Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards Finalists and Category Winners Announced

Pop Culture Classroom Spotlights Titles for Education, Enjoyment 

The annual EGL Awards, established by the Denver-based nonprofit organization in 2017, spotlight the very best in comics and manga collections, graphic novels, and other graphic literature, identifying titles that have the potential to best advance literacy, learning, and social connection—particularly in educational settings. 

“This year’s EGL finalists are compelling, varied, and substantive — and each has a unique and rewarding story for readers. Our jurors from across the country are academics, teachers, librarians, and graphic literature professionals, and they have identified some real gems for early readers and lifetime learners alike.”  

Matt Slayter, Education Director at Pop Culture Classroom

With more than 250 title submissions from 94 publisher imprints, this year’s Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards is Pop Culture Classroom’s largest awards yet. 31 publishers are represented in this year’s list of finalists and winners, including — for the first time — manga publishers.

2024 EGL Category Awards 

The category winners and finalists for the 2024 Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards are:

Best in Children’s Fiction: 

Batcat by Meggie Ramm (Abrams Fanfare) 

2024 Finalists 

• Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic) 
• Clementine Fox and the Great Island Adventure by Leigh Luna (Scholastic) 
• Rose Wolves by Natalie Warner (Top Shelf Productions) 
• The Unlikely Story of Felix and Macabber by Juni Ba and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Dark Horse) 
• Walsy: The Red Glove by Sarah Kourkejian (Self-Published) 
• Your Pal Fred: Low Power by Michael Rex (Penguin Graphic, Viking) 

Best in Children’s Non-Fiction:  

Shapes and Shapes by Ivan Brunetti (TOON Books) 

2024 Finalists 

• Caterpillars: What Will I Be When I Get to Be Me by Kevin McCloskey (TOON Books) 
• Tibbles the Cat by David Dolensky (Albatros Media) 

Best in Middle Grade Fiction:

2024 Finalists 

• Akane-Banashi Vol. 1 by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue (VIZ Media) 
• Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Matt Bagguley (Hippo Park) 
• Global: One Fragile World. An Epic Fight For Survival by Eoil Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano (Sourcebooks) 
• The Love Report by Beka & Maya (Hippo Park) 
• Wildfire by Breena Bard (Little, Brown Ink) 

Best in Middle Grade Non-Fiction:

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza (Scholastic) 

2024 Finalists 

• Big Bangs and Black Holes: A Graphic Novel Guide to the Universe by Jérémie Francfort and Herji (Helvetiq)
• Drawn to Change the World by Emma Reynolds (Harper Alley) 
• Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Her Work, Her Home by Francisco de la Mora (SelfMadeHero) 
• Occulted by Amy Rose, Ryan Estrada, Jeongmin Lee (Iron Circus) 
• Paul Bunyan: The Invention of an American Legend by Noah Van Sciver and Marlena Myles (TOON Books) 
• Pizza, Pickles, and Apple Pie: The Stories Behind the Foods We Love by David Rickert (Kane Press)

Best in Young Adult Fiction: 

Blackward by Lawrence Lindell (Drawn & Quarterly) 

2024 Finalists 

• ¡Ay, Mija! By Christine Suggs (Little, Brown Ink) 
• Four-Color Heroes by Richard Fairgray (Fanbase Press) 
• Malcom Kid and the Perfect Song by Austin Paramore and Sarah Bollinger (Oni Press) 
• The Sea in You by Jessi Sheron (Iron Circus) 
• Turtle Bread by Kim-Joy and Alti Firmansyah (Dark Horse) 

Best in Young Adult Non-Fiction: 

We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga (Abrams ComicArts) 

2024 Finalists 

• The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu by Clément Xavier, Lisa Lugrin, and Albertine Ralenti (Graphic Universe) 
• Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game by Colin Kapernick, Eve L. Ewing and Orlando Caicedo (Scholastic) 
• Nervosa by Hayley Gold (Street Noise) 
• Smash the Patriarchy by Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahl (Helvetiq) 
• Until I Love Myself: The Journey of a Nonbinary Manga Artist by Poppy Pesuyama (VIZ Media) 

Best in Adult Fiction: 

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (Pantheon) 

2024 Finalists 

• Ashes by Álvaro Ortiz, translated by Eva Ibarzabal (Top Shelf) 
• Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century by Youssef Daoudi and Adrian Matejka (Liveright) 
• The Man in the MacIntosh Suit by Rina Ayuyang (Drawn & Quarterly) 
• The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Abrams ComicArts) 
• Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons by Kelly Sue Deconnick, Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott (DC) 

Best in Adult Non-Fiction:

 Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey by Edel Rodriguez (Metropolitan Books) 

2024 Finalists 

• JAJ by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Douglas & McIntyre) 
• Memento Mori by Tiitu Takalo (Oni Press) 
• My Pancreas Broke But My Life Got Better by Nagata Kabi (Seven Seas) 
• Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, Joel Christian Gill (Ten Speed Graphic) 
• The Talk by Darrin Bell (Henry Holt & Co.)

2024 EGL Mosaic Award Finalists 

Pop Culture Classroom also announced this year’s finalists for the Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards Mosaic Award, which celebrates diverse perspectives in storytelling. 

• Batcat by Meggie Ramm (Abrams Fanfare) 
• Drawn to Change the World by Emma Reynolds (Harper Alley) 
• JAJ by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Douglas & McIntyre) 
• Malcom Kid and the Perfect Song by Austin Paramore and Sarah Bollinger (Oni Press) 
• Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang (Scholastic) 
• Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (Pantheon) 
• Walsy: The Red Glove by Sarah Kourkejian and Louay Daoust (Self Published) 
• We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga (Abrams ComicArts) 

The winner of the 2024 EGL Awards Mosaic Award will be announced on social media and online at PopCultureClassroom.org on Monday, June 10 at 10 AM.  

2024 EGL Book of the Year Finalists 

Finally, the group announced its finalists for this year’s Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards Book of the Year. The Book of the Year Award is determined by jury chairs and honors the best title of the year, taking into account story and art quality, innovation, diverse and timely themes, and educational potential—regardless of its category. This year’s Book of the Year finalists are listed below: 

• Batcat by Meggie Ramm (Abrams Fanfare) 
• Blackward by Lawrence Lindell (Drawn and Quarterly) 
• Four Eyes by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza (Scholastic) 
• Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang (Scholastic) 
• Shapes and Shapes by Ivan Brunetti (Toon Books) 
• Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (Pantheon) 
• We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga (Abrams ComicArts) 
• Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey by Edel Rodriguez (Metropolitan) 

The winner of the 2024 EGL Book of the Year Award will be announced on social media and online at PopCultureClassroom.org on Monday, June 10 at 10 AM. 

For media inquiries please contact:  

Chris Burley, Pop Culture Classroom 
c.burley@popcultureclassroom.org

Social Media Graphics: 

• Square EGL Awards Images 
• Book Covers 
• Creator Photos 

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Pop Culture Classroom is a nonprofit arts and education organization that works to inspire a love of learning, increase literacy, celebrate diversity, and build community through the tools of popular culture and the power of self-expression. Learn more at PopCultureClassroom.org