Deb AokiFinally made it to ALA #LibLearnX 2023 in New Orleans - it’s a lot quieter than I expected, but good to see graphic novels from @[email protected] , @[email protected], @[email protected], @[email protected] @[email protected] represented here
Popped by the @[email protected] / @[email protected] booth at ALA #LibLearnX 2023 - delighted to see a preview copy of Holding Her Own, a picture book biography of pioneering newspaper comic strip creator Jackie Ormes, written by Traci Todd & Shannon Wright (Twins) https://www.scholastic.ca/books/view/holding-her-own-the-exceptional-life-of-jackie-ormes
Wow, real talk at ALA #LibLearnX: “I have colleagues who had to go on medical leave b/c they were being harassed by parents & community members. We are doing our best to fight censors, we are getting to the point where we are very tired & scared, & starting to self-censor.”
Not sure if it’s because it’s a theme of this show, but lots of interest in what Eriq La Salle called “point of view” books - peoples’ lived experiences as graphic novels at ALA #LibLearnX23 including these from @[email protected], @[email protected] and @[email protected]
Another popular graphic novel category seen at ALA #LibLearnX23 is stuff for younger readers. a lot of them are just funny/silly variations on the “oddball pals” theme, like Pizza and Taco fr @[email protected] & Weenie with Frank and Beans from @[email protected]
At the @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase at ALA #LibLearnX23 listening to @[email protected] & Bryan Collier talk about their latest release, We Are Here, “a joyful celebration of the extraordinary impact and legacy Black people have contributed through history.”
The librarians in the audience audibly gasp & go “awww” when Bryan Collier explains that the pink balloon in some of the illustrations in “We Are Here” represent Grace, Tami Charles’ daughter “that didnt make it to the other side” https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/we-are-here-9781338752045.html #LibLearnX23
We Are Here
Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, We Are Here is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to all of the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions from the beginning of time.Tami Charles shares the beauty and excellence in the history of the Black community, assuring Black and brown children of the extraordinary legacy from which they come. Charles's powerful and empowering text is accompanied with illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree. We Are Here celebrates readers with pride, joy, and love, reminding them of their roots, inviting readers to imagine a future that shines ever bright, and strengthening them for their triumphant days to come!
Amazing to hear that Jovita, the protagonist of Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter (new from @[email protected]) was a author Aida Salazar’s great aunt, who was called “Mexico’s Joan of Arc” https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/jovita-wore-pants-9781338283419.html #LibLearnX23
Jovita Wore Pants
Jovita dreamed of wearing pants! She hated the big skirts Abuela made her wear. She wanted to scale the tallest mesquite tree on her rancho, ride her horse, and feel the wind curl her face into a smile! When her father and brothers joined the Cristero War to fight for religious freedom, Jovita wanted to go, too. Forbidden, she defied her father's rules ��� and society's ��� and found a clever way to become a trailblazing revolutionary, wearing pants! This remarkable true story about a little-known maverick Mexican heroine is brought vividly to life by her great-niece and Am��ricas Award���winner Aida Salazar, and Eisner Award���honoree Molly Mendoza.
Illustrator Molly Mendoza shows how she laid out the spreads for Jovita Wore Pants. “Jovita is the embodiment of the wind, strong, wild, gentle and kind” - the line that flows from spread to spread shows the ups and downs of her life. At @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase
Caught up with Jovita Wore Pants author @[email protected] & illustrator @[email protected] at the end of the @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase at ALA #LibLearnX23 - so lovely to see a creative team that so obviously love the story they’re bringing to the world https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/jovita-wore-pants-9781338283419.html
Jovita Wore Pants
Jovita dreamed of wearing pants! She hated the big skirts Abuela made her wear. She wanted to scale the tallest mesquite tree on her rancho, ride her horse, and feel the wind curl her face into a smile! When her father and brothers joined the Cristero War to fight for religious freedom, Jovita wanted to go, too. Forbidden, she defied her father's rules ��� and society's ��� and found a clever way to become a trailblazing revolutionary, wearing pants! This remarkable true story about a little-known maverick Mexican heroine is brought vividly to life by her great-niece and Am��ricas Award���winner Aida Salazar, and Eisner Award���honoree Molly Mendoza.
I’m covering ALA #LibLearnX23 from a graphic novels PoV, so it was a nice surprise to see that 2 books featured at @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase have graphic novel connections. Before Jovita Wore Pants, Molly Mendoza created Stray for @[email protected] Press https://bulgilhanpress.com/store/stray-molly-mendoza
STRAY by Molly Mendoza — Bulgilhan Press
Stray follows Jack, a chaotic romantic spiraling into disaster desperately seeking comfort in others while ignoring their own destructive tendencies. While thoroughly hung up on the past, Jack meets Stray and their whole world changes. Tender and sensual, lush and palpable, Stray ushers in a n
I mentioned the Jackie Ormes bio picture book yesterday, but such a treat to hear author Traci Todd and illustrator talk about their research and personal connection with “the first african american woman cartoonist” as they created “Holding Her Own” for @[email protected] #LibLearnX23
Oops! So last tweet omitted the Shannon Wright, the illustrator of “Holding Her Own” from @[email protected] - she’s also the illustrator of Twins, by Varian Johnson, also from @[email protected]
Also featured at @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase at #LibLearnX23 was “When You Can Swim,” a debut picture book by Asian-Canadian author Jack Wong/@jacquillo_ . “It stole our hearts as soon as it crossed our desk” https://www.scholastic.com/onlinepreview/index.html#9dd1679659694245a9e0cd21f1716799/0
Unfortunately, Jack Wong’s original flight to New Orleans was cancelled, so he spoke to the @[email protected] Picture Book Showcase audience via pre-recorded video, and shared heartfelt stories about his grandmother who loved to swim, & his mother who didnt. #LibLearnX23
Given that manga is super popular in general, it’s a little disappointing that the only publisher with a significant presence in the ALA #LibLearnX23 exhibit hall is @[email protected]
While chatting with the @[email protected] peeps at their ALA #LibLearnX23 booth, they mentioned breaking out their offerings in their library catalog by 5 age ratings: Kids, Tween (age 10+), Teen (age 13+), Older Teen (Age 16+), and Mature (Ages 18+)
It seems like age ratings on manga published in English is a sensitive topic for libraries. You don’t want parents to tell kids “you cant read this b/c you’re too young/or it’s too kiddy,” but libraries also don’t want any surprises if a title is shelved in YA but gets “mature”
The other common painpoint about manga I’m hearing at ALA #LibLearnX23 is how difficult it is to buy long series, no matter how popular, and getting missing volumes if a series is out of print, or not easy to order through established channels like Ingram or Baker & Taylor
In N. America, any hint of nudity or buxom women makes some manga problematic in libraries for younger readers. Volume 1s that have “objectionable” content include Naruto, Dragon Ball & My Hero Academia
A librarian shared a story about one woman in her community who constantly calls to complain about graphic novels in the local library because she’s trying to score political points to run for a school board position in an upcoming election. “I’m just protecting the children” 😡
The other kinda manga-related issue i observed at ALA #LibLearnX23 was that no one knows how to describe “manga-inspired/kinda like manga” books, such as Taili by French-Laotian creator Sourya (fr @[email protected]) or The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill fr @[email protected]
There weren’t too many graphic novel-related panels / programming at ALA #LibLearnX23, but to be fair, this is the first time they’re trying this show format after 2 years of virtual-only events. Both librarians and exhibitors seem to be feeling this show out for now
Kinda but not related — but apparently the other convention that’ll be in the New Orleans Convention Center this week is CATTLECON
Also, no one (as far as i know) is tracking library sales and circulation numbers for graphic novels/manga in N. America. Everyone I asked say that they have their own proprietary tracking, but since it’s largely not counted in Bookscan numbers, it might as well not exist.
The other issue that libraries have with manga is that “there are not enough reviews of manga in professional journals/trusted news sources like @[email protected], @[email protected] or @[email protected].” Without it, it’s hard for them to buy/try manga. #LibLearnX23
After some beers, some NOLA eats & music last night,