Conference:
Children’s Literature Association Annual Conference
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor”
May 28–30, 2026
Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA

Roundtable Format:

This will be proposed as a roundtable.

I am looking for 4–6 participants to give short (5–10 minute) provocations or reflections that will spark an open discussion.

Organiser Contact Info:
Samira Abdur-Rahman, Assistant Professor of Literature and the Environment, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 

Roundtable Description:

Inspired by the CHLA 2026 themes of neighborhoods and the horror film Weapons (2025), this roundtable will explore how children’s literature, culture and media reflects on, and engages with gun-violence, war and moral panics about children’s safety. I seek capacious readings of the term weapons to address both the material realities of violence and the use of children and young people to justify violence against vulnerable individuals and communities.  

Seeking Contributions On Topics Such As:

• children’s and young adult literature, art and media that engages with the impact of gun violence, and/or militarism, on young people and their communities  
• literature, art and media that reflects on children and young people as victims and survivors of war  
• depictions of historical and contemporary vigilantism in children and young people’s literature, culture and media 
• conspiracy theories and moral panics that center the protection of children
• depictions of surveillance, neighborhood watches, security and border patrols
• engagement with binaries of innocent vs. dangerous children and young people 

To Submit:
Please send a proposed title, a 150–200 word abstract, and a brief bio by October 8th to abdurras@tcnj.edu 

Accepted abstracts will form part of a roundtable submission to CHLA 2026 by the official deadline of October 15, 2025.