The annual CBI Conference is a celebration of the best in books for young people. Featuring some of the most exciting names in illustration, writing, publishing and criticism, the weekend is an opportunity to meet established favourites and discover new voices, all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

This year’s sessions will examine on the issue of voices in children’s books, addressing questions such as:
 
Who is talking and what are they saying?
Who is listening and what are they hearing?
As adults immersed in the world of books for children, how can we know if we are getting it right?

Speaker Programme:

Saturday: Julia Eccleshare, Polly Dunbar, Laoise Ní Chomhraí, Julie O’Callaghan, Mary Finn and Enda Wyley.

Sunday: Professor Kristin Wardetzky, Anne O’Gorman, Tiina Nunnally, Nina Christensen, Tim Bowler and Robert Dunbar.

NB. Full Timetable below.

Full Weekend
Members € 90     Non-Members €100

Single Day
Members €45  Non-Members €50  

Price includes admission to all sessions and the Saturday evening reception. Tea, coffee and a light lunch are also provided. Places are limited and must be booked in advance. Places can be booked online by following the shop link at the top of this page or by calling 01-8727475.

TIMETABLE

Saturday 24th May 2008

9.15am Registration
9.55am Opening Welcome

10.00am Julia Eccleshare
Julia is a writer, broadcaster and lecturer as well as Children’s Books editor of the Guardian. In addition to numerous anthologies her books include, Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter: Portraits of Children’s Writers, The Rough Guide to Picture Books and The Rough Guide to Teenage Books with Nicholas Tucker. She also sits on several judging panels for children’s book awards and in 2000 was awarded the Eleanor Farjeon Award for  outstanding contribution to children’s books.

10.45am  Polly Dunbar
Polly studied illustration at Brighton Art School.  She is the creator of such celebrated picture books as Dog Blue, Flyaway Katie and Penguin, winner of the 2008 Booktrust Early Years Award. As well as working with her mother, author Joyce Dunbar, on Shoe Baby, other recent collaborations include My Dad’s a Birdman with David Almond and Bubble Trouble with Margaret Mahy, set for publication this autumn.

11.30am Tea & Coffee 

12.00pm  Laoise Ní Chomhraí
Laoise is a primary school teacher from in Co. Galway. After working abroad in countries as diverse as Japan, Poland, Australia and New Zealand, she decided to focus on books for young readers which introduce other cultures. Published last year, Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa tSeapáín, was the first of these unique titles and will be followed shortly by a second book about Poland.

12.45pm   Two-minute Favourites 1. Poetry & Prose
1.15-2.30pm   Lunch

2.30pm   Julie O’Callaghan
Originally from Chicago, Julie O'Callaghan has lived in Ireland since 1974 and is a member of Aosdána. Her poems for older children have appeared in numerous anthologies and school texts in Ireland, America, Canada and the U.K. To date she has published three full-length collections aimed at young people, Taking My Pen for a Walk, Two Barks and The Book of Whispers, as well as many collections for adults.

3.15   Tea and Coffee

3.30pm   Mary Finn and Enda Wyley
Two new voices come together to compare their experiences of writing for young people. Mary Finn worked for many years as a magazine journalist with RTE before publishing her first children’s novel, Anila’s Journey, this January. Teacher and poet Enda Wyley published her debut novel, The Silver Notebook, to great acclaim in 2007.

4.30pm   Close

5.30pm  Reception & CBI Award 2008 Presentation
The conference reception is a great opportunity to meet other members of the children’s book community. This year the reception will also feature the presentation of the CBI Award. CBI presents this award annually in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the world of children’s books. Previous recipients have included Robert Dunbar, Liz Morris, Pat Donlon, Rena Dardis, Carolyn Swift and Tony Hickey.

Sunday 25th May 2008

10.30am   Professor Kristin Wardetzky & Anne O’Gorman
With the support of the Goethe Institut, Dublin
Professor Kristin Wardetzky, University of Arts Berlin and Anne O’Gorman, Children’s and Youth Arts Officer, Draiocht Blanchardstown. Kristin and Anne will present two different projects where the power of oral storytelling has been harnessed to lead young people towards books and reading. Their work in two very different contexts show how the power of story is universal and how engagement with stories can change the lives of young people.

12pm  Tea and Coffee

12.15pm   Tiina Nunnally
With the support of Ireland Literature Exchange
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tiina has translated over forty books from the Scandinavian languages into English.  She has won numerous prizes for her work, including the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2003.  Among her recent translations for children are Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the wonderful new edition of Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking illustrated by Lauren Child.

1.00pm   Two-minute Favourites 2 - Picture Books and Illustration
1.15pm    Lunch

2.30pm   IBBY Ireland Presents Voices from the North - Contemporary Danish Children's Literature: Nina Christensen.
Nina is the Director of the Centre of Children’s Literature in Copenhagen. Through a presentation of the work of the Centre of Children’s Literature in Copenhagen, an exploration of contemporary Danish children's literature, from current trends in writing to the important issues facing indigenous children’s publishing. Will include discussion of the international aspects affecting Danish writing and publishing.

3.15pm   Tim Bowler in conversation  with Robert Dunbar
Tim Bowler was born in Leigh-on-Sea, the setting of his first novel, Midget, published in 1994. Since then he has written eight novels and won twelve awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for River Boy. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as 'the master of the psychological thriller' and by the Independent as 'one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction'. Tim will discuss his work with leading  children’s books commentator Robert Dunbar.

4.00pm   Closing Remarks

4.15-5pm   CBI AGM, All CBI members are warmly invited to attend

Illustrations © 2007 Polly Dunbar from My Dad's A Birdman by David Almond & illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd., London SE11 5HJ