Virginia Library Association Announces 2026 Graphic Novel Diversity Award Adult Winner and Honor Titles
Fishersville, VA — The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Graphic Novel Diversity Award (GNDA) in the Adult category. Now in its tenth year, the GNDA celebrates diversity captured within the pages of graphic novels and recognizes outstanding works that reflect and uplift a wide range of experiences.
Selected by the Graphic Novel Diversity Award Committee, this year’s Adult division includes one winner and five honor titles that exemplify excellence in storytelling, illustration, and representation.
2026 Adult Winner
The Weight by Melissa Mendes
Drawn and Quarterly
The Weight focuses on the resulting despair and sadness that can occur, and reoccur, when people are forced to be and do things that are not within their character. This graphic novel focuses on the pressures faced by women in rural America– particularly the expectation that they are responsible for keeping a house together, bringing up children, and managing their husbands' needs and insecurities. This work lays out the results from a time in America when education, communication, mental health, and familial understanding were cast aside, and responsibility and expectation were placed at the top of the pyramid. Readers will be entranced by this depiction of the “American dream” and will feel that Mendes truly did justice to this long-lost ideal.
2026 Adult Honor Titles
- Cannon by Lee Lai (Drawn and Quarterly, ISBN: 978-1770468023)
- Love Languages by James Albon (Top Shelf, ISBN: 978-1603095570)
- Milk White Steed by Michael D. Kennedy (Drawn and Quarterly, ISBN: 978-1770467590)
- Pass Me By: Lily by Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen (Renegade Arts Entertainment, ISBN: 978-1989754306)
- Remembering Taiyaki by Starkie Mak (At Bay Press, ISBN: 978-1988168661)
These honor titles highlight a wide spectrum of experiences, including sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and nationality.
The Graphic Novel Diversity Award was established to:
- Increase opportunities for readers to see themselves represented in literature
- Elevate the visibility of diversity in graphic novels
- Recognize high-quality works featuring diverse characters and themes
- Support libraries in their mission to educate and promote reading
Diversity is defined broadly within the award to include both visible and invisible differences, encompassing areas such as race, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion, and LGBTQ+ identity. Eligible titles feature diverse protagonists, supporting characters, or subject matter that meaningfully contributes to the narrative.
The winning creator will receive a $500 award and will be recognized during the Opening Session of the 2026 VLA/VLACRL Annual Conference on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Graphic Novel Diversity Award Adult Division Committee includes five judges, a Chair, and a Co-Chair, who collectively review nominated titles submitted by publishers across North America. The Virginia Library Association thanks this year's chair, John Diaz of Prince William County Libraries, for his continued commitment to amplifying the work of the authors and artists honored by the committee.
The Committee's overflow selections in both categories will be available for download on August 6, 2026. |
Virginia Library Association Announces 2026 Graphic Novel Diversity Award Youth Winner and Honor Titles
Fishersville, VA — The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Graphic Novel Diversity Award (GNDA) in the Youth category. Now in its tenth year, the GNDA celebrates diversity captured within the pages of graphic novels and recognizes outstanding works that reflect and uplift a wide range of experiences.
Selected by the Graphic Novel Diversity Award Committee, this year’s Youth division includes one winner and five honor titles that exemplify excellence in storytelling, illustration, and representation.
2026 Youth Winner
Love, Misha by Askel Aden
First Second
Love, Misha follows nonbinary teen Misha on a surreal and emotional road trip with their estranged mother. Blending heartfelt realism with imaginative fantasy, Aden crafts a powerful story about identity, acceptance, and the complexities of family relationships. Through atmospheric illustrations and compassionate storytelling, the novel explores the challenges and rewards of building understanding across differences.
2026 Youth Honor Titles
- Absolutely Everything by Damian Alexander (Graphic Universe, ISBN: 979-8765608524)
- Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terciero; art by Claudia Aguirre (Penguin Workshop, ISBN: 978-0593385586)
- Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand; art by Tara Anand (HarperAlley, ISBN: 978-0063237537)
- Hey, Mary! by Andrew Wheeler; art by Rye Hickman (Oni Press, ISBN: 978-1637156384)
- Iyanu: Child of Wonder Library Edition Vol. 1 by Roye Okupe; art by Godwin Akpan and Chima Kalu (Dark Horse Books, ISBN: 978-1506752327)
These honor titles highlight a wide spectrum of experiences, including LGBTQ+ identity, invisible disabilities, mental health, cultural heritage, religion, and gender representation.
The Graphic Novel Diversity Award was established to:
- Increase opportunities for readers to see themselves represented in literature
- Elevate the visibility of diversity in graphic novels
- Recognize high-quality works featuring diverse characters and themes
- Support libraries in their mission to educate and promote reading
Diversity is defined broadly within the award to include both visible and invisible differences, encompassing areas such as race, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion, and LGBTQ+ identity. Eligible titles feature diverse protagonists, supporting characters, or subject matter that meaningfully contributes to the narrative.
The winning creator will receive a $500 award and will be recognized during the Opening Session of the 2026 VLA/VLACRL Annual Conference on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Graphic Novel Diversity Award Youth Division Committee includes five judges, a Chair, and a Co-Chair, who collectively review nominated titles submitted by publishers across North America. The Virginia Library Association thanks this year's chair, John Diaz of Prince William County Libraries, for his continued commitment to amplifying the work of the authors and artists honored by the committee.
The winning titles for the Adult Division will be announced tomorrow. The Committee's overflow selections in both categories will be available for download on August 6, 2026. |
Virginia Library Association and Playaway Products Announce “Quest to the Conference” Scholarships
Two Virginia library workers will receive scholarships to attend the 2026 Virginia Library Association Annual Conference in Norfolk, VA
(Fishersville, VA - 08/05/2026) — The Virginia Library Association (VLA), in partnership with Playaway Products, is pleased to announce the new Quest to the Conference Scholarships, which will provide two Virginia public library workers with financial support to attend Caring for Our Collective, the 2026 VLA Annual Conference.
The conference will be held Sunday, October 18, through Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Hilton Norfolk the Main in Norfolk, Virginia. The scholarship recipients will be formally recognized during the VLA Awards Reception on Sunday, October 18. Apply using the button below.
 Each scholarship recipient will receive:
- Full registration for the 2026 VLA Annual Conference;
- Two nights of accommodations at the conference hotel;
- A $100.00 per diem to assist with food or travel expenses; and
- Dinner at the conference location for Monday evening.
The scholarships are open to all public library workers throughout Virginia. Applicants do not need to hold the title of librarian or work in children’s services to be considered. In recognition of the vital role small and rural libraries play in communities across the Commonwealth, at least one scholarship will be awarded to a worker from a small or rural library. You must be a member of the Virginia Library Association in good standing to apply.
"The Virginia Library Association values continuing education, networking, and building community across the Commonwealth among library staff, and our annual conference is the primary vehicle for bringing those values to life," says Jennifer Brown, VLA Executive Director. "We are grateful to Playaway Products for helping to make this experience accessible to library workers who might otherwise be unable to attend."
 The scholarship’s name highlights Playaway’s new Launchpad Quest, an interactive touchscreen learning hub designed for children 3 and older. Launchpad Quest features educational apps, games, storybooks, and activities that support multiple spheres of learning in an age appropriate and safe environment.
VLA selected Playaway Products as a conference partner because of the company’s commitment to educational access and its understanding of the needs of small and rural libraries. "Librarians play a vital role in creating opportunities for learning and literacy in the communities they serve," says Torin Cone, President of Playaway Products. "At Playaway, advancing literacy in all its forms is at the heart of what we do. We're proud to partner with the Virginia Library Association to help librarians attend this year's conference, connect with their peers, and bring new ideas back to their communities. We believe in supporting the people who make such an impact every day."
Applicants will complete a scholarship application (linked above) that will be reviewed by the VLA Conference Committee. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, August 26, 2026 and recipients will be notified by September 15, 2026.
For more information about the the 2026 VLA Annual Conference, visit here. Scholarship funds will be distributed by VLA. Members who have already registered for the conference, whether through individual or institutional registration, will receive a refund from the Virginia Library Association.
Learn more about Playaway Products and the new Launchpad Quest here. |
2026 VLA Awards: Call For Nominations
The Virginia Library Association is now seeking nominations for our 2026 Awards. These awards will recognize contributions of library workers in Virginia during 2025. Please use the online submission form to submit your nominations by the deadline of May 31, 2026.
Our awards recognize excellence in librarianship and library services in Virginia. Submit a nomination that allows us to celebrate your mentees, mentors, coworkers, or friends on a statewide level. We invite resubmissions if you have submitted a nomination in the past that did not win.
Virginia Library Association award winners are determined by the VLA Awards and Recognition Committee, with the 2026 committee chaired by Rachel Kopchick of the Virginia Beach Public Library. The Award Winners will be honored at the VLA Annual Conference in October 2026 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Each nominee must meet the criteria for the award for which they are nominated. Nomination forms and accompanying documentation must be submitted prior to May 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Visit the VLA Awards page to view a complete list of VLA awards and their criteria.
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