3rd Annual Pen to Picture Festival features Raúl the Third - May 10 at 1:00 PM

3rd Annual Pen to Picture Festival features Raúl the Third

Since 2023, Franklin Public Library and the Franklin middle schools have joined forces to host world-renowned graphic novelists and celebrate the art of storytelling. On May 10, Franklin's 3rd annual Pen to Picture Festival will welcome Raúl the Third to the Franklin Public Library. This town-wide event is free and open to all families. 

Raúl the Third will share his process, art, and latest titles. He is the author and illustrator of many elementary and middle grade books, including The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day, Stuntboy: In the Meantime, Stuntboy: In-Between Time, The Lowriders series, and multiple picture books. Breakout sessions, photo ops and book signing will also be available.

Pen to Picture originated three years ago, the result of a collaborative effort among Ms. Bree Comeau (Franklin Public Library Asst. Youth Services Librarian) and Franklin middle school reading specialists Pam Allard and Erin O’Leary. The three literary leaders recognized their students’ growing appetite for the graphic novel format and sought funding from their schools’ parent organizations to create a town-wide festival. Pen to Picture’s mission is to expose Franklin families to contemporary titles and creators and foster the creative relationship between art and the written word. 

In its first year, the program welcomed Scott Magoon, Matt Tavares, and Maris Wicks; built on its overwhelming success, Pen to Picture welcomed Jarrett J. Krosoczka the following year.  

Graphic novels (a literary format) have exploded in popularity and both librarians and reading specialists are excited to welcome local authors and illustrators to engage students in an appreciation of the genre, learn about the process and time required to develop a graphic novel, and champion the relationship between visual arts and storytelling. We invite the community to join us at the library on Saturday, May 10. 

This year, Pen to Picture is made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.