The 20th International Conference “The Child and the Book” concluded successfully on June 1, 2026, at the Gallos University Campus in Rethymno. This leading academic event, held under the theme “Diaspora(s), Exile, Nomads, and Children’s Literature,” was jointly organized by the Department of Primary Education of the University of Crete and the corresponding Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

As one of the most significant international gatherings in the field of children’s and young adult literature, “The Child and the Book” brought together approximately 200 participants from 30 countries. Professors, researchers, and doctoral candidates engaged in a productive interdisciplinary dialogue on issues related to migration, cultural memory, exile, and intercultural education.

In addition to keynote lectures and scholarly presentations, the conference featured an exhibition of works by distinguished Greek illustrators hosted at the Central Library of the University of Crete, organized in collaboration with the Greek Section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People).

The successful completion of the conference reaffirmed the leading role of Greek universities in fostering international academic dialogue and promoting global engagement in higher education. The baton now passes to the University of Szeged in Hungary, which will host The Child and the Book 2027.