The Global ILT Education Conference – “Bring the magic of storytime to every child”

On 2nd February 2022, ILT Education is hosting its first global conference where we invite education professionals, decision makers and experts from around the world together to discuss the importance of reading in early childhood and share pedagogical methodologies.

The theme for the conference is Reading in Early Childhood and we’re delighted to welcome Jake Hope, our UK children’s literature expert to give the keynote speech. The conference will also feature best practice advice from several countries and will hold breakout rooms with children’s literature experts from our other markets including Sweden, Germany, Finland and North America.

Keynote Speaker – Jake Hope

Jake is an experienced children’s literature and reading development expert in the UK who is the chair of the working party for the UK’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book prizes, the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals. He is passionate about children’s books and promoting a love of reading and writing with children, schools and families.

Named as one of the UK’s top librarians of the future in the National Love Libraries Campaign, Jake has written extensively on children’s reading development and librarianship, contributing chapters to numerous books, producing the SLA publication on diversity and inclusion and previews for ‘The Bookseller’. He is currently working with ILT Education on the launch of Polylino into the UK early years and primary school market.

Jake is the author of the recently published book on visual literacy, Seeing Sense, (Facet Publishing, 2020) and will be releasing his debut children’s picture book, Cheesed Off! in March 2022.

Event Moderator – Jonathan Viner

Jonathan Viner is CEO and Founder of 10Digits AB – an Östersund-based consultancy with over 20 years’ of senior-level experience supporting fast-growth education and EdTech businesses in the UK, the Nordics and globally, including ILT Education.

Meet the literature experts

Mary Jane Begin, US is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. In addition to her role as Adjunct Professor and Internship Advisor for the Illustration Department at Rhode Island School of Design, she is also a Visiting Associate Professor and the Chair of Illustration in the M.F.A for Children’s Literature at Hollins University. Her topic at the conference will be “Creative Play: Thinking, Imagining, Inventing”

Prof. Dr. Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert, Germany  is a professor of language pedagogy and narrative arts in social work at the Clara Hoffbauer University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam. As a consultant for the Reading Foundation and a juror for the Leipzig Reading Compass, she has been committed to promoting reading for many years. Her research has focussed on multilingualism and multiliteracy, reading promotion, as well as aesthetic language education. Her topic at the conference will be “Reading adventure”

Sirke Happonen, Finland is a university lecturer at the University of Helsinki specialising in children's literature and illustration art as well as Tove Jansson's production (Moomin, etc). She has also worked as a screenwriter, non-fiction writer and translator. Her topic at the conference will be “Children’s Literature in the Forest: Experiencing the Forest in Books and in the Woods of Helsinki”

Anna Forsgren, Malin Omland, Sofia Torell, Anette Svensson, Therése Haglind, Anki Källman & Annelie Wahlsten, Sweden. Atkins Cultural Centre, City of Gothenburg, Bok-Makaren, Jönköping University and Björksäter primary school in Mullsjö. Their topic will be “Opening doors to reading and literature through joint efforts” Practical examples of bringing the magic of stories to every child and highlight the right to culture and literature.

Amy McKay, UK is a school librarian and consultant based in Cumbria, she has won the prestigious School Librarian of the Year award, administered by the School Library Association. Amy is the co-ordinator of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK's oldest and most renowned children's book awards and regularly runs workshops and training around the awards and its participatory shadowing scheme for children and young people.

Date & Time: February 2nd, 2022, 4:15pm - 7pm CET

Where & Cost: A free virtual event via Zoom

Register to the event here and read more about the different breakout rooms