From: Elliott BatTzedek <ebattzedek>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:45:39 -0500

> Mel wrote:


>This discussion about Criss Cross has me wondering what other books
>there might be that successfully combine traditional narrative with
>more experimental passages such as poetry, Q&A, lists, etc. Does
>anyone have any suggestions (even adult lit suggestions would be
>welcome)?


What comes to mind for me is Walter Dean Myers' excellent 2005 title _Autobiography of My Dead Brother_, in the way it is uses elements from comics and graphic novels to tell the story and take us inside the narrator's thoughts and emotional life. I'm still stunned this book didn't get more award-level notice. And, of course, his _Monster_ also did such creative combinations of narration, script, and diary entries.

And, with this criteria in mind, we can't forget the sheer brilliance of the Captain Underpants series and the new, although quite similar, Uncle Stinky series.

Elliott batTzedek Curriculum and Collections Development Children's Literacy Initiative
Received on Fri 17 Feb 2006 08:45:39 AM CST