2025
VALERIE BLOOM
A special event in memory of Professor Morag Styles
Previous Lecture
Joseph COEHLO
'Creativity through Poetry'
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 2025 Lecture

We are were all greatly saddened when the founder of the Philippa Pearce Lecture, Morag Styles, died in December 2024. This year's lecture will therefore be in loving memory of Morag and celebration of her life and work. Morag Styles was Professor of Children's Poetry at the University of Cambridge, and championed the work of Caribbean poets both in the UK and the Caribbean. So for the 2025 lecture we are thrilled to welcome poet and performer:
VALERIE BLOOM

'Myself in a Poem'

5pm on Thursday 17th April 2025
Homerton College, Cambridge

(Please note the new date)
Juno Dawson was unable to give this year's lecture, as previously announced, so this event will take place on a future date.
Picture
Valerie Bloom, MBE
VALERIE BLOOM, MBE

Explore the Lectures

Most of the lectures are available as a video recording; a few are audio or text only.