Hey Chicago-ites, I'll be speaking at the International Reading Association's annual conference next week and will be stopping by Anderson's bookstore in Naperville, Tuesday, April 27, at 7 pm. This is the last out-of-Utah signing I'll be doing for quite some time, perhaps 2-3 years. So come by!
Hey teachers, Bloomsbury just made teachers' guides to using calamity jack and rapunzel's revenge in the classroom! I think they look great, and they were created by a teacher according to NCTE and IRA standards. You can download the pdf for free from my website anytime. I'll have them permanently on my site in the rapunzel and jack sections. I'm thrilled that they did this. As we talked about last post, it can be hard for librarians and teachers who want to use graphic novels in schools to convince parents/administrators/other teachers that they are legitimate forms of literature and worth classroom study, and having official teachers' guides like this can help.
Several commenters asked for recommendations for graphic novels. Here are some that our family has enjoyed. These are all appropriate for younger readers. In another post I'll list some great YA and adult graphic novels too.
Tiny Titans - we love these! My 6-year-old will sit and read these alone more than any other book. They are about a bunch of superhero sidekicks (like Robin, Batgirl, Supergirl, and Cyborg) in elementary school. They're funny and simple and violence-free. My three-year-old enjoys them, but I think a 4th grader could easily dig these as well. I've heard some adults make fun of them for having superheroes without any fighting, but I love that about them. Have I mentioned we love these? Aw yeah, Titans!
Owly & Yam - both of these can seem kind of strange when you first look at them. They are all/mostly wordless graphic novels, and so accessible to kids or don't read yet, whether for age, language barrier, or other reasons. Both our kids love them. It took me a few reads to get into them myself, but now I heartily agree. Yam especially seems more in tune with the child mind than I could at first comprehend.
Bone - Everyone knows Bone. Funny and epic fantasy for young readers. I recommend the colored versions. I think the illustrations are a little easier to follow. There are several volumes so make sure you start with the first.
Babymouse - she's a sassy, grumpy, 4th grade mouse with big dreams. Fun to read aloud, as her dialog is witty and the narrator voice overs are often funny. After reading a book like this once to a kid, they are often eager to read it again alone.
Lunch Lady - another fun series. The Lunch Lady is a secret agent fighting crime, and three kids at school discover her secret and join in the adventures. Silly and action-packed.
Many of you have said you've only read our graphic novels, so I might want to prepare you that rapunzel and jack are different in structure and style from these others. GNs like Tiny Titans are episodic with several mini-stories. Each volume of Babymouse and Lunch Lady read like an episode of a TV show, while rapunzel and jack are more like a full-length feature film. (Someone in the biz told me yesterday that no one but Bloomsbury would have taken on an ambitious project like a 144-page full color, highly detailed story, which is very expensive to print, and I'm sure no one else but Nathan Hale would have committed a year to it.) I like that there are many different kinds of GNs for different readers.
What other GNs for young readers do you recommend?
I'm a fan, and I really do want to see that Calamity Jack TG. Can you check the links on those? They don't seem to work. (I left a message on Twitter as well).
Posted by: Keith Schoch | April 21, 2010 at 02:28 PM
The Secret Science Alliance, The Amulet series and the Jellaby books are also very good. My son likes the Frankie Pickle books; they are graphic novel / chapter book hybrids.
Posted by: Pussreboots | April 21, 2010 at 02:41 PM
I just discovered a new series (though it just started): Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi. Great fantasy world, fabulous adventure with LOTR overtones, accessible to 3rd/4th graders. We love it around here. (Unfortunately, there are only 2 books so far....)
Posted by: Melissa (Book Nut) | April 21, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Shannon! My sister found on your events page a couple days ago that you're coming to Chicago and I was SO excited!! I mean, you're one of my favorite authors and I've read everything by you and I can't wait to see you then!! I'll definitely be there!!
Posted by: Amber | April 21, 2010 at 02:49 PM
Kean Soo's JELLABY and its sequel MONSTER IN THE CITY are delightful. My eight-year-old loved them.
Posted by: R.J. Anderson | April 21, 2010 at 03:27 PM
I see my recommendation has already been made, but I'll just throw in my support for the suggestion of the Amulet books.
Posted by: RosaleeLuAnn | April 21, 2010 at 06:21 PM
Well, I don't know about young readers, but for tweens, teen, and most other people, The Plain Janes are wonderful!
Posted by: Je Reve | April 21, 2010 at 06:35 PM
OH! I wish I was in Chicago! Maybe you should stop here on your way back :)
Posted by: Princess Loucida | April 21, 2010 at 07:57 PM
no more out of state signings for... 2-3 years? :(
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | April 21, 2010 at 08:19 PM
"The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck!" Just reprinted in two volumes--hardcover even. This is the source material for all those awesome Ducktales cartoons. Super good. Don't miss them!
And I second The Secret Science Alliance!
Posted by: Nathan Hale | April 21, 2010 at 10:45 PM
I hope you have an excellent World Book and Copyright Day. It's tomorrow, April 23rd.
Posted by: andalucy | April 22, 2010 at 04:30 AM
I have just found out about these the past year so no clue on any faves but will add the lunch lady to the list.
Posted by: julie@my5monkeys | April 22, 2010 at 05:27 AM
Amulet and Jellaby and Secret Science Alliance are all great!
I LOVE Cat Burglar Black by Richard Sala. Also Joey Fly Private Eye is great to read together. Oh, and Fashion Kitty is fun. Anything on the Cybils website, basically!
And there are so many more good ones (Crogan's Vengeance, Gunnerkrigg Court, Outlaw: Legend of Robin Hood) for those who are a bit older too.
See you next week, Shannon!
Posted by: Ruby Diamond | April 22, 2010 at 05:53 AM
I find that some really interesting young adult GNs are mangas, the Japanese GNs. I'm in 6th grade, and avid reader, and I love these series'! I read regular novels (such as the Books of Bayern, the Maximum Ride series, and the Percy Jackson series, among MANY others) and although I love books like these, sometimes its a nice change to read manga. Some of my favorites are Fruits Basket, Angelic Layer, and the graphic-novel-ization of Maximum Ride.
Posted by: Rebecca | April 22, 2010 at 08:44 AM
I love your blog and I always feel like I learn so much from it. Thanks for the posts about graphic novels. My 3rd grade daughter tried reading The Goose Girl, but it was a little too challenging for her and she finish. I'm going to get her a copy of Rapunzel's Revenge.
It's interesting that you wrote this the same week someone in my ward is trying to get the Bone series of graphic novels banned from our school district's libraries because her son checked one out and she didn't approve of the drinking and smoking. I'm curious about your thoughts on that. As a Mormon mom, do you talk about issues like that with your kids when you read together?
Posted by: Holly Thatcher | April 22, 2010 at 09:04 AM
I miss your posts on writing chapter novels and the writing life. :( Your dreams of that science fiction novel...ahhh. Why don't we ever hear about it any more?
Posted by: lynn | April 22, 2010 at 06:05 PM
I liked Binky the Space Cat and Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly Private Eye) this year.
Posted by: Sharon | April 23, 2010 at 11:01 AM
That is so cool my teacher is going to the International Reading Association thing.
Posted by: anonymous | April 23, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Fruits Basket is really good. It's a Japanese manga!
Posted by: Mindy | April 23, 2010 at 05:44 PM
Why do you never come to Raleigh, North Carolina?!:((
Posted by: Caroline | April 24, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Or MN?!
Posted by: Princess Loucida | April 24, 2010 at 01:12 PM
Oh, man. I wish you could go into Chiago on a weekend. I live so close to Naperville! Plus I have a bunch of activities to do Tuesday! I'd love to meet you.
Posted by: Emma | April 25, 2010 at 09:51 AM