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.
All photos by David Bartlett
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 children reading.
FCBG Conference 2026
Books that Hook: Turning every child into a reader with the right book
The 2026 conference was held at Leighton Park School in Reading from 10th to 12th April.
Speakers included J.J. Arcanjo, Sufiya Ahmed, Holly Webb, Philip Kavvadias, Phil Earle, Sarah Crossan, Tia Fisher, Ella McLeod, Chris Mould, Ross Montgomery, Malcolm Duffy, Leonie Lord, Sophie Anderson, Susan Martineau, Leigh Hodgkinson, Samantha Lewis, Jon Lock, Nich Angel, Cat Weldon, Nene Lonergan, A.F. Harrold, Eve Wesocki Morris, Ed Vere and Jonathan Stroud. We celebrated a number of anniversaries with publishers, including 10 years of Little People, Big Dreams, Isadora Moon, Otter Barry Books, Fantastic Women with Kate Pankhurst, and the 15th anniversary of Nosy Crow along with the new Puffin Press imprint.
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Our beautiful logo has been created by Emma Carpendale
FCBG Conference 2025
Weaving Magic with Words
The 2025 conference was held at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School St Catherine’s Campus from 11th to 13th April.
Speakers included Jackie Morris, Manon Steffan Ros, Karin Celestine, Louisa Reid, Lesley Parr, Barry Cunningham, Piers Torday, Ash Bond, Claire Fayers, Alex Wharton, Kate Williams, Mamma G, Chris Smith, Hannah Gold, Gill Lewis, Neill Cameron, Billy Partridge, Sophy Henn, Sandra Saleh-Reyhani, Struan Murray, Greg Stobbs, Scott Evans, Zoe Antoniades, Matt Goodfellow, Thomas Flintham, Ben Hoare, Lily Dyu, and Nicola Davies. We celebrated the 45th anniversary of Jill Murphy’s classic picture book Peace at Last, 25 years of Chicken House, 10 years of Rock the Boat, Usborne’s new series Pia’s Pet Club, and the publication of Jessie Burton’s Hidden Treasures.
Our lovely logo was created by Jackie Morris.