Thanks to all of our attendees, volunteers, authors, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors for making the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival a success! Sign up for email updates on the 2026 event.

This website has a .gov link

The .gov means it’s official.

Louisiana government websites often end in .gov. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a Louisiana government site.

HTTPS Connection

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Johnnie Christmas

Home Featured Authors & Panelists Featured Participant Lineup 2025 Johnnie Christmas

Johnnie Christmas is a #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novelist and author of Gamerville. His debut middle-grade graphic novel, Swim Team, was longlisted for a National Book Award, received a Coretta Scott King Award Illustrator Honor, BCALA Literary Award, Black-Eyed Susan Award, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, and Yellowhammer Award among several other honors. He co-created the Angel Catbird series with celebrated writer Margaret Atwood and the sci-fi series Tartarus. He is a graduate of the Pratt Institute.

Schedule

9:00 am to 9:30 am
A.Z. Young Park, Author Tent D
Young Readers’ Choice Award Ceremony for Grades 6 to 8
Winner – Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
Honor – Camp Scare by Delilah S. Dawson

10:30 am to 11:30 am
A.Z. Young Park, Author Tent D
Beyond Words: Middle Grade Graphic Novels
Jesse Byrd, Dream Warriors: A New World
Johnnie Christmas, Gamerville
Allan Wolf, The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story
(ages 8 to 14)

11:45 am to 12:30 pm 
Cavalier House Books Tent
Book Signing

Swim Team

“Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!” JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal–winning New Kid

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas!

Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees—until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.

Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap—for good?

Praise for SWIM TEAM:

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor

National Book Award Longlist

Kirkus Best Book of the Year

Harvey Award Best Children’s or Young Adult Book Nominee

Children's Book Council's Summer 2025 Showcase: An Ocean of Stories Pick

“A revelation! You’ll root for Swim Team—the water is just right.” —JOHN JENNINGS, New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award–winning creator

“Swim Team is a beautiful story about trying new things. Johnnie Christmas is a fantastic storyteller and artist.” —KAZU KIBUISHI, author of Amulet

“Full of charm, heart, and pulse-pounding races. A winner!” —GENE LUEN YANG, author of American Born Chinese and Dragon Hoops

Gamerville

A video gamer’s championship aspirations are dashed when his parents send him to Camp Reset, where electronics are forbidden and you're forced to socialize, eat healthy, and spend time outside. Gamerville is a timely and vulnerable exploration of the importance of human connection and what it means to run in a pack, brought to you by award-winning author Johnnie Christmas.

Max Lightning is howling at the moon—he’s finally qualified for Gamerville, a championship where players compete to be top dog in the multiplayer video game Lone Wolf of Calamity Bay. But his dreams of domination are doomed when his parents send him to Camp Reset. Gone are the long nights of downing energy drinks and getting copious amounts of screen time. They've been replaced with fresh air and group activities under the hot sun—a shock to the system for a lone wolf like Max. Can Max escape Camp Reset and level up at Gamerville, or has he finally played his last match?

Praise for GAMERVILLE:

An Indigo Staff Pick

A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2024

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2024

A 2024 Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award Winner