If you love graphic novels, imaginative stories, or inspiring educators, mark your calendar for Saturday, November 1, 2025. That is when Anne and Jerzy Drozd—an extraordinary creative team from Columbus, Ohio—will appear at the Buckeye Book Fair at the Greystone Event Center in Wooster. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and promises a chance to meet two people who are transforming how young readers engage with stories, science, and self-expression.
Jerzy Drozd has a remarkable ability to unlock creativity in young artists and writers, and this year he will be sharing that gift with Buckeye Book Fair not once, twice, but three times. He is a featured Teaching Artist this week at the Buckeye Book Camp, a full-day weeklong summer program designed to support middle-grade students in writing and illustrating their own stories. Through daily lessons and creative lab sessions in character building, editing, critique, and revision, Jerzy helped young storytellers develop bold new characters like Pink Puppy, Dragonla, and Zipper Dog. Campers will present their final Student Portfolios to parents and an Ohio-based literary agent, gaining confidence and practical experience in the world of publishing.
Jerzy Drozd, Teaching Artist, Buckeye Book Fair
Jerzy will also be a featured Teaching Artist at the 2025 Young Authors Conference on Thursday, October 30, where school buses will bring students from across Ohio to experience a day filled with creativity and imagination. Jerzy will speak about the power of storytelling and will be joined by fellow authors Dustin Brady, Eric Jon Slangerup, and New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale. The day concludes with the Young Authors Excellence Awards, presented by Hale herself in a moving ceremony about bravery and creative courage. Buckeye Book Fair invites educators to register their students for this once in a lifetime literacy experience at Young Authors Conference and encourages families and the public to purchase tickets to see Shannon Hale’s evening presentation.
Anne Drozd brings a unique blend of storytelling and scholarship to her work as both a writer and curator. In 2023, she curated Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum in Columbus. This thoughtful exhibition explored how Telgemeier’s comics resonate so deeply with young readers by giving them permission to feel, reflect, and connect. Anne co-presented the opening with Telgemeier, offering visitors a meaningful look at how graphic novels can help young people navigate emotions and identity.
Raina with Anne Drozd, curator of Facing Feelings, in front of a wall with the title ‘Complexity of Emotion,’ featuring several pieces of comic art by Raina against the backdrop of a multimedia art piece called We Feel Fine. Photo by Jenny Robb.
“My friend Anne Drozd, who curated the exhibit, sorted through piles of my (semi-organized) original art and came up with a fantastic way of presenting it on the walls of the Billy. The philosophy behind the show is emotion: exploring the different feelings we all experience as humans, and how cartoonists have been portraying these emotions with a common visual language for centuries. I’ve always been drawn to comics with strong emotional resonance, good character writing, and expressive art. It’s the kind of work I aim to create, and sharing my own feelings through the books I make is exactly what keeps me going. I believe my readers can feel it!
Telgemeier, R. (2023, June 28). Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier, now on display at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum! Go Raina! The Official Website of Raina Telgemeier. https://goraina.com/blog/facingfeelings
Anne Drozd discusses the ideas behind her curation of the show, wowing the audience with data science!
Building on the success of the exhibition, Anne went on to author Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier, a richly illustrated companion book releasing from Scholastic in October 2025. Designed to feel like spending an afternoon with Raina herself, the book features personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of Smile, Sisters, Guts, Drama, and Ghosts. Although Raina Telgemeier’s name appears on the front cover to help connect with her broad audience, it is Anne’s thoughtful writing and deep curatorial insight that guide readers through this emotional and artistic journey.
Jerzy is also the author of The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two Faced Statue from Iron Circus Comics, a middle grade graphic novel full of mystery, mischief, and meaning. Together, Anne and Jerzy co-authored Science Comics: Rockets from First Second Books, which takes readers on a lively and colorful journey through the history and science of space travel. Their partnership in books and in life is a testament to how creativity can flourish through collaboration, care, and curiosity.
At the Buckeye Book Fair on Saturday, November 1, readers can meet Anne and Jerzy in person, explore their books, and hear firsthand how they bring big ideas to life on the page. Whether you are a teacher, librarian, student, or book lover, you will find their table full of inspiration—and maybe even a few stories about life with their four cats.
The Buckeye Book Fair weekend is shaping up to be a celebration of courage, imagination, and community. Join us for the Young Authors Conference on October 30, reserve your tickets for the Young Authors Excellence Awards, and enjoy a full day of books and conversation at the Buckeye Book Fair on November 1. Anne and Jerzy Drozd will be there, and we hope you will be too.
