THE MERL SEMINARS: LOOKING AT LADYBIRD BOOKS

About this event

Like the English countryside, Ladybird Books often conjure up a world of nostalgia and heritage. Their purpose and their visual content link them firmly to childhood experience. This short series of talks by University of Reading experts runs in parallel to a major display of original Ladybird Books artwork currently hosted by our Arts Council England partner organisation, Reading Museum. This exhibition draws extensively on material housed and managed by the University.

12-1pm, booking recommended

5 April

Does a special font help children with dyslexia to read more fluently?
Dr Holly Joseph, Associate Professor of Language Education and Literacy Development at the
Institute of Education, University of Reading.

26 April

Reanimating Ladybird Books: A pop-up display of Ladybird Books artwork
Clare Plascow & Dr Naomi Lebens, University Art Collections and Dr Ollie Douglas, Curator of MERL
Collections

10 May

Nursery Vision: Reading the Ladybird Books Three Blind Mice
Dr Neil Cocks, Associate Professor in the Department of English Literature at Reading.

17 May

Letterforms and Layout: Designing factual books for children
Professor Sue Walker, Professor of Typography at the University of Reading.

24 May

Ladybird Books Landscapes: What to look for in the What to Look For books
Dr Jeremy Burchardt, Associate Professor in the Department of History, University of Reading

empty line of text

Discover a small selection of material from the Ladybird Books Archive in our Ladybird Gallery and explore further in Ladybird Books: ‘How it Works’ at Reading Museum from Saturday 30th March until 17th August.

empty line of text

Can’t join us in person?

We hope to live stream some of the seminars on Facebook. Recordings will also be available to watch on Youtube