Philippa Pearce Lecture – Celebrating Excellence in Literature for Children

2026

JUNO Dawson

16th April 2026

2025

VALERIE BLOOM

A special event in memory of
Professor Morag Styles

About the Lectures

PHILIPPA PEARCE

'a fitting reflection of Philippa’s own wide-ranging interests'

The prestigious Philippa Pearce Lecture is an annual event that celebrates excellence in literature for children. It provides a platform for the very best children’s authors, poets and illustrators to reflect on their art. Always thought-provoking, the lectures have tackled such topics as the significance of time, the place of fear, and what poetry is for.

“She was one of the very finest writers British children’s literature has ever had, and everything she wrote has a touch of the particular vision and understanding of human nature that was hers alone.”
Philip Pullman

The 2026 Lecture

Thursday 16th April • 5pm
The Mary Allen Auditorium,
Homerton College, Cambridge

We are delighted to announce that the 2026
Philippa Pearce Lecture will be given by Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson is an award-winning author of young adult fiction that includes Clean and Meat Market, which won the 2020 Young Adult Book Prize. She is also a screenwriter and podcaster, and has written a bestselling adult fantasy trilogy.