A Conversation with Jerry Craft: from Mama’s Boyz to New Kid and Beyond

Learn about life, art, and telling your story with bestselling author, illustrator and syndicated cartoonist, Jerry Craft. Listen a conversation about his works and journey to success, including a drawing demo that will be fun for the whole family!

Jerry Craft is the author-illustrator of the bestselling graphic novels New Kid and 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, School Trip, Jerry shares his love of travel in order to inspire kids and their families to see the world and embrace new cultures. Craft is also the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip which won the African American Literary Award five times. He is a co-founder of the Schomburg Center’s Annual Black Comic Book Festival.

Despite not always being an avid reader, Craft gained a unique ability to weave captivating narratives and bring them to life through his stunning artwork. He used his experiences 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. 

Craft will be joined in conversation with Ronnell Whitaker, a founding member of the Lit-X Teacher Cohort. Whitaker is the English Curriculum Director for Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He has presented across the country at conferences and conventions on the virtues of comics in the classroom. Whitaker 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. 

This event will not be recorded so registered to watch this live, one-time virtual event.

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 (LSTA). 

ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com