As with all European Network of Picturebook Research Conferences, the focus is on the picturebook rather than its reception, although it is recognized that it is difficult to separate the mediator and or the reader/researcher from the dynamics created between the object and its public. Topics and questions for consideration under the theme of understandig the world – multiculturality, interculturality and global citizenship in picturebooks include, but are not limited to:

• What are the visual and verbal strategies in picturebooks which embody the conference theme? How do they act as catalysts or distruptors?
• Which picturebook genres or typologies are successful (or unsuccessful) mediators/arenas of multiculturality, interculturality or global citizenship?
• How are characters (human and non-human), spaces (real and fictional) and symbols employed in picturebooks related to the conference theme?
• How are the following themes mediated/explored/negotiated through picturebooks:

• • diversity, cultural hybridity or cultural erasure?
  • identity or alterity?
  • inclusion, marginalization or oppression?
  • perceptions, prejudices or stereotypes?
  • assimilation or rejection?
  • migration and refugee stories and the portrayals of such experience(s)?
  • environmental issues?

• How is authenticity and or translation considered in picturebooks related to the conference theme?
• How do wordless or multilingual picturebooks (in their many formats) mediate the conference theme?
• How do comparative studies across time, languages and cultures contribute to the conference theme?

Proposals
Contributions to the conference are welcome in the form of oral presentations (20 min. + 15 min. discussion). Proposals should be prepared in a Word document and include the following information:

• Full name(s) of presenter(s) with affiliation(s) and contact email(s)
• A title (max 10 words)
• Five keywords
• An abstract (max 300 words)
• Selected bibliography with academic sources (max. 5 references) (APA 7th Edn.) – these are not included in the word count.
• A bio sketch of 100 words

Your submission should be sent by email to picturebookresearch2025@gmail.com, with the subject line: Submission Picturebook Conference.

Key information
▪ All abstracts and papers must be written in English
▪ Deadline for abstract submission: 30 November 2024
▪ Notification of acceptance: 1 February 2025
▪ All submissions are blind reviewed

Up to 44 proposals will be accepted for the conference based on their relevance for the general conference theme, originality and the overall quality of the proposal.