Off the Page: Family Day

Join us for Family Day, featuring the award-winning author and artists of the middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, Jarod Roselló, and award-winning illustrator David C. Gardner.

We’ll have food trucks, story time, and a Creation Station craft for the whole family. The first 100 visitors get vouchers for FREE FOOD and FREE ICECREAM from the food trucks!

The day's schedule:

• 10:15-10:55 a.m.       Story time and craft in the youth activity room
• 11:00-11:40 a.m.       Artist Writer and storyteller Jarod Roselló
• 12-1 p.m.                   Visit the food trucks, Creation Station, or browse the stacks
• 1-1:40 p.m.                "Junia" read & draw with David C. Gardner 

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. we'll have The Island Bookshop and food trucks on premises!

Schedule subject to change.

Jarod Roselló is a Cuban American writer, cartoonist, and teacher originally from Miami, Florida.

He is the author and artist of the award-winning middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, and the chapter book graphic novel series, Super Magic Boy. He is also the author of the forthcoming Takoro: The Last Dorok (Image Comics), an illustrated novel and art book.

His books have been named to the New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library best books of the year lists and the Texas Library Association’s Little Maverick Reading List. He was the recipient of the 2019 Nerdy Award for graphic novels and the 2022 Washington Library Association OTTER Award for children’s literature.  

View titles by Jarod Roselló in our catalog, hoopla and cloudLibrary.

David C. Gardner has illustrated many picture books, including the recently released "Junia: The Book Mule of Troublesome Creek," "The Harvey Milk Story," "Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade," "Sarah Gives Thanks," the award-winning "Write On, Irving Berlin!," and "Ticktock Banneker’s Clock." A former artist for Walt Disney Animation Studios, he continues his visual development work for animation and teaches illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design. He lives in Sarasota. To learn more about his work, visit FlyingDogStudio.com.

View titles illustrated by David C. Gardner in our catalog, hoopla and Sarah Gives Thanks in cloudLibrary.

The Off the Page literary celebration, hosted by Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources, features bestselling authors, writing workshops, book signings, and more during the month of November. All Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources locations participate. Events are also held at partner locations like Ringling College of Art and Design, The Hermitage Artist Retreat and Venice Performing Arts Center.

Funding is provided in part through a Florida Humanities Book Festival Grant with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and in partnership with Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources and the Library Foundation for Sarasota County. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.