Literature Symposium: Exploring Climate Fiction

Live cast on Wednesday 17th August 2022 

The Foundation for Learning and Literacy have brought together thirteen Australian professional associations to develop a series of online presentations that celebrate the power of literature and form a free Literature Symposium for 2022. With sessions on everything from conversations with authors, artists, educators and young learners, to short keynotes to panel discussions, the symposium explores literature from all angles – and highlights how story should be incorporated into learning and development across the curriculum.

PETAA is thrilled to be contributing with a deep-dive on the increasingly important climate fiction genre, examining its features, style and importance for young readers. In this critical conversation, children's literature expert Jennifer Asha is joined by authors Bren MacDibble (How to Bee) and Claire Saxby (Iceberg), along with Associate Professor and PETAA President Pauline Jones. Together they discuss the key features of children's climate fiction as a genre, the motivations and creative processes behind the author's climate fiction books for young readers, and how these books can be used to engage students in rich and meaningful discussions about sustainability. 

Related links:

• Discover more resources for sustainability including units of work, webinars, and teaching and learning progressions, and more
• PETAA's 2022 CBCA Guide and Premium Unit of Work based on Claire Saxby's cli-fi picture book, Iceberg
•  Two units of work based on Bren MacDibble's cli-fi novels for young readers How to Bee and The Dog Runner