Fold Kids Book Fest: Tackling Social Justice Issues in KidLit Virtual Panel
Nov
8
7:00 PM19:00

Fold Kids Book Fest: Tackling Social Justice Issues in KidLit Virtual Panel

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!

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Vancouver Writers Fest: Friendship and Fitting In Panel
Oct
19
10:15 AM10:15

Vancouver Writers Fest: Friendship and Fitting In Panel

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!

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Brooklyn Book Festival: Epic Character Face-Offs
Oct
1
12:00 PM12:00

Brooklyn Book Festival: Epic Character Face-Offs

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!

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Library of Congress National Book Festival Signing
Sep
3
1:00 PM13:00

Library of Congress National Book Festival Signing

  • Walter E Washington Convention Center - Hall C (Lower Level) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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!

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Library of Congress National Book Festival: You'll Be Okay: Graphic Novels about Kids Who Keep Going with Johnnie Christmas and Kat Fajardo
Sep
3
12:10 PM12:10

Library of Congress National Book Festival: You'll Be Okay: Graphic Novels about Kids Who Keep Going with Johnnie Christmas and Kat Fajardo

  • Walter E. Washington Convention Center - Hall B (Lower Level) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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!

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Emerald City Comic Con: From the Everyday to the Extraordinary: Adventures for Kids Panel
Aug
21
2:00 PM14:00

Emerald City Comic Con: From the Everyday to the Extraordinary: Adventures for Kids Panel

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!

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Books of Wonder: Middle Grade Graphic Novel Fun! Virtual panel
Aug
7
3:00 PM15:00

Books of Wonder: Middle Grade Graphic Novel Fun! Virtual panel

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:

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

Register here!

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San Diego Comic-Con: Real Comics, Real Issues Panel
Jul
23
2:00 PM14:00

San Diego Comic-Con: Real Comics, Real Issues Panel

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!

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Learn to Draw Characters in Motion with Johnnie Christmas
Jul
20
10:00 AM10:00

Learn to Draw Characters in Motion with Johnnie Christmas

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!

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Vaughan Public Libraries Virtual Author Visit
Jul
11
4:00 PM16:00

Vaughan Public Libraries Virtual Author Visit

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!

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Toronto Comic Arts Festival: "Water and Wash Days" In-person panel
Jun
18
12:00 PM12:00

Toronto Comic Arts Festival: "Water and Wash Days" In-person panel

  • Toronto Reference Library, Learning Centre 1 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

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Toronto Comic Arts Festival: "Life Skills" virtual panel
Jun
17
3:00 PM15:00

Toronto Comic Arts Festival: "Life Skills" virtual panel

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!

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Virtual Launch of Swim Team: Johnnie Christmas in conversation with Jerry Craft
May
17
7:00 PM19:00

Virtual Launch of Swim Team: Johnnie Christmas in conversation with Jerry Craft

Join us for the virtual launch of Swim Team with author Johnnie Christmas in conversation with Jerry Craft. May 17 at 7:00 PM ET, live on Crowdcast. In partnership with Beyond Barcodes Bookstore, Brain Lair Books, Brave + Kind Bookshop, Da Book Joint, Source Booksellers, and WoW Book and Toy Store. Click here to buy a book from one of the partnering bookstores in order to gain entry! The first 25 people to buy from each store will receive a free swim cap!

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VanCAF 2022 Kickoff Event: Johnnie Christmas "Swim Team" Book Launch
May
16
7:00 PM19:00

VanCAF 2022 Kickoff Event: Johnnie Christmas "Swim Team" Book Launch

VanCAF 2022 kicks off our Festival this year with a special event presented at Slice of Life Gallery (1636 Venables St)!

On Monday, May 16th creator JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS joins us to celebrate the launch of his first middle-grade book SWIM TEAM, out May 17th from HarperAlley!

Johnnie will be in conversation with creator NATHAN FAIRBAIRN (Paws, Lake of Fire, Scott Pilgrim) to discuss his work, Swim Team and anything else they feel like talking about!

Event starts at 7PM and is FREE to attend!

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The Giller Master Panel: Graphic Novels Take Centre Stage
Apr
19
7:00 PM19:00

The Giller Master Panel: Graphic Novels Take Centre Stage

The third Giller Prize Master Panel will take place on Monday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT and will celebrate the art of graphic novels.

The panel will explore the art and culture of graphic novels as well as dive into what has made them so popular in the last decade.

Moderated by the 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner, Michael Redhill, the group will feature the following Canadian graphic novelists: Johnnie Christmas, Meags Fitzgerald, Lorina Mapa and Seth.

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