Selection and Integration

As you select books consider popular series such as Amulet and Amelia Rules as well as topical books such as Hot Iron by Capstone Press.

Remember to look for illustrators rather than just authors. For example, Kazu Kibuishi created Daisy Kutter. Explore illustrator websites.

Consider age appropriateness. While the graphic novel Re-gifters was designed for young adults, the book Blankets featured a young adult character but wasn't written for young adults.

Look for series such as

• Introducing... series by Icon Books
  • Introducing Cultural Studies by Ziauddin Sardar and Borin Van Loon
• For Beginners series
• Barack Obama for Beginners
• McLuhan for Beginners
• Linguistics for Beginners

Use Google Books Previews such as Philosophy for Beginners by Richard Osborne - Google Books Preview

Use News, Reviews and Recommendations, follow blogs and subscribe to RSS feeds

• Graphic Classroom - favorite
• Comics Worth Reading
• Fleen
• Graphic Novel Report
• Graphic Novel Reviews and Recommendations from Library Journal
• Graphic Novels News from School Library Journal
• No Flying, No Tights

Use University Library Subject Guides

• CCBC
• Comic Books, Comic Strips and Graphic Novels from Yale University LibraryGraphic Novels from Columbia University Libraries
• Graphic Novels: Resources for Teachers & Libraries from University of Buffalo Libraries
• Over the Top: Graphic Novels and DVDs from Rhode Island College Library

Read Journal Articles

• Lamb, Annette & Johnson, Larry. Graphic Novels, Digital Comics, and Technology Enhanced Learning: Part 1. Teacher Librarian, June 2009.
• Lamb, Annette & Johnson, Larry. Graphic Novels, Digital Comics, and Technology Enhanced Learning: Part 1. Teacher Librarian, Fall 2009.
• O'English, Lorena, Matthews, J. Gregory, & Blakesley, Elizabeth Lindsay. Graphic Novels in Academic Libraries: From Maus to Manga and Beyond. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32 (2) (March 2006) p. 173-82.
• Williams, Virginia Kay & Peterson, Damen. Graphic Novesl in Libraries Supporting Teacher Education and Librarianship Program. Library Resources & Technical Services, 53(3) (July 2009), p. 166-173.

Read Yourself

• I'm currently reading Mercury and Stitches.

Online Lessons

Combine reading graphic novels with creation projects. For instance, read a biography in graphic novel form. Then, ask students to write about the fact and fiction. For example, students who read Laika used Comic Life to write about the fact and fiction of this story.

Explore online lessons related to comics in the classroom:

• ArtsEdge Lessons
  • Creating Comic Strips (K-4)
  • Picture Perfect Facts (K-4) - comics in math
• Edsitement Lessons
  • The Magical World of Russian Fairy Tales (3-5)
• Eduplace Comics
  • Change Happens (4-6)
  • Make Family Comic Strips (2-5)
  • Mapping Change (4-8)
  • Story Switch Comics (1-3)
• Read Write Think Lessons
  • Cartoon Focus - Charles Schulz, Mickey Mouse
  • Book Report Alternative (3-5)
  • Book Report Alternative (6-8)
    • Comic Strip Planning Sheet (PDF)
  • Buzz! Whiz! Bang! Using Comic Books to Teach Onomatopoeia (3-5)
  • Comics in the Classroom (3-5)
  • Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure (3-5)
  • Comic Makeovers: Examining Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Gender in Media (9-12)
  • Comic Planning Documents
    • Comic Book Primer (PDF)
    • Comic Book Scripting Techniques (PDF)
    • Comic Strip Planning Sheet (PDF)
    • Sample Comic Book Script and Visualization (PDF)
  • To, Too, or Two: Developing an Understanding of Homophones (3-5)
• Lessons on the Web
  • Create Your Own Comic (1-6)
• Editorial Cartoons
  • Daryl Cagle's teachers guide for cartoons
• Large-Scale Comic Projects
  • The Comic Book Project

 

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