Georgia Conference on Children's Literature

Introduction

As an integral part of Georgia’s literacy initiative for more than half a century, the Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature draws hundreds of teachers, school media specialists, public librarians, authors, illustrators, and children’s literature scholars from the Southeast and beyond. Join us for the 56th Georgia Conference where we’re sure to have an exciting line-up of keynote speakers, workshop sessions, and a diverse offering of break-out sessions.

The conference is closely connected to the Georgia Children’s Book Awards and the 2025 GCBA winners will be announced during the conference!

Registration Open

The 2026 Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature is now open!

Learn More

The 57th Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature will only be held on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The University of Georgia is proud to partner with the Georgia Public Library Service to bring our keynote speakers Matthew J. Burgess and Doug Salati to this year’s conference.

For more than half a century, our conference has been working on bringing together writers, teachers, librarians, and media specialists, cherishing the tradition of shaping the future of children’s literature by fostering creativity, community, and a shared love of books. We invited you to explore the legacy and ongoing impact of this remarkable conference. Click below to read more about how it continues to inspire generations.

Celebrating Over 50 Years of Storytelling and Inspiration

Upcoming Dates

Conference Speakers

Monica Arnaldo

Monica Arnaldo is a Canadian author and illustrator known for her warm, humorous picture books. Born in Ontario and raised in Ottawa, she studied illustration at Sheridan College and now lives near Montreal. Her work blends traditional and digital techniques to bring characters vividly to life. She is the creator of Time for Bed’s Story, Are You a Cheeseburger?, and Margo Thinks Twice. Her book, Mr. S, won the 2025 Georgia Children’s Book Award (K–4).

Matthew J. Burgess

Matthew Burgess is a poet, educator, and author of celebrated children’s books, including Fireworks, Words With Wings and Magic Things, and Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. He edited the anthology Dream Closet: Meditations on Childhood Space and the essay collection Spellbound: The Art of Teaching Poetry. An Associate Professor at Brooklyn College and former NYC public school poetry teacher, he is also senior editor of Teachers & Writers Magazine. Upcoming books include Mungo On His Own, Serafina Makes Waves, and If The Moon (2026).

Torrey Maldonado

Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook projects and has taught in New York City public schools for over twenty-five years. His fast-paced, compelling stories draw from his and his students’ experiences. Author of What Lane?, Tight, and Secret Saturdays, his latest novel Hands won the 2025 Georgia Children’s Book Award (Grades 4–8). A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Hands was also named a Best New Book of 2023. Torrey returns as a keynote for our conference for the second time.

Doug Salati

Doug Salati is the creator of Hot Dog, winner of the 2023 Randolph Caldecott Medal and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. He was named a best book of the year by The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and the New York Public Library. He illustrated Tomie dePaola’s In a Small Kingdom and Matthew Farina’s Lawrence in the Fall, an Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Honoree. A 2015 Sendak Fellow, Salati lives and works in New York City.

Section 5

Be an ExhibitorExhibitors at the Conference on Children’s Literature have the opportunity to meet educators, media specialists, faculty, and children’s literature enthusiasts from across Georgia.

Partnerships

Donate to the ConferenceBy donating to the Georgia Book Awards and Conference on Children’s Literature , you are supporting a 50-year legacy of celebrating quality children’s books for Georgia students.

Thanks to our annual sponsors Perma-Bound, Capstone, Martha Stockton Library Services, Get Well Johnny, Anderson Multicultural Books, Spanish 4 The Culture, Mary Frances Early College of education, Department of Language and Literacy Education, databooks.com, Payton Place, Bound to Stay Bound

Perma-Bound, Capstone, Martha Stockton Library Services, Get Well Johnny, Anderson Multicultural Books, Spanish 4 The Culture, Mary Frances Early College of education, Department of Language and Literacy Education, databooks.com, Payton Place, Bound to Stay Bound

2026 GCCL Partner Georgia Public Library Service

In the News

Check out this news article featuring stories of the conference from its origins to the present, along with its mission for future readers, teachers, and writers.

Image Gallery

What Others Say

I love this conference! I always learn something and come away energized.

After a two-year absence from the conference, it was GREAT to be back! I am retired now but still LOVE to attend. It’s always inspiring to meet the authors and illustrators who are forever my HEROES!

Out of all the conferences I’ve attended, this one is the best! What other conferences is there a chance you will be on the elevator with an author/illustrator or even have one come to your table and sit down with you?

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