From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 14:47:00 -0500

Thank you to those who posted comments on teh Sibert books and related questions.

We're going to spend the remainder of April talking about graphic novels.

In terms of knowledge about and familiarity wtih graphic novels, It seems many young readers are way ahead of the majority of us who have a role in putting books into the hands of children and teens. We are no doubt all at various places in learning about this highly visual--and diverse--literary form, that has its own complex (at least to a novice) range of subgenres and formats.

So let's begin by talking about how you go about finding out about graphic novels as you look for materials to purchase for your library, or use in your classroom.

Graphic novels are not generally reviewed in traditional library and classroom sources (although this is beginning to change. For example, VOYA -- Voice of Youth Advocates -- has been regularly devoting space to graphic novels.) This is one of the challenges this genre presents to those charged with selecting materials for schools and libraries.

Still, we know that many of you are purchasing graphic novels for your library collections; maybe you're also making them availble in the classroom. What sources are you going to in order to learn about graphic novels. (One terrific web site to take a look at is No Flying, No Tights http://www.noflyingnotights.com/) What questions do you have? And what kind of impact are graphic novels having on the work that you do?

Megan



Those of you in school libraries and classrooms might have trade books for youth, and its appeal--and potential uses--with young readers who are not drawn to traditional literary sources.





Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 07 Apr 2004 02:47:00 PM CDT