“Imagining a world with you.” That’s the message on a new poster illustrated by award-winning artist Chan Chau and produced by School Library Journal (SLJ) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) to support LGBTQIA+ children and teens.

Created for booksellers, librarians, and teachers to share this affirming message in community spaces, the 17" X 22" poster is the second project in SLJ’s “Read Free” campaign.

The first poster, “Open Books, Open Doors,” was produced earlier this year with the support of Penguin Random House, with original art by Rafael López and distributed in a print issue of SLJ and at the American Library Association annual conference, among other events.

Carl Lennertz, Executive Director of CBC and Every Child Reader, says, “I was very happy to hear about SLJ’s vision for this poster and the message of acceptance and support that it sends to young people everywhere. The CBC is proud to support this message, needed as it is more than ever in an era of intolerance and censorship.”

SLJ creative director Mark Tuchman provided art direction on the poster, working with Chau, a #1 New York Times best seller and two-time Eisner nominated short story cartoonist. Based in Washington, Chau has worked on Scholastic’s graphic adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club series.

The poster was distributed in the October box mailing of the American Booksellers Association to independent booksellers across the country.

The poster will also be available at the SLJ Summit in Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 4–6, and at the CBC booth at the ABA Winter Institute in Seattle, Feb 20–23.

“SLJ is honored to present with CBC this beautiful poster—we hope the graceful message of inclusivity will be shared and displayed widely, showing our collective support of young people and that all are welcome,” says Kathy Ishizuka, SLJ editor in chief, and Partnerships & Innovation Director, LJ & SLJ.

Want the poster image? It’s available as a download.  

CBC will offer up to two posters each upon request by its Every Child a Reader library and teacher email subscribers, with shipping costs sponsored by Scholastic. To receive news of this offer, sign up via the CBC newsletter subscription page.