Go Graphic!

• Fall VEMA Conference 2010

• Nancy Hally

Longdale Elementary School

Glen Allen, VA

Henrico County Public Schools

My Background• B.S. in Elementary Ed. Indiana University

of PA

• M.S. in Reading/Language Arts Duquesne University

• School Library Media certification Longwood University

• 3 years Reading Specialist, Title One

• 22 years classroom teacher, ranging 1-8

• 3rd year School Librarian Pre-K-5

My goal:

• alleviate some anxiety about purchasing graphic novels for your library

• introduce you to some that have been hits in my library and I think are pretty “safe”

Beach Reading...

...think of your favorite type of book to relax at the beach with...

Was it...

• Wuthering Heights?

• War and Peace?

• Canterbury Tales?

• See Spot Run?

In most cases...

• It most likely isn’t something heavy, deep, or extra long.

NCLB

• stronger push for skills, accountability, testing, testing, testing

• what about the PLEASURE of reading?

The Power of Reading:Insights from the

Research

• Stephen D. Krashen, Libraries Unlimited, 2004

• Free Voluntary Reading (FVR)

Reading for Pleasure=

• major attitude adjustment toward reading

• if we like something, aren’t we more likely to do it?

• more reading yields better reading and writing

CHOICE IS IMPORTANT!(Ben Carson)

• currently a neurosurgeon

• very poor childhood, single mom

• 2 books per week from library/his choice, had to report to mom weekly

• went from being poor student to top of his class

What Kids Like to Read

• scary stories

• comic books

• graphic novels

• whatever their peers are reading

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• comic format

• longer than comic book

• beginning, middle, end

• can be part of series

• trade paperback or hardcover

It’s just a FORMAT

• in all genres

• multiple panels/pictures per page

• appeals to kids across the board: genders, reading abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups

Common Concerns

• graphic novels/comics not good literature

• will keep kids from reading classics

• will not help improve literacy

Facts

• current comics contain average of 2,000 words/issue

• one comic book/day=500,000 words/year

p. 95-97 The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research

Benefits

• reading of graphic novels can be more cognitively challenging (visual literacy)

• graphic novels, comics can lure reluctant readers

• confidence built from graphic novels/comics can lead to reading of more difficult text

My Experience

• Suburban school• Title One/low socioeconomic group• read articles, attended presentation• explored Follett, read MANY reviews• read graphic novels, ordered some• presented to teachers/staff• ARRA money

Some Suggested Titles:

Little Mouse Gets Ready: A Toon Bookby Jeff Smith

Little Mouse Gets Ready: A Toon Bookby Jeff Smith

•reading level 1.3•interest level preK-K•Little Mouse is very excited to go to the barn, but FIRST...he must get dressed•step-by-step he gets dressed, while talking about what he will do in the barn•mom arrives, and reveals to him...mice don’t wear clothes!

Luke on the Loose: A Toon Book by Harry Bliss

•reading level 1.7•interest level K-3•Luke chases pigeons throughout the city, leaving his dad behind•finally rescued by firefighters•delightful story and illustrations

Benny and Penny in Just Pretend

by Geoffrey Hayes

•reading level 1.1•interest level grK-3•brother/sister disagreements•“limited but rich vocabulary” (Booklist starred review, March 15, 2008, vol. 104, No. 14)

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No

by Geoffrey Hayes•reading level 1.3•interest level gr K-3•next one in the Benny and Penny series•brother and sister accuse new neighbor of stealing Benny’s pail, then find it in their yard

The End Zone by Lori Mortenson

•reading level 1.6•interest level K-3•sports •high interest, low level•girl convinces boys to let her play on tag football team•colorful illustrations, very simple story•great for reluctant low readers

Zinc Alloy: Super Zero

by Donald Lemky

•reading level 3.6

•a hit with reluctant boys, all levels

•main character loves science and has problems with bullies

•uses his knowledge of science to build a robot suit

•becomes a superhero

Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball

Chronicles by Frank Cammuso

•reading level 4.5 •interest level gr 3-6•loosely based on King Arthur tale•new kid in school, trying to make friends, dealing with bullies•only one to open mysterious locker•dodgeball game/good vs. evil

Babymouse:Queen of the World!

by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

•reading level 2.2•**interest level gr 3-6 •main character is girl mouse, with problems familiar to 9-year-old girls•wants to be queen of the world, OR...get invited to slumber party

The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy by D.J. Steinberg•reading level 4.3•interest level gr 3-6•Five friends with “special powers” fight against injustice•being loud•excessive talking•throwing tantrums•excessive fidgeting•chaos power (Destructo-Kid)•mission: stop Kid-Rid from turning children into robotic-like creatures with “perfect manners”

Sticky Burr: Adventures in

Burrwood Forest by John Lechner

•reading level 3.3•interest level gr 3-6•feels different from the others (not prickly enough, has other interests)•trouble with bullies

Binky the Space Cat

by Ashley Spires

•reading level 3.0•interest level gr 3-6•house cat who dreams of becoming a space cat so he can protect “his humans”

Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

•reading level 1.7•**interest level gr 3-6•cafeteria lady secretly fights crime•discovers a plot to replace teachers with robots•standing up to school bully

Owly by Andy Runton

•interest level gr 3-6•more pictures than words (no reading level) •owls/friendship/end of summer•Owly rescues an earthworm from a storm and nurses him back to health•Owly and his new friend make friends with hummingbirds, only to say goodbye as fall approaches

Amulet Book One:The Stonekeeperby Kazu Kibuishi

•reading level 2.5•interest level 4-6•Emily and her brother are led on an adventure through an amulet left behind by her grandfather•good vs. evil•rough beginning with father dying in car accident•exciting and appealing, but can be scary**might want to read it first

Turning Points: Sons of Liberty

by Marshall Poe•reading level 4.0•interest level 3-6•historical fiction/revolutionary war•10-year-old Nathaniel lives in Boston in 1768•father is a Loyalist•Nathaniel struggles with his loyalties in the midst of many historic changes

Adventures in Sound with Max Axiom Super

Scientistby Emily Sohn•reading level 3.6•interest level 5-8•science facts and info presented in graphic novel format•index, glossary, and other sources for more info are included•colorful, attractive•recommended by Library Media Connection

•reading level 1.9•interest level 3-6•Peter Parker saves the city from the Sandman•Marvel Age puts out a bunch of these...Fantastic Four, Hulk, etc.

A Sam and Friends MysteryBook One: Dracula Madnessby Mary Labatt•reading level 2.7•interest level 3-6•based on book “Spying on Dracula” by Mary Labatt•Sam is sheepdog detective,working with dog-walker friend•try to find out if neighbor is dracula•recommended by Kirkus Review and Library Media Connection

Media Meltdown:A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell•reading level 3.6•interest level 3-6, maybe a little higher•group of kids try to save small farm from greedy land developer•readers learn pros and cons of media and other social issues

The Wind in the Willowsby Michel Plessix(adapted from Kenneth Grahame’s novel)•reading level 5.5•interest level 3-6•translated from French•adventures of animal friends Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger•“Classics Illustrated” series (Count of Monte Cristo, Through the LookingGlass, Great Expectations...)

Manga

• Japanese origin

• adapted from Animae

• begin in back of book

• read right to left

• Action/adventure

Pokemon books

by Shigekatsu Ihara

•reading levels 3-4,

•interest level 3-6

•translated from Japanese

•reads back to front, right to left

Dinosaur Hour

by Hitoshi Shioya

•reading level 2.0

•interest level K-3

•dinosaur facts mixed in with antics of dinosaurs who have problems with friends, parents, and similar issues kids face

How/Where to Shelve?

• Special area or display

• many in 741.5, others depending on main topic (scientific, historical, etc.)

• my decision

Special Display

Web Sites

• Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin, Madison

• links to awards and recommended lists

• reviews

• resources for “Understanding, Using, and Defending” graphic novels

• suggested articles for further reading

• Reading Online, “An Electronic Journal of the International Reading Association”

• provides a background article on graphic novels and some resources for further study

• Create Your Own Comic

• Can create a 1-3 panel comic strip or a whole comic book

• major superheroes, dialogue balloons, sound effect words (BAM, WHUMP, etc.)

• Professor Garfield

• Great site! Lots of fun reading-related stuff

• Comics Lab(Create simple comic strip)

• Comics Lab Extreme (Create own graphic novel)

READ AROUND!

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

DOOR PRIZE!!!

Bibliography• Cleaver, Samantha. "Ms. Grundy's Right! You Can Teach

Reading with Comics & Graphic Novels." Instructor. May/June (2008): 29-34 Print.

• Haynes, Elizabeth. "Getting Started with Graphic Novels in School Libraries." Library Media Connection. January/February (2009): 10-11. Print.

• Krashen, Stephen D. The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research. 2nd. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. 5-110. Print.

• Lyga, Allyson A.W. "Graphic Novels for (Really) Young Readers." School Library Journal. March (2006): 56-61. Print.

• Nylund, Carol. "Selecting Mangas and Graphic Novels." Library Media Connection. 25.February (2007): 30. Print.

Bibliography (cont.)• O'English, Lorena, J. Gregory Matthews, and Elizabeth

Blakesly Lindsay. "Graphic Novels in Academic Libraries: From Maus to Manga and Beyond." Journal of Adademic Librarianship. 32.2 (2006): 173-182. Print.

• Rudiger, Hollis Margaret, and Megan Schliesman. "Graphic Novels and School Libraries." Knowledge Quest. 36.2 (2007): 57-59. Print.

• Samet, Raya. "Get Graphic Novels into your Elementary Collection." School Library Monthly. 26.5 (2010): 12-13. Print.

• Seyfried, Jonathan. "Reinventing the Book Club." Knowledge Quest. 36.3 (2008): 44-48. Print.