Jess Butterworth, Tom Palmer, Cat Weldon, Natasha Farrant, Matt Goodfellow, Alex Wharton, Manjeet Mann and a quiz with Chris Lloyd.

Download the booking form and programme

2019 conference 

The 2019 conference, Opening Doors, was hosted by Lewes and Oxted CBGs, at Woldingham School, Caterham from 12^th – 14^th April. The speakers included Nick Sharratt, Guy Parker Reese and Francesca Simon; and the panels explored Empathy, Representation, Middle Grade Fiction and Non-Fiction. There was an evening of poetry and music and celebrations of 30 years of Elmer and 20 years of Giraffes Can’t Dance.

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.

See here for past conferences.