The biennial IBBY World Congress (International Board of Books for young People) is one of the most important international events that provides an opportunity for all those interested in children's literature and children's reading to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. In addition to these international congresses, many national sections of IBBY organise either national or regional conferences. There is a regular regional conference in the USA that attracts delegates from North America, the Latin American sections of IBBY meet in Mexico every other year as well as at a biennial reading conference held in Havana, Cuba and the European Sections get together during the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy.

During the 32nd international IBBY Congress held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in September 2010, the members of IBBY gathered together in their regional groups and discussed ways of future cooperation and possibilities. The Children's Literature Research Unit of the University of South Africa approached the delegates representing the African IBBY sections with an offer to organise a biennial conference in Africa. This was greeted with great enthusiasm and the first African Biennial IBBY Regional Conference is scheduled to take place in September 2011.

1st Biennial IBBY Africa Conference: 31 August-2 September 2011 Venue: The Ranch, Polokwane, Limpopo Province

The travelling of stories: children’s literature and reading in and of Africa

Call for Papers: 1st Biennial IBBY Africa Conference
Date: 31 August-2 September 2011
Venue: Venue: The Ranch, Polokwane, Limpopo Province
Organised by the Children’s Literature Research Unit, University of South Africa on behalf of the IBBY Branches of Africa
Closing date for submissions: 15 June 2011
Abstracts of not more than 250 words that address particular issues regarding reading and children’s literature related to Africa and the developing world are welcomed.

The following topics serve as suggestions:

The travelling of stories across borders and cultures
Children’s literature in translation
Folktales and imagination
Writing in indigenous/colonial/minority languages
Colonialism and post-colonialism in children’s literature
Traditional folktales and the modern tale
Cultural relevance of children’s books
The distinction between African children’s and adult books
Oral narratives and literary research
Converting oral literature into written literature
Literature for didactic purposes
The African diaspora and children’s literature
Reading across cultures
Library services for children
Reading in the information age
Comparative research in children’s literature and reading
Depicting reality in children’s books
Reading preferences of African children
Teaching children’s literature
Storytelling for young people
Publishing for children in the 2rd World

Selection Committee:
Prof Thomas van der Walt, CLRU, Department of Information Science, University of South Africa
Prof Nadia el-Kholy, Department of English, Cairo University, Egypt
Ms Evangeline Barongo,
Prof Marietha Niemann, Department of Education, University of South Africa
Prof Judith Inggs, School of Literature & Language Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

Mail abstracts and direct enquiries to:

Prof Thomas van der Walt, CLRU, Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003 Pretoria, South Africa
Fax: +27 12 4293792
e-mail: vdwaltb@unisa.ac.za