This week, children's books shine at Comic Con; New York kids celebrate reading with Sonia Manzano; Ruta Sepetys and more discuss writing history; Adam Gidwitz gives book clubbers an early look at his new novel; it’s all fun and games for three middle grade authors; and Laura Stampler spreads some “little white lies.”
We Could Be Heroes
Children’s graphic novelists and illustrators joined forces at Comic Con in San Diego on July 22 to discuss their work on a panel called “Behind the Curtain: Creating Heroes in All Formats.” Standing, from left are: Greg Grunberg and Lucas Turnbloom (Dream Jumper), Dustin Ngyuen and Derek Fridolfs (DC Comics: Secret Hero Society), Mike Wu (Oodlethunks), and Kate Beaton (King Baby). Seated is Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts).
A Reading Revolution
Sonia Manzano joined Jacqueline Woodson and Chirlane McCray – the First Lady of New York City – to discuss Manzano’s novel The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (Scholastic Press) with young readers on July 13. Woodson and McCray selected the book as part of the Gracie Book Club, a partnership between Gracie Mansion Conservancy and McCray that has the goal of uniting diverse communities in New York City through reading. Here, Manzano meets with a group of readers from a Staten Island camp.
The Rest Is History!
Fellow authors (from l.) Mackenzi Lee, Mary McCoy, Stacey Lee, Martha Brockenbrough, Ruta Sepetys, and Robin Talley gathered at the International Literacy Association conference, held in Boston from July 9–11. The authors spoke on a panel about writing books with historical content.
Crouching Tiger, Farting Dragon
Adam Gidwitz met with Thalia Book Club Camp at New York City’s Symphony Space on July 18 to share The Inquisitor’s Tale (Dutton) with the camp members – his first readers. Here, instead of asking the group to say “cheese!,” Gidwitz has them say “farting dragon!” (a reference to the story).
Game On!
Authors (from l.) Tara Dairman (the All Four Stars series), and Rebecca Behrens (Summer of Lost and Found), and (standing) Jen Swann Downey (the Ninja Librarians series), discussed their writing at One More Page bookstore in Arlington, Va., on July 21. The authors also played a game with attendees, in which they tried to bluff readers by reading real and fake passages from their books.
Tell Me No Lies
Laura Stampler drew a standing-room-only crowd celebrating the release of her new YA novel Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies (Simon Pulse) at Books of Wonder in Manhattan on July 20. As Stampler demonstrates, no party would be complete without balloons and a little black – and white – dress.
