Creators will share their new middle grade novels and facilitate a discussion of how children’s literature can inform vocabulary and background knowledge instruction. We will problematize, inquire, and discuss with the audience how to use literature to build vocabulary and background knowledge within explicit teaching frameworks.

More info here!

The 2024 National Book Award-honored authors in Young People’s Literature visit Miami Book Fair to share more about their books and answer questions from Miami-Dade County’s middle and high school students acting as journalists! Hosted by JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS, authors include OLIVIA A. COLE, JOSH GALARZA, ANGELA SHANTÉ, and more! For more information and to RSVP, contact Rachel Gil de Gibaja at rgildegi@mdc.edu. Grades 6-12

More info here!

Excited to welcome local legend Johnnie Christmas to Lucky’s on Nov 14 for a signing + reading. Early 6pm start, it’s a school night! Gamerville fans where you at!

Save the date to celebrate our 2024 winners! There will be live author visits, book signings, prizes and more!

More info coming soon!

We’re not sure how he does it, but Johnnie Christmas manages to be effortlessly cool, delightfully nice, and a #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning graphic novelist… not to mention the co-creator of series Angel Catbird with Margaret Atwood, and adaptor of William Gibson’s lost screenplay, Alien 3 (amongst other roles). In short: this Vancouver local is a true star who can teach us a thing or two about creativity, art, and how to build a life you envision. In this Masterclass, he’ll speak to the creative process behind his latest work Gamerville—in which a videogamer’s championship aspirations are dashed when he’s sent to a camp where electronics are forbidden and you’re forced to socialize—and how the creative arts can build confidence and connection for you and those around you. Grades 4–7.

Themes: Creative writing, graphic novel, storytelling, careers
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts 4-9, Arts Education 4-7, Physical and Health Education 4-7, Career Education 4-7

Get tickets and more info here!

Connections come in many forms, and they’re nurtured in many different ways, too. The depth and range of ties among friends, family members, and even non-human animals are illuminated in these moving, fun reads. Angela Ahn’s Team Park explores family approval and overcoming obstacles. Johnnie Christmas’ Gamerville is a timely, vulnerable exploration of the importance of human connection—told through the world of video game championships. Uma Krishnaswami’s Birds on the Brain celebrates the precious relationship between humans and birds, as Reeni tries to save her city’s bird population. Join them for readings and conversation that will get students thinking about the importance of building ties and thinking of others—and support them in finding friendships in unusual places. Grades 4–7. Moderated by Tanya Boteju.

Themes: Middle-grade fiction, friendship, family, sportsmanship, well-being, graphic novel, activism
Curriculum Connections: Physical and Health Education 4-9, English Language Arts 4-7

Get tickets and more info here!

It’s our 30th year of Word Vancouver, and every festival brings exciting new changes! We’re looking forward to another year at UBC Robson Square, sharing the love of the literary with community both old and new.

We’re pleased to once again be gathering at UBC Robson Square, with a wide range of literary programming in UBC Classrooms, exhibitors and performances in the Robson Square Ice Rink, and poetry readings in Robson Plaza.

More info coming soon. Stay tuned here!

The YMCA has partnered with the African American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC) to bring awareness to reading, literacy, water safety, and drowning prevention. We encourage parents to bring their children to participate in this all-day literary event – starting with the Conference at AARLCC with the authors, followed by a pool party, press conference, and book signing by Johnnie Christmas at the YMCA.

Save your spot here!

The 2024 Conference is free to attend and open to educators of all kinds - librarians, teachers, and parents. The Conference will provide professional development, research and innovation in children’s literature and support networking, collaboration and contribute to a national dialogue. Please register- a complimentary light lunch is included and you may win signed copies of some the featured titles!

Join acclaimed illustrator and graphic novelist Johnnie Christmas for an inspiring keynote talk. Known for his work on the award-winning graphic novel Swim Team, Johnnie will share his journey from aspiring artist to New York Times bestselling author. He will discuss the creative process behind his most celebrated works, including the challenges and triumphs of bringing diverse characters and stories to life.

This is a unique day camp that connects youth ages 11-16 who are passionate about reading and writing with well-known authors and illustrators. Our program welcomes youth who want to try creative writing for the first time as well as those with mountains of manuscripts. Sharpen your pencils and bring your imagination to the next Writing & Book Camp!

This year we are pleased to welcome a host of incredible local writers, illustrators, and storytellers, alongside keynote speaker, Johnnie Christmas.

Book Camp is full. You can still register here to join the waitlist.

Date: August 12-16, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Central Library, 350 West Georgia
Fee: $275

Bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas will lead kids through the creation of an incredible comics page! What's a panel? What's the gutter? How should the panels flow? Learn all that and more through Johnnie Christmas' graphic novel, Swim Team.

November 9 at 1:30 PM EST.

Register for the virtual event here!

How do you tackle big topics while writing engaging stories for young people? Join three incredible kid lit authors—Keah Brown, Leonarda Carranza and Johnnie Christmas—in an important conversation moderated by Pawan "Pav" Wander on incorporating social justice in kids' books.

November 8 at 7:00 PM EST.

Register for the virtual panel here!

This event is SOLD OUT in person. Tickets can still be purchased to view the livestream!

Finding friends and fitting in is always challenging—even more for kids when they move to a new community, or join a new team… or are secretly a lizard. These three graphic novels for Middle Grade kids show the turbulence of navigating new situations, from swim team to riding competitions to a new school, and offer solace and solutions for how to deal with this universal experience of figuring out what it means to belong. Kids will be engaged and reassured by Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team), Faith Erin Hicks (Ride On), and Jonathan Hill (Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy). Grades 4–7.

Wednesday, October 19th at 10:15AM PST.

Event info and tickets available here!

In this interactive program, you get to build the wildest, weirdest characters you can think of and decide who wins when they face off in some seriously epic battles! Can a wizard with laser eyes beat a time-traveler who toots poisonous gas? Will a three-headed kitten out-cute a pygmy unicorn? Master storyteller Ibi Zoboi (Star Child) will help you create your very own characters as amazing illustrators Kayla Miller (Crunch) and Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team) draw the ultimate face-offs.

12:00 PM EST at the Young Readers Stage, Brooklyn Commons at Metrotech. More info here!

Love comics? Meet Johhnie Christmas, author of the book Swim Team, a book so great you will want to dive right in! He will talk about his graphic novel and how it was created.

Online event. Register here!

Johnnie Christmas signs "Swim Team" in book signing line 13.

• Sign his current book and past titles.

• Sign items other than books, such as programs or artwork.

• Sign more than one book per person in line.

• Sign and inscribe books.

• Allow photography at his discretion.

Event info here!

Will kids ever be allowed to be in charge of their own lives? Johnie Christmas and Kat Fajardo talk about their new graphic novels that try to find the answer. “Swim Team” features Bree, a girl starting middle school forced to take a dreaded elective. “Miss Quinces” follows Sue, a girl whose summer is now heavy with her family's expectations.

Event info here!

Adventures can be epic and otherworldly -- or as simple as a pleasurable afternoon spent doing activities with friends. Moderator leads Tochi Onyebuchi (Black Panther Legends), Vikram Madan (Bobo And Pup-Pup: We Love Bubbles), Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team) in kid-friendly escapades in the pages of their works.

WRITER'S ROOM (SCC 602-604)

Event info here!

Note: Time is 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST or 12:00 - 1:00 PM PST!

Get Your Head in the Game!

After-school club mischief and unexpected friendships light up these ultra-funny comic book stories! Relatable heroes tangle with new passions — from the basketball arena to reality TV baking contests, and from the swimming pool to Breakfast Club community service en español and English!

Books of Wonder is proud to host this wonderful virtual panel with four great graphic novelists, who will share their colorful comic book pages and take questions from the audience! Featuring:

• The Fifth Quarter and its sequel, Hard Court, by MIKE DAWSON

• Batter Royale, by LEISL ADAMS

• Swim Team, by JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS

• Invisible, by CHRISTINA DIAZ GONZALEZ

Sunday, August 7th at 3:00PM EST via Crowdcast!

Register here!

Real Comics, Real Issues Signing.

Sails Pavilion, AA07.

Event info here!

Jerry Craft (Class Act), Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team), Terri Libenson (Remarkably Ruby), Laura Gao (Messy Roots), and Yehudi Mercado (Chunky Goes to Camp) discuss graphic novels that tackle tough topics and realistic issues. Moderated by Joseph Illidge (executive editor and author).

Room 28DE

Event info here!

Nothing screams summer like underwater adventures. But, drawing characters in motion can be a challenge. Join author Johnnie Christmas as he walks you through how to create your own characters in action and make them look realistic. Tune in for unforgettable tips from the bestselling graphic novel creator. 

Get creative with the author

Join Johnnie Christmas and other great Harper Collins authors in our special Flipgrid group, Summer Creativity Camp. Here, learners can participate in activities presented by your host and share what they create in the topic.

Register here!

Enjoy graphic novels? Join author Johnnie Christmas for a discussion about his latest novel, Swim Team!

Register to watch the event from home on Zoom, or stop by a participating branch to attend a viewing of the event! This program will be livestreamed at the following branches:

• Bathurst Clark Resource Library

• Civic Centre Resource Library

• Maple Library

• Vellore Village Library

• VMC Library

Register here!

Thought-provoking and cutting-edge, KHS features candid conversations on the topics of the day and segments with guests across a variety of mediums to empower listeners.

More info here!

Stop by and say hi to Johnnie!

Stop by and say hi to Johnnie!

In this panel we explore the works of Jamila Rowser (The Wash Day Diaries), Robyn Smith, (The Wash Day Diaries) and Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team). Moderated by Casandra Fullwood, we take a deep dive in the shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care, and the importance of these stories in slice-of-life fashion.

Life Skills: Using Comics and Graphic Novels to Foster Empathy and Problem-Solving Abilities

Featuring: Shveta Miller and Johnnie Christmas​
Comics and graphic novels are a unique way to model empathy and problem-solving skills. Learn how you can develop and promote ideas and programs using comics and graphic novels to assist readers in recognizing examples of empathy and problem-solving skills to help readers of all ages.

Register here!

Join Johnnie and our host, Kevin Sylvester in a livestreamed, interactive, graphic storytelling workshop. Johnnie will share his pro-tips about how to create your own compelling story using a graphic novel format.

Register here!