Event
Conversation with Jerry Craft: From Mama’s Boyz to New Kid and Beyond--Online Event
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Learn about life, art, and telling your story with bestselling author, illustrator, and syndicated cartoonist Jerry Craft. He'll talk about his journey to success, including a fun drawing demo.
Jerry Craft is the author-illustrator of New York Times bestselling graphic novels New Kid and its companion book, Class Act. New Kid was the first book in history to win the Newbery Medal (2020), The Coretta Scott King Author Award (2020), and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019). In his latest book, School Trip, Jerry hopes to share his love of travel in order to inspire kids and their families to see the world and embrace new cultures. Jerry is also the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that won the African American Literary Award five times. He is a cofounder of the Schomburg Center’s Annual Black Comic Book Festival.
Despite not always being an avid reader, Jerry has gained a unique ability to weave captivating narratives and bring them to life through his stunning artwork. He has used his experience to create the works he wishes he’d had as a kid, with characters that represent his community. He frequently visits schools and libraries, hoping to give kids and families a new perspective on books and reading that he didn’t always have when he was young. He loves working with children and hopes to inspire anyone he meets to keep trying, always.
Jerry will be joined in conversation by Ronnell Whitaker, a founding member of the Lit-X Teacher Cohort. Ronnell is the English curriculum director for Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn. He has more than 15 years of education experience and is a champion of comics in the classroom, and has presented across the country at conferences and conventions. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Reading with Pictures. He believes in comics, and he likes to think that comics believe in him. Learn more about Ronnell Whitaker at thecomicbookteacher.com, linkedin.com.
Register and receive the Zoom link. Please note, this event will not be recorded. Be sure to register and attend the live presentation to enjoy the fun.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility.
To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.