Summary :
Graphic novels and their popularity have expanded in recent years. They are not a genre, but a form/format. They can encompass history, fantasy, and nonfiction and can grab readers from elementary to secondary.
From the links, graphic novels use sequential art to tell a story. They are stand-alone stories with complex plots.
There are 4 types of graphic novels :
- Manga - Japanese style comics
- Superhero story - epic sagas
- Personal narratives - autobiographical stories written from the author’s own experiences.
- Nonfiction - author uses own experiences to touch upon greater issues.
From the powerpoint, research shows that 67% of teachers do not read graphic novels, but more and more students are choosing them to read. A graphic novel is any book in comic format that resembles a novel in length and narrative development. The texts and illustration convey a story, and it is very similar to a picture book, but more complex. Graphic novels can reach a wide range of readers.
Some of the parts of a graphic novel include a cover and inside pages, with panels, gutters, thought and dialogue balloons, captions and sound effects. They are read from left to right.
Graphic novels promote literacy by motivation, teaching mood and tone, benefitting those with special needs, having all the elements of literature, and having subjects from all content areas. They are great to use throughout the curriculum.
For young readers, titles such as Babymouse, Lunch Lady, Squish and Comics Squad were mentioned.
Science Fiction and Fantasy titles were A Wrinkle in Time, Lowriders in Space, Hilo, Lumberjanes and Nimona to name a few.
Historical fiction included Hidden, The Great American Dust Bowl, Dogs of War and March.
Some of the Contemporary Fiction mentioned were This One Summer, Roller Girl, Sunny Side Up, Babysitters Club, Drama and Trashed.
Autobiography, Biography and Memoirs were Little Fish, My Friend Dahmer, Persepolis, El Deafo, Primates, Steve Jobs and Feynman.
Nonfiction included Hazardous Tales, Gettysburg, He Has Shot the President and The Silence of Our Friends.
Classics Re-Envisioned mentioned were The Olympians, Macbeth, Beowulf and The Odyssey.
Some Adaptations Graphic Novels are The Golden Compass, Merchant of Venice, Graveyard Books, Dante’s Divine Comedy and Calamity Jack.
Go : A Kidd’s Design to Graphic Novels was listed as a good source to turn to to learn more about the format.
The link on the ALSC Graphic Novel reading list listed good graphic novels to turn to for K-2, 3-5 and 6-8.
A lot of the things covered in the powerpoint were also covered in the video, which talked about how Common Core can be aligned with Graphic Novels. Graphic novels can be used with all kids, and do not have to be used just for learning, but also for enjoyment. Some interesting titles mentioned in the video not mentioned in the PowerPoint included Gabe, Tomboy, The Nameless City, Last of the Sand Walkers, Human Body Theater, Secret Coders, Fable Comics, Lost in NYC and Paleo. At the end of the video, how to find graphic novels was discussed, and places brought up were : review journals, comic book stores, review websites, student recommendations and professional organizations.
Reflections :
Wow! A lot of information was given on graphic novels and their importance. I have recently come to know them better, mostly through recommendations from my own students. They are titles that students flock to and want to read on a consistent basis. As a librarian, I need to be sure and keep a large supply readily available for children to read. I also need to talk to teachers about all that graphic novels can entail and teach. At my present school, a lot of teachers do not understand how they are more than just a “comic book.” They restrict students from checking them out on a daily basis, and I need to make sure that doesn’t happen as often when I am a librarian by educating others on them.
I also enjoyed learning about all the different genres/subjects that graphic novels can cover, much more than I ever thought they did! Almost any YA reader would be able to find one that interested them! I will be able to evaluate them in more detail now that I know what all they can be!
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