Association for Research on Children’s Literature in English in Norway

Research – Department of Teacher Education

Association for Research on Children’s Literature in English in Norway

The Association for Research on Children’s Literature in English in Norway (ARCLEN) is a national association that is dedicated to 1) innovative research in and 2) pedagogical practices of children’s and young adult literature in English in Norway. ARCLEN was founded in 2023 by researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Nord University, Oslo Metropolitan University, and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The association works within the broad discipline of English-language literature for children and young adults, using the overarching term “children’s literature” to cover a wide corpus of texts. We are interested in critical analyses of global children’s literature both in and out of educational contexts and the use of authentic English-language texts in classrooms throughout Norway. In particular, the association focuses on the following: 

  • critical analyses of English-language children’s literature; 
  • pedagogical and didactic approaches to using children’s literature in ELT in Norway;  
  • using children’s literature to support curricular aims, including basic skills and interdisciplinary themes; 
  • contribution to national and international research on children’s literature.

ARCLEN aims to promote academic scholarship on children’s literature and education whilst also fostering a community of scholars and educators. We greatly encourage members of the children’s literature community working with English texts in Norway to join the association! Membership benefits include:

  • collaboration with like-minded individuals;     
  • networking opportunities with colleagues and peers; 
  • newsletter (published twice a semester) with relevant information on children’s literature research.

To become a member, contact ARCLEN here. Feel free to follow ARCLEN on social media!

Tema tab ARCLEN

Alyssa Magee Lowery, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Anke Zondag, Nord University

Camilla Ringkjøbing Jensen, Oslo Metropolitan University

Dianna Walla, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Federica Clementi, University of Stavanger

Gro Anita Myklevold, University of South-Eastern Norway

Hege Emma Rimmereide, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Hilde Tørnby, Oslo Metropolitan University

Jade Dillon-Craig, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Janice Bland, Nord University

Jena Habegger-Conti, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Jennifer Duggan, University of South-Eastern Norway

Katherina Dodou, Högskolan Dalarna

Libe Garcia Zarranz, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Mathilde Myrstad, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Maren S. Rasmussen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Mari Skjerdal Lysne, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Maria Casado Villanueva, Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge

Marit Elise Lyngstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Mildrid Bjerke, Oslo Metropolitan University

Nayr Ibrahim, Nord University

Radel James Eumague Gacumo, University of Stavanger

Ruth Seierstad Stokke, Oslo Metropolitan University

Sarah Hoem Iversen, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Sissil Lea Heggernes, Oslo Metropolitan University

Tom Nurmi, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Torunn Synnøve Skjærstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Wafa Pathan, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Zoltan Varga, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Literature for Children and Young Adults in English Language Teaching, edited by Jade Dillon-Craig, Sissil Lea Heggernes, Nayr Ibrahim, & Alyssa Magee Lowery. This volume presents compelling insights into contemporary international approaches to English language pedagogy. Ranging from poetry to popular film, eBooks to empathy, and classroom contexts to climate literacy, it features fifteen essays from current scholars in Nordic contexts who explore essential topics affecting today’s teachers of the English language subject across the globe. The volume is firmly rooted in a pedagogical perspective, seamlessly integrating theory and practice for a thorough approach to topical issues in children’s literature and English language teaching. Under contract with a leading international book publisher (level 2).

Fall 2025: Annual Fall Seminar, Oslo Metropolitan University 

Keynote

Karen Sands-O'Connor: Using Historical Children's Literature to Understand the History of Racism in Britain

Individual Presentations

Federica Clementi: Queer Children's Literature to Promote Democratic Competence Development in ELT
Sissil Lea Heggernes: Literature Dialogues with AI Chatbots: Is It Possible?

Jena Habegger-Conti: Visual Direct Address in Picturebooks as an Invitation to Reflect

Mildrid H.A. Bjerke: "But I am the Strongest Girl in the World": Pippi Longstocking, Childism, and the Carnivalesque

Alyssa Magee Lowery: The Disney Formula: Establishing a Framework through the Classic Era (1937-1942)

Fall 2024: Annual Fall Seminar, Oslo Metropolitan University 

Keynote

Sissil Lea Heggernes: Critical Thinking with Young Learners through Picturebooks - Experiences from the Interdisciplinary KriT Project

Individual Presentations

Jennifer Duggan: Fan binding and rebinding

Wafa Pathan: New Formulation to Analyze Disney and Disney-Pixar Films on Diverse Stories of Intergenerational Trauma

Jade Dillon-Craig: Theorising Oliver Jeffers' Picturebooks

Spring 2024: Official launch at Reading for In-Depth English Learning - Texts In and Beyond the Classroom conference, Bodø (RidEL 2024)

Fall 2023: Inaugural Seminar, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Research Group Presentations

Children's Literature Research and Education (CLEAR), Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Nord Research Group for Children's Literature in English Language Teaching (CLELT), Nord University

Research Teacher Education, Language and Literature (RETELL), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Challenging Picturebooks in Education: Rethinking Language and Literature Learning, Oslo Metropolitan University

Independent Scholars

please note that the digital participants are missing from the 2023 photograph