Join us for a very special evening at Collage Collage. Selina Alko will be here to celebrate her new book Otherwise Known as Judy the Great. Selina has been working on this remarkable book for the past few years, helping to visually tell the story of the one and only Judy Blume.
Adults can get in on the fun and celebrate Selina and Judy with us by way of an evening book lunch, complete with grown up refreshments and even a little bit of collage making. Order your book as your “ticket” to the event. We can't wait to see you there.
Refreshments & Collage Making with Selina Alko
Thursday May 7th
6-8pm
Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume by Selina Alko
Beloved and trailblazing author Judy Blume comes to life in this poetic picture book about her childhood.
Judy Blume is known for fearlessly discussing topics that were once considered taboo. As a young girl, Judy was not encouraged to share her feelings, so instead she invented stories as a way to understand the world around her. Growing up Jewish, during and in the aftermath of WWII, dramatically shaped Judy’s childhood. Her younger years were full of fear. Judy processed her conflicted emotions by making up stories where she could control the conflict as she worked through challenging life scenarios. These stories became the subjects of the books she later published for children, tweens, teens, and adults including Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Freckle Juice, and the Fudge series. This inspiring collection of poems celebrates the childhood years of Judy Blume, one of the most beloved American writers of all time.
It’s no surprise that award-winning author and multimedia artist Selina Alko has built her career by blending evocative language with vibrant mixed-media art to tell stories of hope, identity, and perspective. Raised in Vancouver, Canada, Selina grew up steeped in culture and creativity. Her Turkish Jewish father—a painter, polyglot, and entrepreneur—and her Jewish mother, who worked in the family’s century-old metal-recycling business, filled her world with rich stories, diverse viewpoints, and an appreciation for both artistic expression and resilience.
As a child, Selina devoured the works of Richard Scarry and Beverly Cleary, alongside her all-time favorite, Judy Blume. She also began writing her own stories, filling a cherished notebook titled Mary and Her Adventures, which she enthusiastically illustrated. Summers at a Jewish sleepaway camp in British Columbia further shaped her creative spirit—deepening her love of folk music, mural painting, and social activism—and the friendships she formed there became a lasting source of inspiration, belonging, and creative confidence.
These early influences—rooted in culture, music, empathy, and a keen awareness of the world—continue to inform the more than twenty-five acclaimed children’s books she has created. Selina has a degree in art history from University of British Columbia and a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. Her work has been translated into Spanish and German and featured in outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, People, and Time Out New York Kids. Selina is a National Jewish Book Award winner; several of her titles are Junior Library Guild Gold selections and Bank Street College Best Books of the Year. She is also the recipient of the Mills Tannenbaum Award for Excellence in Children’s Literacy.
