Graphic Novels
Graphic novels have become an essential component of library collections
for both children and teenagers, and they have enormous potential for
classroom use. This page compiles graphic novel information and resources
to help
you learn more about this genre of publishing for youth.
Review Journals
If reviews are available online, we link to the journal's GN review pages below. Otherwise, you can find links to these and other journals on our Review Journals page.
Booklist
-
KLIATT
-
Knowledge Quest : "Thought Bubbles" column by Philip Crawford
-
Library Journal: reviews by Martha Cornog and Steve Raiteri appear every other month.
-
Publishers Weekly : in addition to reviews, they now have an anual best GN list
-
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates): Kat Kan's "Graphically Speaking" column has appeared
- since 1994 (every other month through 2002, now monthly). The September 2004 issue has a
- great insert devoted to graphic novels. Kan also did a summary of her favorites GNs, "
The Double Dozen," in the Feburary, 2006 issue) - since 1994 (every other month through 2002, now monthly). The September 2004 issue has a
- Teacher-Librarian : reviews
by Michele Gorman (Canadian journal)
Awards and Recommended Lists
Graphic
Novels for Libraries: Recommended Titles for Children and Teens.
A bibliography developed by former CCBC librarian Hollis Rudiger.
Great
Graphic Novels for Teens: This annual list of recommended
GNs from the Young Adult Library Services Association of the American
Library
Association began in 2007.
Eisner
Awards: These are the comics industry's own awards, recognizing
excellence in a variety of categories.
Books for Library Collection Development:
Understanding, Using and Defending GNs
Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Digital Resources for an Evolving Form of Art and Literature: The Association of College and Resource Libraries of the American Library Association publishes College and Research Library News. This online article from February 2005 offers terrific information for comics enthusasists, scholars and librarians, with links to a wide variety of comic-related resources.
Dealing with Challenges to Graphic Novels: This resource page from the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom summarizes key messages for libraries regarding graphic novels, and offers general tips on responding to a complaint or challenge.
Defending the Purchase of Graphic Novels: This perspective from the CCBC was provided in response to a question submitted to our What IF . . . Questions and Answers on Intellectual Freedom forum.
GNLIB:
Graphic Novels in Libraries: "Hundreds of Librarians Can't Be Wrong"
is the tag line of this listserv that provides the opportunity to
discuss graphic novels and the whys and wherefores of graphic novel
collections in libraries. The site allows non-members access to the
archives. There is also a useful links page.
Teen
Read Week 2002: Get Graphic@Your Library. TheYoung Adult
Library Services Association of the American Library Association focused
on graphic
novels for Teen Read Week in 2002. The site offers resources as well
as collection development and promotion tips.
Articles:
The
Young and the Graphic Novel by James Bickers. Publishers Weekly (February
19, 2007)
Expanding
Literacies through Graphic Novels by Gretchen Schwarz (English Journal, July
2006)
Graphic
Novels 101: FAQ by Robin Brenner. Horn Book Magazine (March/April
2006)
Graphic
Novels 101: Reading Lessons by
Hollis Margaret Rudiger (Horn
Book Magazine March/April 2006)
Using
Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom. (The
Council Chronicle, December, 2005)
Graphic Novels
Catch Eyes and Minds of Students by Katharine Goodloe
(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, December 4, 2005)
In
a Single Bound: A Short Primer on Comics for Educators by
Drego Little (New Horizons for Learning, March 2005)
Schools
Turn to Comics as Trial Balloon by Ylan Q. Mui. (Washington Post,
December 13, 2004)
Hamlet Too
Hard? Try a Comic Book by Teresa Méndez (Christian Science
Monitor, October 12, 2004)
Getting
Graphic at the School Library by Kat Kan (Library Media Connection,
April/May, 2004)
Using Graphic
Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers by Philip Crawford
(Libary Media Connection, February, 2004)
Graphic
Novels for Multiple Literacies by Gretchen E. Schwarz (originally appeared
in Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, November, 2002)
Back
to the Drawing Board: Once-Banned Comic Books Now a Teaching Tool by
Emily Wax (Washington Post, May 17 2002)
Books:
- Bang, Molly. Picture This: How Pictures Work. SeaStar Books, 2000.
- Carter, James Bucky, editor. Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels: Page by Page, Panel by Panel. NCTE, 2007.
- Cray, Stephen. Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom. Heinemann, 2004.
- Eisner, Will. Comics and Sequential Art. Poorhouse Press, 1985.
- Eisner, Will. Graphic Storytelling. Poorhouse Press, 1996.
- Gorman, Michele. Getting Graphic: Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy with Teens and Preteens. Linwood. 2004.
- Klock, Geoff. How to Read Superhero Comics and Why. Continuum, 2002.
- Lyga, Allyson A.W. and Barry Lyga. Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A Definitive Guide. Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
- McCloud, Scott. Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels. Harper, 2006.
- McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Kitchen Sink Press, 1994.
- Miller, Steve. Developing and Promoting Graphic Novel Collections. (Teens @ the Library Series) Neal-Schuman, 2005.
- Varnum, Robin and Christina T. Gibbons. The Language of Comics. University of Mississippi Press, 2002.
- Weiner, Stephen. The 101 Best Graphic Novels. Nantier-Beall-Minoustchine, 2005.
- Weiner. Stephen. The Rise of the Graphic Novel: Faster Than
a Speeding Bullet. Nantier Beall Minoustchineg, 2004
