International Children’s Literature Workshop 2027:
Teaching Global Visual Storytelling
January 16, 2027 through February 22, 2027
The International Children’s Literature Workshop is a virtual professional development workshop series for K-12 educators, librarians, and children’s literature enthusiasts in the wider community. This year’s theme — Teaching Global Visual Storytelling — celebrates the contributions of genres including graphic novels, manga, and comic books to the richness of literature from around the world, and provides recommendations on how such genres can support K-12 students of all reading levels and abilities on their path to becoming global citizens.
Setting the Scene: A Preview of the Series
Saturday, January 16, 2027 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Featuring: Dr. Kate Van Haren, Elementary School Teacher, Pittsville, Wisconsin, and the Madison Reading Project.
During week one of our series, hear from Dr. Kate Van Haren, a social studies educator from Pittsville, Wisconsin, who will put the workshop series into context including her own experiences utilizing global visual storytelling in the classroom.
We will also be joined by representatives from the Madison Reading Project who will briefly share about the resources they can provide educators.
And finally, hear from staff from several members of the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC) who have participated in the organization of this workshop. They will provide a brief overview about the speakers they have invited to participate in the series.
Graphic Novel Development and How to Discuss Difficult Topics through Graphic Novels
Friday, January 22, 2027 | 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Featuring: Jyoti Chand, author, and Dr. Ritu Radhakrishnan, Curriculum and Instruction, Oswego State University of New York
As graphic novels become increasingly important tools for fostering literacy, empathy, and global understanding, Fitting Indian offers a compelling example of visual storytelling’s potential. Join Dr. Ritu Radhakrishnan (SUNY Oswego) and Jyoti Chand for a webinar exploring the author’s path to publishing her debut graphic novel, approaches to addressing difficult topics through the graphic novel format, and the significance of South Asian representation in contemporary literature for young readers. This webinar is offered jointly through the South Asia Book Award Meet the Author Series for 2026 award winners and the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium’s International Children’s Literature Series: Teaching Global Visual Storytelling.
The Arab of the Future: Reading (critically) the Work and its Acclaim
Monday, January 25, 2027 | 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Featuring: Dr. Carla Calarge, French and Francophone Studies, Florida Atlantic University
In this workshop, Professor Carla Calargé of Florida Atlantic University will lead group activities exploring how culture shapes the way we see others. She will discuss Riad Sattouf’s graphic memoir L’Arabe du futur, which recounts his childhood in France, Libya, and Syria, and explores questions of identity, politics, and belonging. The talk will also examine how Sattouf’s portrayal of Syrian society has sparked debate and how personal stories can sometimes reinforce stereotypes about the Middle East.
Manga
Monday, February 15, 2027 | 4-5:30 p.m.
Featuring: Dr. Anju Kinoshita, Asian Languages and Cultures, UW–Madison
The Series Wrap Up: World Comics Panel and Classroom Tools
Monday, February 22 | 4-5:30 p.m.
A panel featuring: Dr. Anju Kinoshita, Asian Languages and Cultures, Dr. Sara McKinnon, Department of Communication Arts, UW–Madison; and author C.J. Standal. Moderated by Dr. Kate Van Haren.
