CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] Struggling Readers: new comic series
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Laurel Balkema <balkemal>
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:13:28 -0500
One of our local children's book authors, Sue Stauffacher (Donuthead, Donutheart, Harry Sue, and Bessie Smith and the Night Riders), has created a series of comics designed for late and reluctant readers that is available free for download from her website www.suestauffacher.com. This was part of a Dyer Ives grant she received along with Dr. Barbara Schneider, English Education Professor here at GVSU, to try to assess the reading interests and needs of the local Grand Rapids Public School students, grades 4 through 12..
"So enter Wireman, a very sophisticated comic series in storyline and graphics, yet very simple in language. In fact, any child who completes the first four issues will learn the 100 most common words in the English language, a common adult literacy strategy. These words comprise 50% of all that's written. I know that comics will work with at-risk readers of all ages. They are the perfect medium, guiding the struggling reader along with pictures, while the illustrations add a complexity to the story that appeals to an older child's intelligence. But traditional comics are mostly created for 17-25 year old males and are full of lust, gore, and complex language. What we need is a new kind of comic that will suit our literacy purpose, hooking kids who now want to read because they can't get enough of the story line."
Sue is currently working on issues three and four, repackaging the first four issues with new covers and making the entire first volume available for sale (summer 2007). If, after reading issues one and two, you want to give feedback, or think your patrons would be interested in the wireman series either for library purchase or free download, just email Sue at sue at suestauffacher.com and she will let you know when issues 1-4 are available.
K. Laurel Balkema, Senior Reference Librarian Children's, & Young Adult Literature Collections Arts and Humanities Liaison Team Grand Valley State University Library One Campus Drive ALLENDALE MI 49401-9403 e:mail: balkemal at gvsu.edu phone: (616) 331-2631 fax: (616) 331-2895
Received on Wed 08 Nov 2006 05:13:28 PM CST
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:13:28 -0500
One of our local children's book authors, Sue Stauffacher (Donuthead, Donutheart, Harry Sue, and Bessie Smith and the Night Riders), has created a series of comics designed for late and reluctant readers that is available free for download from her website www.suestauffacher.com. This was part of a Dyer Ives grant she received along with Dr. Barbara Schneider, English Education Professor here at GVSU, to try to assess the reading interests and needs of the local Grand Rapids Public School students, grades 4 through 12..
"So enter Wireman, a very sophisticated comic series in storyline and graphics, yet very simple in language. In fact, any child who completes the first four issues will learn the 100 most common words in the English language, a common adult literacy strategy. These words comprise 50% of all that's written. I know that comics will work with at-risk readers of all ages. They are the perfect medium, guiding the struggling reader along with pictures, while the illustrations add a complexity to the story that appeals to an older child's intelligence. But traditional comics are mostly created for 17-25 year old males and are full of lust, gore, and complex language. What we need is a new kind of comic that will suit our literacy purpose, hooking kids who now want to read because they can't get enough of the story line."
Sue is currently working on issues three and four, repackaging the first four issues with new covers and making the entire first volume available for sale (summer 2007). If, after reading issues one and two, you want to give feedback, or think your patrons would be interested in the wireman series either for library purchase or free download, just email Sue at sue at suestauffacher.com and she will let you know when issues 1-4 are available.
K. Laurel Balkema, Senior Reference Librarian Children's, & Young Adult Literature Collections Arts and Humanities Liaison Team Grand Valley State University Library One Campus Drive ALLENDALE MI 49401-9403 e:mail: balkemal at gvsu.edu phone: (616) 331-2631 fax: (616) 331-2895
Received on Wed 08 Nov 2006 05:13:28 PM CST
