CBC Graphic Novel Advocate Award

This annual award celebrates individuals who demonstrate a lifetime of exemplary commitment and advancement for children’s, middle-grade, and young adult graphic novels as a literary source over the span of their career.

The Graphic Novel Committee is excited to present the CBC Graphic Novel Advocate Award.

This annual award honors individuals who have been strong and passionate advocates for children’s, middle-grade, and young adult graphic novels, with a lifetime of dedication to promoting this format and its presence in classrooms, public and school libraries, and bookstores nationwide.

This award further recognizes defenders of graphic novels against book bans, particularly those by LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC creators, who have been disproportionately targeted.

Each year, the CBC Graphic Novel Committee reviews nominations submitted by CBC member publishers and selects up to 4 honorees. The Committee then announces and promotes these honorees and invites them to speak about their accomplishments via a virtual call.

2026 Winners

Gina Gagliano — Publisher Industry Consultant and Outreach Director at Boston Comic Arts Foundation

Gina Gagliano is an industry consultant working with independent presses (including Avery Hill, Difference Engine, Graphic Mundi, Levine Querido, Rosarium, and Street Noise Books). She is the Outreach Director for the Boston Comic Arts Foundation and supports aspiring comics creators as a thesis advisor for SVA’s MFA Graphic Narrative and as a volunteer for WNDB.

Maia Kobabe — Author of Gender Queer: A Memoir, Oni Press

Maia Kobabe’s GENDER QUEER: A Memoir was USA’s most challenged book from 2021- 2023. Eir short comics and writing have been published in The Nib, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, NPR, and Time Magazine. Maia’s second book is the nonfiction comic, BREATHE: Journeys to Healthy Binding, created with Dr Sarah Peitzmeier. Eir third book, OPTING OUT, written with Swati Lucky Srikumar, is coming from Scholastic Graphix in May 2026.

Andrea Miller — Senior Designer, Graphic Novels at Abrams / Abrams Fanfare & Abrams ComicArts

Andrea “Andy” Miller is a Senior Designer working on graphic novels and manga at Abrams Books on the Abrams Fanfare and Abrams ComicArts lists. They’ve designed and art directed books with folks at Union Square & Co. Kids, Clarion Books, Versify, Harper Alley, Square Enix Books & Manga, Bloomsbury Kids, Levine Querido, and more. In 2019, Andy pitched a graphic novel imprint called ETCH for Houghton Mifflin Books for Young Readers, which launched a year later. She adores talking shop, offering technical and aesthetic guidance to improve the process of graphic novel creation. Their favorite job perk is choosing head and tail bands.

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In the spring, we will host a one-hour virtual conversation with the winners, hosted by Meg Lemke from Publishers Weekly, a winner last year. Details will come at a later date.

The Children’s Book Council will donate $500 to each of the following charities in Gina, Maia, and Andrea’s honor:

• Boston Comic Arts Foundation
• Authors Against Book Bans
• Interlink Foundation

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2025 Winners

Eva Volin — Supervising Children’s Librarian, Alameda Free Library, CA

“Eva’s been a rock-solid advocate for kids’ graphic novels since day one. She was the person everyone was looking to for strength and guidance in the fight to get kids’ graphic novels taken seriously, and she has only become a more passionate, knowledgeable, selfless, and ubiquitous figure in kids’ comics since then. Plus, she’s just the kindest, fiercest, most generous person.”

Meg Lemke — Comics and Graphic Novels Reviews Editor, Publishers Weekly, and Editor-in-Chief of MUTHA Magazine

“Meg has fully committed her career to amplifying comics and graphic novels for readers of all ages. She’s been a longtime chair of the Brooklyn Book Festival planning committee for comics and graphic novels. She actively participates in comics-related events and connects personally with creators, editors, publicists, journalists, etc. Meg is a tireless advocate for comics and graphic novels!”

Robin Brenner — Head of Reference and Programming, Woburn Public Library, MA, and Editor at No Flying No Tights

“Robin was a LJ ‘Mover and Shaker’ in 2007, and she is the outgoing president of the Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. Robin wrote the book Understanding Manga and Anime and has authored chapters in other books on comics and teen librarianship. She also consults, presents, participates in panels and hosts events focused on comics and graphic novels. Robin is a star!”

Whitney Leopard — Executive Editor, Random House Graphic / InkPop

“Whitney is a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for graphic novels in all forms and for all ages. She travels and attends so many conferences and portfolio reviews, and is also a frequent speaker. She also gives back by mentoring and speaking to students at universities such as SCAD. She’s an all-around great person and an innovator!!”

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Publishers: Nominations are currently CLOSED. Email cbc.info@cbcbooks.org with questions. Learn more about the CBC Graphic Novel Committee here.