Translating Visual Stories: Graphic Novels, Comics, Picture Books, and Illustrated YA

As part of the Brooklyn Book Festival 2019, one of America’s premier book festivals and the largest free literary event in New York City, Deutsches Haus at NYU presents together with the PEN Translation Committee, and PEN America’s Children’s and Young Adult Books Committee the panel discussion Translating Visual Stories: Graphic Novels, Comics, Picture Books, and Illustrated YA with Kristi Fernandez, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Sandra Smith, CJ Suzuki, and Lucas Zwirner.

Stories that combine text and illustration are growing in popularity. Some of the most interesting and innovative work is coming from outside the US and translated into English. Panelists will talk about translating graphic novels, comics, picture books, and illustrated YA books and how both text and visuals change when adapted to a new language and culture. We’ll focus on Japan, a pioneer of comics and graphic novels, Western Europe, where edgy stories dominate and refugees give voice to a more diverse continent, Germany, and the attempt to re-frame a beloved YA classic for a U.S. audience, and Brazil, with its unique picture book illustrations.