3rd Biennial Children’s Literature Symposium 

The Pleasures and Problems of Pooh

The 3rd Biennial Children’s Literature Symposium

On Zoom

Friday–Sunday, July 10–12, 2026

Conference Details

Host: Hollins University Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature

Chair: Chaired by Dr. Lisa Rowe Fraustino

This year’s hundredth anniversary of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, published in 1926, provides a springboard for reflection on the role of classic children’s literature.

“Here–we–are…all–of–us, and then, suddenly, we wake up one morning and, what do we find? We find a Strange Animal among us. An animal of whom we have never heard before! An animal who carries her family about with her in her pocket!” — Rabbit

INVITED KEYNOTERS INCLUDE:

Lara Saguisag, Associate Professor and Georgiou Chair in Children’s Literature and Literacy at New York University and President of the Children’s Literature Association

A Pooh Panel with Jennifer Harrison, editor of Positioning Pooh: Edward Bear after 100 Years; volume contributor and Millersville University professor Sarah E. Jackson; and distinguished East Carolina University emeritus professor C.W. Sullivan III

SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

This online symposium seeks presentation proposals from authors, illustrators, librarians, publishers, educators, and scholars in any field. View the Call for Papers. Submit proposals of 500 words to Symposium-Abstract-Submissions by May 1, 2026. Submit Symposium Abstracts online

ART CHALLENGE

Illustrators are invited to submit images of your own creations related to Pooh and Pooh adjacent or influenced subjects. The symposium will include a digital art show and panel discussion session. Please submit artwork as JPGs or PNGs, no larger than 1000 pixels wide or no larger than 5mb. Submit online

GIRLS LITERATURE DISCUSSION GROUP

The final session of the symposium will be a meeting of the Hollins Girls’ Literature Discussion Group, for which we’ll be reading Tuck Everlasting upon its 50th anniversary of publication.