EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., will hold a virtual meeting with author Jerry Craft at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Craft is the author-illustrator of No. 1 New York Times best-selling graphic novels New Kid, and its companion book, Class Act.
New Kid was the first book in history to win the Newbery Medal (2020), the Coretta Scott King Author Award (2020), and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019).
In his latest book, School Trip, the author hopes to share his love of travel in order to inspire kids and their families to see the world and embrace new cultures. Craft is also the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip which won the African American Literary Award five times. He is a co-founder of the Schomburg Center’s Annual Black Comic Book Festival.
Craft will be joined in conversation by Ronnell Whitaker, a founding member of the Lit-X Teacher Cohort. Whitaker is the English curriculum director for Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn. He has over 15 years of education experience and is a champion for comics in the classroom.
He has presented across the country at conferences and conventions on the virtues of comics in the classroom. Whitaker also sits on the Board of Directors for Reading With Pictures. He believes in comics, and he likes to think that comics believe in him.
Registration is needed to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/ILP_JerryCraft.
Here’s what else is happening in the area.
MONDAY, FEB. 5
• American Red Cross Blood Drive: Noon, The Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton.
• Trent and Nanney: 6-10 p.m., Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, 1530 E. Fourth St., Alton.
• Auxiliary Meeting: 7 p.m., Russell E. Dunham Memorial Post 1308, 4445 N. Alby St., Alton.
• Al-Anon Monday Night Serenity: 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church (Side Door, Conference Room C), 534 St. Louis St., Edwardsville.
• Women’s Self Defense: 6-6:45 p.m., Strategic BJJ, 2248 E. Broadway, Alton.
• Sit and Stand Chair Yoga: 3-4 p.m., YWCA Southwest Illinois, 304 E. 3rd St., Alton.
• Strengthen and Stretch Gentle Yoga: 6-7 p.m., YWCA Southwest Illinois, 304 E. 3rd St., Alton.
• Women’s Step Study: 12:30-2:30 p.m., Calvary Cares, 1426 Washington Ave., Alton.
• Men’s Step Study: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Calvary Cares, 1426 Washington Ave., Alton.
• Alton Godfrey Rotary Club Meetings: 6 p.m., Gentelin’s On Broadway, 122 E. Broadway, Alton.
• Al-Anon Meeting: 7:30 p.m.-8:45 p.m., Bridge Church, E. 12th St., Alton. For more information, call 618-463-2429 or visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.
• For information about Al-Anon Meetings, call 618-463-2429 or visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.
TUESDAY, FEB. 6
• Colin and Nanney: 6-10 p.m., Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, 1530 E. 4th St., Alton.
• Community Talk: 6:30 p.m., Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2730 Viewland St., Alton.
• Soul Food Luncheon: 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey.
• Tiny Trekkers: 9-11 a.m., The Nature Institute, 2213 S. Levis Lane, Godfrey.
• Godfrey Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Godfrey Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road, Godfrey.
• Skylark Brothers: 6 p.m., The Ink House, 117 N. 2nd St., Edwardsville.
• Books for Babies Lapsit: 10 a.m., Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Edwardsville.
• Teen Game Night: 6 p.m., Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Edwardsville.
• Illinois Libraries Present: A Conversation with Jerry Craft: From Mama’s Boyz to New Kid and Beyond Virtual Event: 7 p.m., Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Edwardsville.
• Bridge at Senior Services Plus: 1-4 p.m., Senior Services Plus, 2603 N. Rodgers Ave., Alton. Admission is $1.
• TOPS 0885 Alton: 9 a.m. weigh-in, 9:30 a.m. meeting, Community Christian Church, 2345 Union School Road, Alton.
• Taco Tuesday: 3-8 p.m., Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville.
• Southern Illinois PAL: 7-8:30 p.m., Contact Craig at 618-567-6095 to receive the link for the Zoom meeting or for questions. More information can be found at www.palgroup.org.
• Xtreme Bar Bingo: 7-9 p.m., Alton Sports Tap, 3812 College Ave., Alton.
• Yoga at the Wildey: 7-8 p.m., The Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville.
• Camelot Cribbage Club: 6 p.m., Camelot Bowl, 801 Beltline Road, Collinsville. Occurs every Tuesday. For more information, call Phill at 618-288-7910.
• For information about Al-Anon Meetings, call 618-463-2429. To find more helpful meetings, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.