Writers, artists, and academics variously create, interpret, and re-create notions of childhood. Within the academy, the field of children's literature is increasingly inter- and multi-disciplinary. The theme of this Congress, together with the associated sub-themes listed below, was intended to enable exploration, interrogation, and analysis of children's literature text(s) in the widest interpretation, and international childhoods. The conference was organized thematically, although we also encouraged cross-over papers that integrated more than one theme.

• The (human) body, child health, and well-being

• Creating childhoods through narrative, drama, poetry, illustration, film, and other media

• The child in myth and folklore

• The child in history and historical discourses

Sessions were also provided by artists and writers with international recognised reputations to integrate creativity into the congress experience.

Congress Venue

The 22nd IRSCL Congress was held at the St John's Campus of the University of Worcester, Worcester, UK. With a history dating back to 1946, Worcester has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, purposeful research. As the only higher education institution in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the University delivers degree programmes to nearly 10,000 students and employs 1,000 staff.

Worcester has undergone significant change and growth over the last few years, expanding into new subject areas, more than doubling student numbers and investing substantially in staff and new facilities.

• 1946: Established as an Emergency Teacher Training College after WWII

• 1970s: Degrees validated by the CNAA, under the title of Worcester College of Higher Education

• 1992: Agreement concluded with Coventry University for the validation of the Institution's degree courses

• 1995: Herefordshire and Worcestershire College of Nursing and Midwifery was absorbed into Worcester College of Higher Education

• 1997: Institution gained and implemented degree-awarding powers from the Privy Council for all its taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses and, as a consequence, adopted the title of University College Worcester

• 2005: UCW awarded full University status and adopts its new title: University of Worcester

• 2010: HM Privy Council confers Research Degree Awarding Powers on the University. Research is a thriving and developing area at Worcester with many successful MPhil and PhD students studying a wide variety of subjects

• 2010: Opening of new City Campus in a renovated former Infirmary, a nineteenth-century hospital, where the British Medical Association was founded. This first rate facility transformed a derelict landmark into an innovative centre of learning

• 2012: Opening of The Hive, a joint venture between the University and Worcestershire County Council. This is an exceptional £60 million facility which has been recognised as outstanding by a considerable number of awards. It was opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth accompanied HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

• 2015: producing world-class research Worcester was recognised as the most improved University in the country by the UK Government's Research Excellence framework assessment exercise.

The congress was held on the St John's campus. First-class accommodation was available at the City Campus and the St John's Campus. The congress dinner was held at the University Arena, a multi-purpose sport's venue which is also dedicated to sport for the disabled.

An Illustration Exhibition was curated by Piet Grobler.