Baltimore City: Meet Graphic Novel Festival!
August 10 | 10 am – 6 pm | @ Dreamers & Make-Believers.
Bmore Transform, Dreamers & Make-Believers Bookstore, and the Enoch Pratt Free Public Library are bringing an innovative idea to Baltimore City this summer: its first-ever Graphic Novel Festival!
Baltimore was once known as The City That Reads. Thousands flock annually to Baltimore Comic Con and the Baltimore Book Festival, which are both in their 25 years of existence. However, neither event has specifically featured graphic novels nor their authors or illustrators. These books are beloved and deserve to be celebrated! Graphic Novels have been the third highest-selling category within adult fiction over the past few years, and kids’ and middle-grade titles experienced an uptick in sales between 2020-2023. Will you join us for Graphic Novel Festival on August 10th at Dreamers & Make-Believers and reclaim Baltimore City’s title as The City That Reads?!
Benefits:
Graphic novels aren’t just for kids! In 2023, graphic novels were the third highest-selling category within adult fiction. According to the American Library Association, Millennials and young adults in Gen Z often enjoy graphic novels because they are comfortable with diverse forms of media. From 2020 to 2023, kids’ and middle-grade graphic novel sales were up 29%. As former teachers, we appreciate the educational benefits of graphic novels. For example, children’s books average 30.9 rare words per 1,000 while adult books average 52.7 per 1,000. Graphic novels, however, offer 53.5 rare words per 1000, delivering more challenging vocabulary for all readers.
Another educational benefit? Graphic novels engage readers intellectually because the medium of sequential art requires the reader to decode visual and textual content simultaneously. Not only that, the creative format of graphic novels is inclusive, inviting all levels of readers to interact with the story in multiple ways. Plus, graphic novels often feature more diverse stories, attracting readers of various ages, races, ethnicities, and more. Graphic Novel Festival will attract about 300-600 people from Baltimore City, various Maryland counties, and neighboring states. It’s all about connecting, collaborating, appreciating art, and having a blast together!
Connect: Meet other like-minded people who also love Graphic Novels – even those who create them! Meet authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, and more who share your interests!
Collaborate: Attend workshops, hear from educators who teach using graphic novels, and attend panels with authors and illustrators.
Appreciate: Vend at or simply visit our Artist Alley and support local creators. What will you find?
Have a blast: On your own or with friends or family, the day is sure to be a fun and memorable time.
Join us for a fun day, where you’ll make new friends, and build community with artists, authors, local organizations, and other individuals! Featuring book talks, panels, workshops, and an Artist Alley at Baltimore City’s first-ever Graphic Novel Festival this summer!
Hope to see you on August 10, 2024, from 10am – 6pm at Dreamer’s and Make-Believers Bookstore!
