• Children's LiteratureNational Centre for Research in Children's Literature (NCRCL)

    The Centre promotes academic excellence in research into children’s literature, primarily through thriving postgraduate MA and PhD programmes, conferences and biennial international summer schools. Tutors also teach at undergraduate level, to ensure the position and prestige of children’s literature within the University of Roehampton.

     

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    Teaching & Supervision

    • The NCRCL runs a flourishing postgraduate programme in Children’s Literature, both on-site and via distance learning materials, which has attracted home and international students of a high calibre since 1993. 
    • The NCRCL supports doctoral students engaged on a wide range of research projects (PhD supervision). The NCRCL provides a lively environment for postgraduates with conferences, cluster talks, and a congenial cohort.

     

    Events

    • The NCRCL hosts and co-organises an annual one-day British IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People)/NCRCL MA conference. Each year proceedings are published by Pied Piper Press and edited by Dr Pat Pinsent. 
    • The NCRCL hosts a series of four research talks per year, given by a wide range of experts in the field of children’s literature, which are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Past speakers include Professor Peter Hunt, Professor Maria Nikolajeva, Professor John Stephens, Roni Natov, Francis Spufford, Dr Susan Rowland, Angelica Carpenter, and Professor Perry Nodelman.
    • The NCRCL ran a highly successful series of Children’s Literature International Summer Schools (CLISS) in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 where delegates attended for five days of intensive study through lectures and seminars delivered by tutors and scholars with an international reputation in the field, and with evening lectures open to the public. The most recent CLISS took place from 11-15 July 2007, and featured leading international authors and academics in the field. 

     

    Research

    • All members of the NCRCL team continue to publish in diverse areas of children’s literature. Published research in edited books and refereed journals by NCRCL team members reflects the diversity of children’s literature studies, including work on: adolescent fiction; Victorian children’s literature; visual texts; the translation of children’s literature; Jungian approaches to children’s literature; multicultural publishing; intercultural exchange through picture books, and religion and children’s literature. Please see the NCRCL members page for a list of selected publications

     

    Activities

    • Since 1995 Dr Gillian Lathey has administered the biennial Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation, and organisation of associated events.
    • Since 1995 Dr Penni Cotton has directed the European Picture Book Collection project, with international collaboration, to produce teacher training materials for teachers working with European picture books; and a follow-up ESF-funded conference in Murcia, Spain, on ‘Books and Reading for Intercultural Education’ (2005).
    • The NCRCL has been involved with the London Writers' Competition since 2002, when the 'Fiction for Children' prize was first established. Dr Lisa Sainsbury acted as a judge for this prize in 2002 and since then has selected judges for this prize on an annual basis, working with Charlie Catling at Wandsworth Borough Council. Laura Atkins (2002), Dr Pat Pinsent (2004), Dr Gillian Lathey (2005) and Dr Susan Hancock (2006) have also judged this section of the competition.
    • The University of Roehampton published the findings of the NCRCL reading survey, Young People’s Reading in 2005 , by Sally Maynard, Sophie Mackay, Fiona Smyth and Kim Reynolds. This publication builds on the survey of 1996 with a pilot project Young People’s Reading in 2001.

     

    Resources
    • The NCRCL is committed to supporting the specialist Children’s Literature Collection in the University Library. The NCRCL team were involved in the successful bid for the Richmal Crompton archive which is now housed in the University Library.

     

    News


    Jacqueline Wilson Scholarship Awarded
    The NCRCL is delighted to announce that the Jacqueline Wilson PhD Scholarship has been awarded to Nick Campbell. The title of Nick's research project is 'Inherent in the Landscape: The Neo-Romantic in Post-War British Children’s Literature' and he is being supervised by Alison Waller from the NCRCL and Martin Priestman from the Centre for Research in Romanticism. The scholarship, which is generously funded by Dame Jacqueline Wilson, will enable Nick to join a thriving community of PhD scholars and to benefit from Roehampton’s proven expertise in children’s literature and creative writing for children. Our sincere congratulations go to him.

    NCRCL Blog
    The NCRCL has launched its own blog, where you will find news, updates and posts from members of the staff, students and alumni.News
    Jacqueline Wilson Scholarship Awarded

     

    NCRCL Blog

    The NCRCL has launched its own blog, where you will find news, updates and posts from members of the staff, students and alumni.

  • If you have any general enquiries for the NCRCL please contact us in writing. To send an enquiry to a specific member of the NCRCL team please use the contact details on the Members page.

    Dr Gillian Lathey
    Centre Director

    National Centre for Research in Children's Literature (NCRCL)
    Department of English and Creative Writing
    Roehampton University
    Roehampton Lane
    London SW15 5PH

    Email: g.lathey@roehampton.ac.uk

    Visiting the NCRCL
    Please make appointments to see members of the NCRCL team before arriving at the University of Roehampton.