Poetry and childhood conference

Morag Styles has asked me to give you advance notice of an international conference, Poetry and Childhood, to be held on 20-21 April 2009, at the British Library, London. Confirmed speakers are Andrew Motion (Poet Laureate), Michael Rosen (Children’s Laureate), Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, and Lissa Paul. For more information, please email Hannah Drake at: hvd21@cam.ac.uk.

Update on IICLO

On April 1 I asked for support for the International Institute for Children’s Literature in Osaka, which is in danger of being closed down by the governor of Osaka prefecture. Mikio Mukogawa, the Director of IICLO, reports that 32 organisations (including IRSCL) sent letters asking the governor to reconsider. In addition, many individuals have signed a petition and registered their support for the institute. Mikio Mukogawa says that a decision will be made by the end of July. Watch this space for more news.