Events

Time and Location

Jun. 27, 2:30pm
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Clark ABC (Chicago, IL)

About

Join acclaimed Japanese author Yuko Ohnari and illustrator Koshiro Hata for an illuminating conversation about the art, craft, and cross-cultural journey of creating picture books. This special appearance at ALA in Chicago will celebrate their award-winning English-language release Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-splash!, a USBBY 2026 Outstanding International Book and an ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book, and offer a first look at their forthcoming title, The Voice of the Snow. The program will explore the creative partnership behind their work, their artistic influences, and the collaborative process that brings Japanese picture books to English-speaking audiences.

The event will be introduced by Susan Polos, President of the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY), and will feature Junko Yokota, Children’s Literature Professor Emeritus at National Louis University. Professor Yokota will translate the discussion which will focus on some of the issues of translating picture books—preserving voice, rhythm, cultural context, and emotional tone while ensuring accessibility for young readers, and an extended conversation with the creators.

The program is jointly supported by USBBY, Kodansha and Red Comet Press, underscoring a dynamic international publishing partnership dedicated to sharing global stories.

For more information: ALA Conference and Exhibition – USBBY Picture Books in Translation

This event is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.