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Graphic Novel Favorites
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From: Rob Reid <reid>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:05:11 -0500
One of my hats is as the instructor of the Literature for Adolescents course at the University of Wisconsin?u Claire (I'll be returning there full-time next year). I've been spotlighting a different graphic novel to my students each session for the past two years. This semester, I required each student to select a graphic novel from the noflyingnotights web site, read it, and write a reaction paper. We discussed their choices last night. I was the only person in the room who read comic books as a child (I was a HUGE Marvel comics fan) and who reads graphic novels as an adult, so this was a new format for them. Several of them were thrilled with their introduction to the genre. Favorites included Pedro and Me, Maus (I had spotlighted both of them earlier in the semester), Ghost World, Road to Perdition, (some students were surprised that the graphic novels came before the movies), Persepolis
(which I'm currently reading), and a few manga titles. I'm anxious to read their reaction papers tonight because I usually get strong opinions not brought up in large group discussion.
I also had invited our local media specialist, Pam Gardow - who is a ball of fire - to talk about the school's Teen Literacy Initiative club (they were profiled in Publisher's Weekly). She brought three of the student members and the school's reading specialist to meet with my students (mostly education majors and library science minors). Among other things, they talked about how successful graphic novels have been at the high school. The club developed the collection last year by visiting a local comic book store and getting suggestions from the owner. Pam let the kids select the initial collection. She also discussed how some of the high school faculty object to the sex and language of some of the graphic novels. So far, she has not received a parent complaint. The only series she returned because of mature content was the Chobits series (which I haven't seen yet).
The other hat I wear (for another 4 months) is as consultant for 53 public libraries in West?ntral Wisconsin. A frequent question I get from member libraries deals with graphic novels suitable for the elementary-age crowd. They are constantly looking. Philip Crawford, the Library Director of the Essex (Vt) High School, wrote an article on graphic novels for elementary school libraries in the Jan/Feb issue of Knowledge Quest. The article contains definitions of "All-Ages Graphic Novels,"
"Mainstream Graphic Novels," and "Graphic Novels for Mature Readers." Crawford defines "All-Ages Graphic Novels" as graphic novels suitable for "younger children" but still appeal to "older readers." Without Crawford's concise annotations, here are the titles for his recommended Elementary School Core Collection:
Brennan, Michael. Electric Girl. Creeley, Mark. Aikiko. Dini, Paul, and Alex Ross. Shazam: Power of Hope. Eisner, Will. Sundiata:A Legend of Africa. Gorelick, Victor, ed. Archie American Series, Vol. 3: Best of the Sixties. Gownley, Jimmy. Amelia Rules! Vol. 1: In with the In Crowd. Groening, Matt. Simpson Comics Royale. Herge. The Adventures of Tintin. Lee, Stan. The Essential Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1. McCloud, Scott, and Paul Dini. Superman Adventures: The Man of Steel. Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting, Vol. 1: The Lucky Road. Moulton, Charles, and H.G. Peters. Wonder Woman Archives, Vol. 1. Naifeh, Ted. Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things. Nichols, Jeff. Colonia: Islands and Anomalies. Plessix, Michael. The Wind in the Willows, Vol. 1: The Wild Wood. Puckett, Kelly. Batman Adventures. Robinson, James. Leave It to Chance: Shaman's Rain. Russell, P. Craig. Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book Stories. Smith, Jeff. Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville. Smith, Jeff, and Charles Vess. Rose. Spigelman, Art, and Francoise Mouly. Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies. Tezuka, Osamu. Astro Boy, Vol. 1. Thompson, Jill. Scary Godmother. Tolkien, J.R.R., and David Wenzel. The Hobbit: an Illustrated Edition of the Fantasy Classic. Torres, J. Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures.
I'd be interested in any more suggestions for the elementary age crowd from CCBC-Net subscribers. By the way, my favorite graphic novels are Jeff Smith's "Bone" series.
Rob Reid Youth Services/Special Needs Coordinator Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Blvd, Eau Claire, WI 54703 715?9P82, ext. 14 Fax: 715?9Q51 reid at ifls.lib.wi.us
Received on Wed 14 Apr 2004 10:05:11 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:05:11 -0500
One of my hats is as the instructor of the Literature for Adolescents course at the University of Wisconsin?u Claire (I'll be returning there full-time next year). I've been spotlighting a different graphic novel to my students each session for the past two years. This semester, I required each student to select a graphic novel from the noflyingnotights web site, read it, and write a reaction paper. We discussed their choices last night. I was the only person in the room who read comic books as a child (I was a HUGE Marvel comics fan) and who reads graphic novels as an adult, so this was a new format for them. Several of them were thrilled with their introduction to the genre. Favorites included Pedro and Me, Maus (I had spotlighted both of them earlier in the semester), Ghost World, Road to Perdition, (some students were surprised that the graphic novels came before the movies), Persepolis
(which I'm currently reading), and a few manga titles. I'm anxious to read their reaction papers tonight because I usually get strong opinions not brought up in large group discussion.
I also had invited our local media specialist, Pam Gardow - who is a ball of fire - to talk about the school's Teen Literacy Initiative club (they were profiled in Publisher's Weekly). She brought three of the student members and the school's reading specialist to meet with my students (mostly education majors and library science minors). Among other things, they talked about how successful graphic novels have been at the high school. The club developed the collection last year by visiting a local comic book store and getting suggestions from the owner. Pam let the kids select the initial collection. She also discussed how some of the high school faculty object to the sex and language of some of the graphic novels. So far, she has not received a parent complaint. The only series she returned because of mature content was the Chobits series (which I haven't seen yet).
The other hat I wear (for another 4 months) is as consultant for 53 public libraries in West?ntral Wisconsin. A frequent question I get from member libraries deals with graphic novels suitable for the elementary-age crowd. They are constantly looking. Philip Crawford, the Library Director of the Essex (Vt) High School, wrote an article on graphic novels for elementary school libraries in the Jan/Feb issue of Knowledge Quest. The article contains definitions of "All-Ages Graphic Novels,"
"Mainstream Graphic Novels," and "Graphic Novels for Mature Readers." Crawford defines "All-Ages Graphic Novels" as graphic novels suitable for "younger children" but still appeal to "older readers." Without Crawford's concise annotations, here are the titles for his recommended Elementary School Core Collection:
Brennan, Michael. Electric Girl. Creeley, Mark. Aikiko. Dini, Paul, and Alex Ross. Shazam: Power of Hope. Eisner, Will. Sundiata:A Legend of Africa. Gorelick, Victor, ed. Archie American Series, Vol. 3: Best of the Sixties. Gownley, Jimmy. Amelia Rules! Vol. 1: In with the In Crowd. Groening, Matt. Simpson Comics Royale. Herge. The Adventures of Tintin. Lee, Stan. The Essential Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1. McCloud, Scott, and Paul Dini. Superman Adventures: The Man of Steel. Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting, Vol. 1: The Lucky Road. Moulton, Charles, and H.G. Peters. Wonder Woman Archives, Vol. 1. Naifeh, Ted. Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things. Nichols, Jeff. Colonia: Islands and Anomalies. Plessix, Michael. The Wind in the Willows, Vol. 1: The Wild Wood. Puckett, Kelly. Batman Adventures. Robinson, James. Leave It to Chance: Shaman's Rain. Russell, P. Craig. Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book Stories. Smith, Jeff. Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville. Smith, Jeff, and Charles Vess. Rose. Spigelman, Art, and Francoise Mouly. Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies. Tezuka, Osamu. Astro Boy, Vol. 1. Thompson, Jill. Scary Godmother. Tolkien, J.R.R., and David Wenzel. The Hobbit: an Illustrated Edition of the Fantasy Classic. Torres, J. Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures.
I'd be interested in any more suggestions for the elementary age crowd from CCBC-Net subscribers. By the way, my favorite graphic novels are Jeff Smith's "Bone" series.
Rob Reid Youth Services/Special Needs Coordinator Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Blvd, Eau Claire, WI 54703 715?9P82, ext. 14 Fax: 715?9Q51 reid at ifls.lib.wi.us
Received on Wed 14 Apr 2004 10:05:11 AM CDT
