Children's Conference Programme

09:00 - 09:30

MorningBreakfast

09:30 - 09:35

MorningOpening Remarks

Speakers

Caroline Carpenter

Children's editor & children's conference programmer

The Bookseller

09:35 - 09:55

MorningNational Year of Reading 2026: collective action for future readers

Speakers

Jonathan Douglas CBE

CEO

National Literacy Trust

09:55 - 10:20

MorningKEYNOTE - Back to the future

Speakers

Belinda Rasmussen

President & publisher

Walker Books Group

10:20 - 10:35

MorningChildren's book market growth and trends in 2025

Speakers

Alex Call

Charts editor & owner

The Bookseller & Bert's Books

10:35 - 10:55

MorningSTOP! It’s Grammar Time!

Speakers

MC Grammar

Author

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books

11:00 - 11:30

MorningTea Break

11:30 - 11:50

Stream 1PRESENTATION - Reading Rights: the science of early years reading explained

Speakers

Lizzie Catford

Director of children's books

BookTrust

Professor Sam Wass

Developmental cognitive neuroscientist

University of East London

11:30 - 11:50

Stream 2PRESENTATION - Adapting Crongton for TV: authentically representing children’s issues and joy

Speakers

Amy Buscombe

Commissioning editor, Drama

BBC Children's

Archie Maddocks

Writer & comedian

11:50 - 12:05

Stream 1PRESENTATION - Tackling the children's reading crisis: the challenges and solutions

Speakers

Alison David

Consumer insight director

HarperCollins Children's Books & Farshore

11:50 - 12:05

Stream 2PRESENTATION - How Reflecting Disability can support your publishing vision

Speakers

Beth Cox

Inclusion consultancy & facilitator

Reflecting Disability

Alex Strick

Consultant, reviewer and author

12:10 - 13:00

Stream 1PANEL - Lit for life: How can books help young people navigate the world?

Speakers

Nathanael Lessore

Author

Heather Grainger

LRC manager

Weatherhead High School

Shadi Doostdar

Editorial director

Rock the Boat (Oneworld)

Laura Mucha

Poet & author

12:10 - 13:00

Stream 2PANEL - Challenging the reading crisis with audio

Speakers

Shannon Cullen

Publishing director

Walker Books

Louie Stowell

Author & illustrator

Georgia Holmes

Audio rights & acquisitions manager

Bolinda audio

Jessica Tarrant

Content director

Yoto

13:00 - 14:00

AfternoonLunch

13:00 - 14:00

Stream 1Lunch

13:00 - 14:00

Stream 2Lunch

14:00 - 14:30

Stream 1PANEL - Finding fandom: how children’s books can build lasting communities

Speakers

Andy Williams

Creative director, executive producer & podcast co-host

Nigel Twumasi

Co-founder & CEO

mayamada

Kat McKenna

brand marketing consultant & author

14:00 - 14:30

Stream 2PANEL - How to future-proof creative careers: the agents' perspective

Speakers

Vicki Willden-Lebrecht

Founder & CEO

The Bright Agency

Rachael Davis-Featherstone

Agent, author & co-founder

Creative Roots Studio

14:30 - 14:45

Stream 1SHOWCASE - Keeping a classic brand relevant

Speakers

Craig Glenday

Editor-in-chief

Guinness World Records

14:30 - 14:45

Stream 2SHOWCASE - Turning your passion into publishing succes

Speakers

Sam Arthur

Co-founder & creative director

Flying Eye Books

Hannah Kettle

Head of marketing & publicity

Flying Eye Books

14:50 - 15:30

Stream 2PANEL - How the book trade can help schools celebrate a Year of Reading

Speakers

Deborah Texeira

Children’s bookseller & schools event coordinator

Kenilworth Books

Alexandra Taylor

Hachette Learning

Head of demand generation marketing

Carina Spaulding

Head of research & evaluation

The Reading Agency

14:50 - 15:30

Stream 1PANEL - Bringing books to life: engaging children through experiences

Speakers

Alyx Price

Director of strategic partnerships

Macmillan Children's Books

Kelly-Jade Nicholls

Founder

Woke Babies

Helen Matravers

Artistic director & joint CEO

Polka Theatre

Jessica Ziebland

Head of audiences

Discover Children’s Story Centre

15:30 - 16:00

AfternoonTea Break

15:30 - 16:00

Stream 1Tea Break

15:30 - 16:00

Stream 2Tea Break

16:00 - 16:15

AfternoonPRESENTATION - How building a school library is changing the lives of vulnerable pupils

Speakers

Amanda Harris

Literary agent & founder

Maven Literary Management

Sandra Pennington

Headteacher

Birchen Coppice Primary Academy

Charlotte Jeynes

Community support lead & DDSL

Birchen Coppice Primary Academy

16:15 - 17:00

AfternoonPANEL - 2030 Vision roundtable

Speakers

Rob Biddulph

Children's author and illustrator

Helen Tamblyn-Saville

Owner & manager

Wonderland Bookshop

Margaret Duff

Manchester Libraries

Read Manchester hub manager

Kate Wilson

Group CEO

Nosy Crow

17:00 - 18:00

AfternoonDrinks reception

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