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Conferences, talks and workshops
I regularly give talks, workshops and courses for adults - parents, teachers, childcare workers, illustrators, writers, librarians and children... I like to talk! (Actually, mostly I rant!)
I regularly give talks to parents about selecting and using picture books with their children; I give talks and run workshops for colleagues and other childcare or library professionals regarding choosing books and using books. I'm particularly asked about using books in multicultural contexts and multi-language settings. Finally, I give talks or run workshops for authors and illustrators on subjects from how to get the best out of visiting a bookfair to one-to-one editorial sessions.
If you would like me to visit your group -
click here for information.
If you would like to know more about workshops for children, click here for information.
I regularly give talks to parents about selecting and using picture books with their children; I give talks and run workshops for colleagues and other childcare or library professionals regarding choosing books and using books. I'm particularly asked about using books in multicultural contexts and multi-language settings. Finally, I give talks or run workshops for authors and illustrators on subjects from how to get the best out of visiting a bookfair to one-to-one editorial sessions.
If you would like me to visit your group -
click here for information.
If you would like to know more about workshops for children, click here for information.
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Articles and blogs
I've written articles for Books for Keeps, Carousel, Write-4-Children and IBBYLink and I've blogged about Gender, Play and children's books here and here I'm happy to do 'virtual' interviews - see here BookTrust Let's have a world full of books for everyone Interview with Alex Strick Books for Keeps - links to articles An Inadvertent Publisher - Alanna Books BfK No. 218 (May 2016) Gendered marketing of children’s books - It’s NOT ‘what kids want’ BfK No. 203 (November 2013) Storytelling in Multi-lingual settings BfK No. 180 (January 2010) Federation of Children's Book Groups If you want to support and encourage your own or other children in reading, if you want to learn more about children’s books or set up a family reading group, if you are a teacher or librarian who would like to share your passion and expertise about books with your local community, the Federation of Children’s Book Groups offers you the opportunity to do all of these. Picture a Story - An author's story about letting go - for National Share-a-Story Month Write-4-Children - Winchester University Press Vol IV, Issue II - Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Who Gets the Purple, Plastic Purse? Beyond inclusion in children's books |
Here Wee Read - At Here Wee Read, I find and share the very best diverse and non-diverse books that I read aloud with my two children. I am dedicated to shaping our family culture around books and a love for shared reading. Author Interview KidLit 411 - A one stop information shop for children's writers and illustrators Author Spotlight The Letterpress Project At the Letterpress Project we believe that there is something very special about reading books...Our project has been established to help spread an important message – that books can change everyone’s life. Publisher Interview RibbonFish - Innovative Solutions for Publishing & Media Publisher Interview about Alanna Books IBBYLink No. 48 Spring 2017 - Marvelous Imaginations - Extending thinking through picture books Interview about What Are You Playing At? Charlesbridge Blogspot - Unabridged A Red Thread Ask the Author - Lola blog tour Anna McQuinn Writes and Gardens and She Takes Lola with Her Barrington Stoke Blog - If I were in charge of the World 10 inclusive children's books laws |
Conferences, talks & workshops
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YLG South East & South West Training Day
8th June 2018 
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Cork Book Fest - Inclusivity workshop
Cork, June 2018
Cork, June 2018
Diversifying your book collection and working more inclusively with young children - workshops for Early Years Practitioners
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Federation of Children's Book Groups Conference
Reading, March 2017
Small Publisher's Panel
We spoke about life as small independent publishers and specifically about the fact that we all publish 'diversely' in some way,
featuring children who are under-represented or making books from RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD available to UK readers.
Reading, March 2017
Small Publisher's Panel
We spoke about life as small independent publishers and specifically about the fact that we all publish 'diversely' in some way,
featuring children who are under-represented or making books from RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD available to UK readers.
Left to right: Jill Coleman (chair) head BookTrust;
Anna McQuinn, Publisher Alanna Books; Delaram Ghanimifard, Publisher Tiny Owl; Greet, Publisher Book Island - and in the back, Roy Johnson of Kid Gloves Books |
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Nordic literature festival
London, February 2016
Organised by the Danish Embassy, the Nordic Literature Festival was a celebration of Nordic literature in translation. With the Danish Editor, Kaya Hoff, of Gyldendal Publishing in Denmark, and Chair, Joy Court, I took part in a discussion about Little Frog, originally published in Denmark and acquired by Alanna Books for the UK market. |
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Early Years Training
Downe Manor Primary School, Ealing, March 2016
I was delighted to join Georgina Tate to offer one session on Literacy & Communication, as part of a programme of monthly early years cluster school meetings for early years teachers, nursery nurses, leaders working in schools in Ealing. The teachers came together after school hours to share practice and reflect together about how to develop their own teaching and learning and ultimately improve outcomes for children. My session focused on Literacy and the importance of reading to young children.
I was delighted to join Georgina Tate to offer one session on Literacy & Communication, as part of a programme of monthly early years cluster school meetings for early years teachers, nursery nurses, leaders working in schools in Ealing. The teachers came together after school hours to share practice and reflect together about how to develop their own teaching and learning and ultimately improve outcomes for children. My session focused on Literacy and the importance of reading to young children.
IBBY UK/NCRCL Annual Conference 2015
Steering the Craft: navigating the process of creating children’s books in the 21st century
University of Roehampton, London 14 November 2015
IBBY UK co-organises a one-day MA Conference in November each year in conjunction with the National Centre for Research in Children's Literature at the University of Roehampton, London.
Steering the Craft: navigating the process of creating children’s books in the 21st century
University of Roehampton, London 14 November 2015
IBBY UK co-organises a one-day MA Conference in November each year in conjunction with the National Centre for Research in Children's Literature at the University of Roehampton, London.
Industry Panel: Anna McQuinn (Alanna Books); David Maybury (Scholastic); Barry Cunningham (Chicken House)
YLG Annual Conference 2015
• Making Storytimes Inclusive - focus on working with families with English as a second language - workshop
• Diversity Variety & Choice - How to put the right book in the right hands - Publishers' Panel
Glasgow, 23 & 24th October 2015
As part of the YLG (Youth Librarians Group) conference, I gave a workshop on working with the under fives and their families and in particular, how to include families with English as a second language in rhymetimes.
I was also on the panel with Dr Alice Curry (Lantana), Jasmine Richards (OUP), Janetta Otter-Barry (Frances Lincoln and recently her own list Otter-Barry Books) and (chair) Tricia Adams titled: A (diverse) books is for life not just for Black History Month.
• Making Storytimes Inclusive - focus on working with families with English as a second language - workshop
• Diversity Variety & Choice - How to put the right book in the right hands - Publishers' Panel
Glasgow, 23 & 24th October 2015
As part of the YLG (Youth Librarians Group) conference, I gave a workshop on working with the under fives and their families and in particular, how to include families with English as a second language in rhymetimes.
I was also on the panel with Dr Alice Curry (Lantana), Jasmine Richards (OUP), Janetta Otter-Barry (Frances Lincoln and recently her own list Otter-Barry Books) and (chair) Tricia Adams titled: A (diverse) books is for life not just for Black History Month.
A Place at the Table
Inclusive Minds, the Publishers Association, the IPG and EQUIP
London, January 2015
It was wonderful to be invited to kick off this unique event. I've been avidly following the progress of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign and other initiatives which followed the event in the USA (organised by CBC), so I was really excited to be part of this 'action'-focussed day.
Inclusive Minds, the Publishers Association, the IPG and EQUIP
London, January 2015
It was wonderful to be invited to kick off this unique event. I've been avidly following the progress of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign and other initiatives which followed the event in the USA (organised by CBC), so I was really excited to be part of this 'action'-focussed day.
James Dawson, Anna McQuinn, Susie Day, Ken Wilson-Max,
Beth Cox, Alex Strick (facilitators not shown, Jane Ray and Pippa Goodhart). |
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Wednesday January 28 saw children’s book publishers coming together with booksellers, teachers, librarians and other key partners for a unique event aimed at turning discussions around inclusion and diversity into action. The event took the form of a workshop aimed at helping the children’s book community to agree a clear way forward in terms of achieving real inclusion. The event was facilitated by the organisers together with a team of children’s book writers and illustrators with particular interest and experience in the subject.
After an initial introduction, participants moved to one of six tables and the artists posed a series of questions to them, ranging from the importance of access to inclusive and diverse books, to ideas for practical and commercially sound strategies to ensure that more books are produced. The roundtable rather than traditional conference format was key – allowing the participants to truly consider their role in creating a more inclusive book world.
After an initial introduction, participants moved to one of six tables and the artists posed a series of questions to them, ranging from the importance of access to inclusive and diverse books, to ideas for practical and commercially sound strategies to ensure that more books are produced. The roundtable rather than traditional conference format was key – allowing the participants to truly consider their role in creating a more inclusive book world.
IBBY Belonging Conference
Roehampton University, London, November 2014
Roehampton University, London, November 2014
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It was a great honour to be invited to give the key-note speech to open IBBY's Belonging conference in Roehampton in November.
I traced the ebb and flow, the advances and retreats in the battle to make children's books more inclusive and diverse - to set the scene for a day of discussions and workshops on belonging. Beverley Naidoo closed the day and the hours in between were packed and intense with papers from Julia Hope, Anne Harding, panels including Carol Thomson, Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith and Sarah Garland, and who could forget, Candy Gourlay!
Read more about IBBY here.
Read more about the conference on the IBBY UK website by clicking here or here.
Read my full speech here.
I traced the ebb and flow, the advances and retreats in the battle to make children's books more inclusive and diverse - to set the scene for a day of discussions and workshops on belonging. Beverley Naidoo closed the day and the hours in between were packed and intense with papers from Julia Hope, Anne Harding, panels including Carol Thomson, Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith and Sarah Garland, and who could forget, Candy Gourlay!
Read more about IBBY here.
Read more about the conference on the IBBY UK website by clicking here or here.
Read my full speech here.
Sutton Libraries Black History Month Workshop on Language and Inclusion
October 2014
October 2014
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I was delighted to work with an enthusiastic and engaged group of Early Years practitioners, Childminders and Librarians to discuss how to better include all families in their work and especially to look at the difficulties (and propose some strategies) for using books and telling stories with children who don't speak English as a first language.
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American Library Association Convention
Las Vegas, June 2014
Las Vegas, June 2014
ALSC Charlemae Rollins Presidents Program
I was incredibly proud to be asked to be part of the annual program commemorating the work of Charlemae Hill Rollins (1897-1979) - a Chicago librarian and author who was dedicated to improving the image of African Americans in children's literature.
It is now available - to listen to rather than watch here (you need to input this access code LLXO2520, then search by title - ALSC Charlemae Rollins Presidents Program). Or, for just the highlights, you can read my blog.
I was incredibly proud to be asked to be part of the annual program commemorating the work of Charlemae Hill Rollins (1897-1979) - a Chicago librarian and author who was dedicated to improving the image of African Americans in children's literature.
It is now available - to listen to rather than watch here (you need to input this access code LLXO2520, then search by title - ALSC Charlemae Rollins Presidents Program). Or, for just the highlights, you can read my blog.
American Library Association Convention, June 2014
Book Buzz Theater: Early Ears: Choosing the Best Books for Early Childhood Patrons 6/29/2014
A panel discussion on what makes a good book selection for the youngest sect of library visitors. Session will include a special focus on why picture books are so important for this growing group of pre-reading patrons and tips for successful story-hour programming. Panel lead by Anna McQuinn, UK librarian and best-selling author of the Lola at the Library series.
A panel discussion on what makes a good book selection for the youngest sect of library visitors. Session will include a special focus on why picture books are so important for this growing group of pre-reading patrons and tips for successful story-hour programming. Panel lead by Anna McQuinn, UK librarian and best-selling author of the Lola at the Library series.
I was very proud to lead this discussion with Suzanne Bloom (author and illustrator of the brilliant Goose and Bear series and the wonderful Editorial Director at Charlesbridge, Yolanda Scott. You can log on to watch an MP4 video of the talk on the ALA website: You'll need to input my code: LLXO2520 then go to BookBuzz Theatre. This session was on Sunday June 29th, 2014.
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Youth Libraries Group Unconference Bringing Stories to life
Bromley Library, May 2014
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A Passion for Picture Books!
Family Reading Partnership Workshop, Ithaca, USA September 13th 2013 A special afternoon for Early Years Educators, Librarians and other picture book-loving professionals Anna McQuinn and Suzanne Bloom speaking about their passion for picture books, why they are important and how to select the best ones. |
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Developing the Publishing Workforce:
Equality in Publishing Conference 2013 Children's Panel with Inclusive Minds, London Wednesday, 8 May 2013 |
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Youth Libraries Group, Eastern - Training Day
Welcoming the World: ensuring our public libraries are relevant to our diverse communities of young people and families - Keynote speaker: Anna McQuinn Flitwick Library, Norfolk Libraries UK, 13th March 2013 "By the way, we had really good feedback from the day, including the following comments in reply to our question, "Which part of the course did you find most relevant or useful?" "Anna McQuinn - very interesting" "Anna McQuinn - making storytime open to all." "Anna McQuinn - practical ideas we can use in our rhymetimes to make more inclusive." There were lots of general comments which included you too of course. So thank you again!" |
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READ LK - One Book One Community Initiative
Letterkenny Central Library 6th March 2013 A workshop for parents, teachers and others working with children looking at ways to encourage reading. |
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Language and Inclusion Workshop
BookTrust - Central Library Derry March 8th 2013 Beyond the Book - Making children welcome through visual clues in the setting, approaches to making nursery rhymes and songs more inclusive and looking at books for children with English as a second language. |
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Book Trust
Looking at the issues around dual-language books London, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle May-June 2012 I was thrilled to be given the opportunity by Book Trust to give a series of talks exploring the issues around using dual language books and reading and sharing stories in settings where multiple home languages are used. The delegates were a mix of early years librarians, Book Start workers, early years workers, language specialists, teachers and family support workers. |
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Kerry County Childcare Conference
Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland June 2011 Workshop on choosing inclusive books, and devising criteria that delegates can take away and apply to future selections |
Books for Keeps
Magazine Article on storytelling in multi-lingual settings
Check out the Books for Keeps website (though if you subscribe or can read it in your local library, you'll see the pictures as well).
Magazine Article on storytelling in multi-lingual settings
Check out the Books for Keeps website (though if you subscribe or can read it in your local library, you'll see the pictures as well).
National Centre for Language and Literacy
Picture books and other media course -
Reading
February 2010
in February 2010, I shall be giving a course for teachers on how to use new technologies to extend and enhance the use of picturebooks in the classroom. Using Lulu Loves the Library, Five Little Ducks and My Friend Jamal as starting points, we will look at using photography, novelty elements and recordings. Information
Picture books and other media course -
Reading
February 2010
in February 2010, I shall be giving a course for teachers on how to use new technologies to extend and enhance the use of picturebooks in the classroom. Using Lulu Loves the Library, Five Little Ducks and My Friend Jamal as starting points, we will look at using photography, novelty elements and recordings. Information
Co-opeative of India Language Library Authorities
Talk on the issues considered when producing the Lulu multi-language CD -
London
October 2009
I was delighted to be given the opportunity to discuss the reasons I developed the Lulu CD and all the issues that we considered during the development. To find out more about this, check back later - I've just written an article for Books For Keeps and will have a link soon.
Talk on the issues considered when producing the Lulu multi-language CD -
London
October 2009
I was delighted to be given the opportunity to discuss the reasons I developed the Lulu CD and all the issues that we considered during the development. To find out more about this, check back later - I've just written an article for Books For Keeps and will have a link soon.
English Language Support Teachers Association
Conference -
Dublin
October 2009
I was delighted to be in Dublin and able to attend the ELSTA conference. The response from teachers to the Alanna Books was wonderful. I also found out more about the wonderful programme at Lochrann - the Centre for Intercultural Education.
Conference -
Dublin
October 2009
I was delighted to be in Dublin and able to attend the ELSTA conference. The response from teachers to the Alanna Books was wonderful. I also found out more about the wonderful programme at Lochrann - the Centre for Intercultural Education.
Centre for Language in Primary Education
Multicultural Bookfair
September 2009
This year CLPE's bookfair was attended my even more teachers and education workers - quite possibly because Malorie Blackman was the keynote speaker. I gave a talk on the thinking behind the new Lulu multi-language CD and CLPE provided children from neighbouring schools to make recordings of their favourite books. More
Multicultural Bookfair
September 2009
This year CLPE's bookfair was attended my even more teachers and education workers - quite possibly because Malorie Blackman was the keynote speaker. I gave a talk on the thinking behind the new Lulu multi-language CD and CLPE provided children from neighbouring schools to make recordings of their favourite books. More
Chautauqua Writers' Conference
Highlights Foundation Conference,
The Chautauqua Institution, New York
July 2008
I was delighted to be asked to be a faculty member at the Chautauqua Writers' Conference run by the Highlights Foundation (do click on the little video of the Chautauqua Experience - it really sums it up - I swear I did some serious workshops, but the video only shows me singing!). I gave a number of talks and also tutored six writers over the week-long conference.
I was lucky enough to also sit in on talks given by the wonderful Jerry Spineli, Suzanne Bloom, Floyd Cooper, Linda Sue Park (who gave a most wonderful key-note speech), Susan Williams Beckhorn, Carolyn Yoder and many others. The whole wonderful experience is the result of tireless enthusiasm and the willingness to dream of the indescribable Kent Brown Junior
Highlights Foundation Conference,
The Chautauqua Institution, New York
July 2008
I was delighted to be asked to be a faculty member at the Chautauqua Writers' Conference run by the Highlights Foundation (do click on the little video of the Chautauqua Experience - it really sums it up - I swear I did some serious workshops, but the video only shows me singing!). I gave a number of talks and also tutored six writers over the week-long conference.
I was lucky enough to also sit in on talks given by the wonderful Jerry Spineli, Suzanne Bloom, Floyd Cooper, Linda Sue Park (who gave a most wonderful key-note speech), Susan Williams Beckhorn, Carolyn Yoder and many others. The whole wonderful experience is the result of tireless enthusiasm and the willingness to dream of the indescribable Kent Brown Junior
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Wandsworth Ethnic Minority Achievement Service
Life Chances Conference for Parents
London
July 2009
I was delighted to take part in Wandsworth's Life Chances for Parents Conference in July 2009.
I gave a talk to parents on choosing books to share with their children and discussed reluctant readers, parent confidence and many other issues.
Life Chances Conference for Parents
London
July 2009
I was delighted to take part in Wandsworth's Life Chances for Parents Conference in July 2009.
I gave a talk to parents on choosing books to share with their children and discussed reluctant readers, parent confidence and many other issues.
Brighton Learning Development Centre
Developing Whole-School Reading Communities -
Brighton
July 2009
I was delighted to speak at the final day of this wonderful scheme.
I gave a talk on inclusion and how complex an issue it is. I discussed tokenism, voyeurism and many other issues. It all sounds a bit heavy, but actually it was a lively fun afternoon.
Developing Whole-School Reading Communities -
Brighton
July 2009
I was delighted to speak at the final day of this wonderful scheme.
I gave a talk on inclusion and how complex an issue it is. I discussed tokenism, voyeurism and many other issues. It all sounds a bit heavy, but actually it was a lively fun afternoon.