Sarah Caré’s International Youth Library comic
Sarah Caré has created a comic portraying her time as an International Youth Library fellow. Sarah’s fellowship was dedicated to exploring the portrayal of mothers in middle-grade fiction.
In 2024, our colleague Sarah Caré had the opportunity to spend three months at the International Youth Library (IYL) in Munich—the world’s largest library dedicated to children’s and youth literature. Nestled in the Blutenburg Castle, the IYL is a global hub for scholars, librarians, illustrators, and publishers passionate about children’s books.
As part of the IYL Fellowship Programme, Sarah explored the portrayal of mothers in middle-grade fiction, reading 45 books in four languages from 10 countries—a vital contribution to her PhD research. Beyond the books, she connected with fellow researchers from across the world, gaining insights into librarianship, publishing, and the behind-the-scenes work of a major library.
To capture this enriching experience, Sarah also created a comic portraying her time at the IYL. You can download it below.
Find more information about the IYL and its fellowship programme on their website.