Published in 2017, The Routledge Companion to International Children’s Literature sought to “leave the well-worn path of Anglophone and European scholarship and to explore some of the scholarship that concerns itself with children’s literature and media in the Majority World”. A few years later, in 2021, The Cambridge History of World Literature included a chapter titled World Children’s Literature which concluded that despite the work currently being undertaken, “the world republic of children’s literature is still experiencing growing pains”. This observation certainly rings true for us as a quick survey of recent scholarship reveals considerable gaps in the study of world children’s literature and children’s literature in translation. What is needed then is a widening of scope and encouragement to maintain the momentum that has been gained. Considering questions regarding local and ‘global’ poetics; viewing childhood through diverse socio-cultural lenses; expounding theories and definitions that extend beyond Western notions; and highlighting unique forms and genres, all offer ways in which the borders of world children’s literature and children’s literature in translation can be traversed. Besides, as we bear witness to the condition of contemporary childhood wherein children in numerous countries face on-going challenges such as war, strife, genocide, disease, and poverty, it further becomes imperative to foster such conversations and provide a platform to showcase various types of childhoods and their literatures. This conference aims to encourage academic and creative works that go beyond geographical and cultural
boundaries to create a more inclusive space, revealing larger issues, trends, and innovations in children’s and young adult literature.
Topics may include, but are not limited to
- Canon studies and challenging the dominance of the Anglo-American canon
- Definitions and boundaries of world children’s literature
- Historical approaches to world children’s literature
- Post-colonialism and world children’s literature
- National and international politics in children’s narratives
- Mythologies, folktales and oral traditions
- War, asylum, and refugee narratives
- Native epistemologies and traditions
- Comparative children’s literature
- Approaches to and dilemmas of translating children’s literature
- Politics of language in children’s literature
- Language revitalization and preservation through children’s literature
- Use of world children’s literature in global education and pedagogy
- Transnational adaptations and new media (film, theatre, art, video games, and any other formats)
- International bodies and institutions of children’s literature
- World children’s literature and the global market
Please note these topics are suggestions, as we are open to proposals on any aspect of world children’s literature and young adult literature, and children’s literature in translation.
We welcome both virtual and in-person submissions from graduate students, research scholars, and practitioners from a variety of disciplines, including literary studies, cultural studies, childhood studies, sociology, psychology, anthropology, media studies, and others.
Academic Paper Proposals
Please send a 250-word abstract, including the title of your paper, 5-8 keywords, and 3-5 academic, bibliographic references. Your name should not appear on the proposal. Please attach a separate 50-word biography, including your name, preferred pronouns, student status, university affiliation, home country, and email address. Save the proposal and the biography as two separate Word files (.DOC or .DOCX) and use the format “Academic_Name_PaperTitle” in the email subject line.
Creative Writing Proposals
All creative writing genres and forms are welcome, including novel chapters, poetry, picture books, graphic novels, scripts, amongst others. Please send a sample of your work that is no more than 12 pages long, double-spaced. Include the title, a list of references (if applicable), and a 150-word description identifying the topic, genre, targeted age group, and relevance to the conference themes. Your name should not appear on the sample. Please attach a separate
50-word biography, including your name, student status, preferred pronouns, university affiliation, home country, and email address.
Save the sample and description as one Word file and the biography as a separate Word file (.DOC or .DOCX). Use this format “Creative_Name_SampleTitle” for the email subject line.
NOTE: Participants are welcome to submit both academic and creative proposals. Each proposal will be adjudicated separately, and you may be accepted for one or both streams. Please follow the guidelines for both submissions above and submit them via separate emails.
Key Deadlines
- Deadline for proposal submission: 10 March 2024
- A notification of acceptance will be sent by early May 2024.
- All submissions will be blind reviewed by members of the Review Committee.
- Submissions are accepted for both virtual and in-person presentations.