SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

 Download the conference flier

From picture books to novels, poetry to comics, oral stories to classic film, this event will assert the importance of values and quality texts for teaching literacy and nourishing young minds. Speakers include John Agard, Anthony Browne, Emma Chichester Clark, Gabrielle Cliff-Hodges, Jonathan Douglas, Nikki Gamble, Prue Goodwin, Martin Jenkins, Nicolette Jones, Jane Ray, Chris Riddell, Morag Styles and Kate Wilson.

An exciting range of practical workshops will present creative approaches to teaching with texts. Presenters include Marilyn Brocklehurst, Darren Coult, Pam Dix, Mel Gibson, Samantha Hardy, Phil McDermott, Cliff McNish, Emma Madden, Sarah Mussi, David Reedy, Kathryn Saeb-Parsy, Luke Slater, Sara Stanley, Mat Tobin and Emma Vieceli.

Date: Friday 22 May 2009

Time: 9.00am – 4.30pm (Registration from 8.30)

Venue: University of London 

Fee £150 (£120 before 28^th February) Book early to avoid disappointment. We were fully booked a month before the last conference.

Booking direct from the CPD Office at University of London, Institute of Education quoting the conference reference CC302-09C1 : 

E- mail:       This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel:             020 7612 6589/6987

10 sponsored places are available for full-time student librarians and student teachers. Enquiries should be made direct to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Writer and illustrator Viviane Schwarz greeted guests to her book launch while seated at a little wooden school desk, knitting cats, in the independent Review bookshop on Peckham's artsy Bellenden Road. The bold red covers of her latest picture book, 'There are cats in this book' gave the cosy space a festive cheer and everyone munched decorated cat cupcakes and marvelled at Schwarz's lovely bright drawings and interesting cut-out novelty elements in her picture book. 'It's less of a storybook and more of a great event', said Alex Milway (author of The Mousehunter books. Alexis Deacon has worked with Schwarz and came along to support his friend, as well as Walker Books designer Ben Norland and editor Lucy Ingrams.

Review by Sarah McIntyre