First Annual Excellence In Graphic Literature Awards!
This year’s nominees were announced LIVE on KidLit TV March 15, 2018 1pm ET
Finalists: Best in Children’s Books
Fiction
- Bolivar by Sean Rubin (BOOM! Studios)
- Good Night, Planet by Liniers (TOON Books)
- Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham (First Second)
- The Big Bad Fox by Benjamin Renner (Macmillan)
- Where’s Halmoni? By Julie Kim (Little Bigfoot)
Nonfiction
- Bats: Learning to Fly by Falynn (Koch First Second)
Finalists: Best in Middle-Grade Books
Fiction
- As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman (Iron Circus Comics)
- Cici’s Journal by Joris Chamblain and Aurelie Neyret (First Second)
- Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin and Gale Galligan (Scholastic Graphix)
- Solution Squad by Jim McClain (Solution Squad Publishing)
- Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castellucci and Jose Pimienta (Dark Horse Comics)
- The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag (Scholastic Graphix)
- Brave by Svetlana Chmakova (YEN Press)**
** Honorable Mention
Finalists: Best in Young Adult Books
Fiction
- Home Time: Book One by Campbell Whyte (Top Shelf)
- I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, Stacey Robinson and John Jennings (TU Books/Lee & Low)
- Quince by Sebastian Kadlecik, Kit Steinkellner and Emma Steinkellner (Fanbase Press)
- Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield and Alex Puvilland (First Second)
- The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne and Veronica Fish (Supergenius/Papercutz)
Nonfiction
- Fire! The Zora Neale Hurston Story by Peter Bagge (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green (Lion Forge)
- Poppies of Iraq by Brigitte Finakly and Lewis Trondheim (Drawn & Quarterly)
- The Senses by Matteo Farinella (Nobrow Press)
- Spinning by Tillie Walden (First Second)
Finalists: Best in Adult Books
Fiction
- Mis(h)adra by Iasmin Omar Ata (Gallery 13)
- My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
- Park Bench by Christophe Chaboute (Gallery 13)
- Roughneck by Jeff Lemiere (Gallery 13)
- The Sound of the World by Heart by Giacomo Bevilacqua (Lion Forge)
Nonfiction
- Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary by Christian Perrissin and Mattheiu Blanchin (IDW Publishing)
- Hostage by Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371 (Penn State University Press)
- The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui (Abrams Comic Arts)
- The Hunting Accident by David L. Carlson and Landis Blair (First Second)
Finalists: Mosaic Award
- As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman (Iron Circus Comics)
- Good Night, Planet by Liniers (TOON-Books) Spanish and English lang. versions
- Monstress Vol. 2 by Marjorie Liu and (Image)
- Mis(h)adra by Iasmin Omar Ata (Gallery 13)
- Quince by Sebastian Kadlecik, Kit Steinkellner and Emma Steinkellner (Fanbase Press)
- Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castellucci and Jose Pimienta (Dark Horse Comics)
- The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui (Abrams Comic Arts)
- Where’s Halmoni? By Julie Kim (Little Bigfoot)
Finalists: Book of the Year
- Bats: Learning to Fly by Falynn Koch (First Second)
- Cici’s Journal by Joris Chamblain and Aurelie Neyret (First Second)
- Home Time: Book One by Campbell Whyte (Top Shelf)
- My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
- Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham (First Second)
- Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castellucci and Jose Pimienta (Dark Horse Comics)
- Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield and Alex Puvilland (First Second)
- The Hunting Accident by David L. Carlson and Landis Blair (First Second)
Celebrating the best in fiction and nonfiction graphic novels
The Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards is launching in response to the phenomenal expansion and appreciation of graphic novels. The creators and content of graphic literature are more diverse and eclectic than ever, and the format is experiencing tremendous growth in the book market as well as an increasing impact on literacy, education, and academia.
Not only do graphic novels have an incredible effect on library circulation, Pre-K through adult educators also recognize how graphic novels engage students across the entire ability and interest spectrum. Comics and graphic novels are also creating new career opportunities for storytellers as graphic novels have become a common source of inspiration for the film, theater, television, and gaming industries.
Pop Culture Classroom is proud to honor the world-class creators of this art form through the Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards. This awards program is directly connected to our mission to inspire a love of learning, increase literacy, celebrate diversity and build community through the tools of popular culture and the power of self-expression.
Categories
Awards will be given to the best in graphic literature for the following categories:
Children’s Fiction (Grade 5 & Under)
Children’s Nonfiction (Grade 5 & Under)
Middle Grade Fiction (Grades 6-8)
Middle Grade Nonfiction (Grades 6-8)
Young Adult Fiction (Grades 9-12)
Young Adult Nonfiction (Grades 9-12)
Adult Fiction
Adult Nonfiction
Mosaic Award – This honor recognizes the ever-growing number of talented storytellers and rich content that come from our diverse communities, ethnicities, nationalities, faiths, genders, and orientations. The Mosaic Award is open to titles that span any age range. Qualification for this category must include a statement as to how the submission reflects the principles of the Mosaic Award.
Book of the Year – Winners of each of the above nine categories will be entered into competition for the Book of the Year. Book of the Year will represent the year’s very best in graphic literature.
Meet the Advisory Board HERE!
Meet the Judges HERE!
Children’s Jury
CHAIR — Elizabeth Bird, Collection Development Manager, Evanston Public Library
Amanda Jacobs Foust – Assistant Chair
Brenda Gutierrez
Jesse Post
Meg Lemke
Susannah Richards
Terry Thompson
Middle Grade Jury
CHAIR — Dr. Katie Monnin, Associate Professor of Literacy, University of North Florida
Beth Duncan – Assistant Chair
Dr. Stergios Botzakis
Geo Ong
Karen Gavigan
Ronell Whitaker
Tara Bannon Williamson
Young Adult Jury
CHAIR — Michael Pawuk, Teen Services Librarian, Cuyahoga County Public Library
Cait Zaksheske – Assistant Chair
Adan Alvarado
Claudia McGivney
Eric Kallenborn
Michael Link
Nicholas Nichols
Adult Jury
CHAIR — Alicia Holston, Adult Services Librarian, Roanoke Public Library
Christina Hicks – Assistant Chair
David Serchay
Dr. John Weaver
Kerry Halls
Lacey Torge
Michael Gianfrancesco
Mosaic Award
CHAIR Alicia Holston
Book Of the Year
CHAIR — Elizabeth Bird
Connect with Pop Culture Classroom
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Final winners in each category will be announced at Denver Comic Con 2018!
There’s more to do at DCC 2018 than ever before. From meeting your favorite celebrities, to finding that one-of-a-kind gift, to experiencing a new kind of learning in the massive PCC Kids’ Lab – there’s something for everyone!
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