Kokila, a Penguin Young Readers imprint that centers on highlighting marginalized creators, marked its five-year anniversary with a celebration at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, N.Y., on October 10. Writers, illustrators, and publishing professionals gathered for an evening of panels featuring Kokila creators, and guests were invited to roam the bookstore’s private space to get a sneak preview of forthcoming picture books and have books signed by YA authors. We’ve put together highlights from the event.
(From l.): Kokila junior designer Asiya Ahmed, senior art director Jasmin Rubero, publishing assistant Tenisha Anderson-Kenkpen, assistant editor Jenny Ly, associate publisher Joanna Cárdenas, editor Sydnee Monday, executive editor Zareen Jaffery, and president and publisher Namrata Tripathi celebrated the fifth anniversary with balloons.
(From l.): authors Eliza Kinkz and Simran Jeet Singh enjoying the festivities.
(From l.): Mercedes Campos López, Akeem S. Roberts, Preeti Chhibber, Talia Tucker, and R. Eric Thomas.
Renée Watson giving a reading from Black Girl, Atlas, her poetry collection for young readers.
(From l.): Tripathi, Penguin Young Readers president Jennifer Loja, and Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya.
(From l.): moderator Simran Jeet Singh and R. Eric Thomas spoke onstage for “The Privilege of Writing for Young People” panel, where Thomas shared his experience writing his debut YA novel Kings of B’More, centering joy in Baltimore, and the importance of writing about hope.
(From l.): Brad Riew, Zareen Jaffery, and Julia Riew against the Kokila backdrop.
S.K. Ali signed copies of her YA dystopian novel Fledgling for guests.
(From l.): Kokila staff members Elizabeth Segran, Jasmin Rubero, Asiya Ahmed, Tenisha Anderson-Kenkpen, and Rye White.
Kinkz, Akeem S. Roberts, Preeti Chhibber, and moderator Joanna Cárdenaqs onstage for the “Laughter Makes Lifelong Readers” panel. The speakers shared their favorite on-page moments of humor and what inspires their comedic works.
Author Nikkolas Smith and Namrata Tripathi.
(First row, from l.): Junior designer Asiya Ahmed, K-Fai Steele, Tiffany Jewell, Nikkolas Smith, Eliza Kinkz, Alex Rivera, Ishita Jain, Elizabeth Segran, Emeline Lee, associate publisher Joanna Cárdenas; (second row, from l.) editor Sydnee Monday, Vashti Harrison, Britt Hawthorne, Mercedes Campos López, Julia Riew, Renée Watson, Preeti Chhibber, S.K. Ali, executive editor Zareen Jaffery, Beatrice Winifred Iker, publishing assistant Tenisha Anderson-Kenkpen, assistant editor Jenny Ly, senior art director Jasmin Rubero; (third row, from l.) Sharee Miller, Talia Tucker, Brad Riew, Simran Jeet Singh, Akeem S. Roberts, Andrea Wang, R. Eric Thomas, Veera Hiranandani,and president and publisher Namrata Tripathi.
