RESEARCH: Graphic Novels for Elementary Classrooms

[Ryan Goble]

7. Graphic Novels for Elementary Classrooms

            In this article in The Reading Teacher, William Boerman-Cornell (Trinity Christian College) reports on his study on the effective use of graphic novels in the elementary literacy curriculum – especially the way teachers can get students tuning in to the interaction of text and images – and recommends the following books for elementary students:

-   Bird and Squirrel on the Run by James Burks – grades 2-4

-   Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale – grades 4-6

-   Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale – grades 3-4

-   Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke – grades 2-5

-   The Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke – grades 2-5

-   The Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke – grades 2-5

-   Roller Girls by Victoria Jamieson – grades 3-4

-   Apollo: The Brilliant One by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Ares: Bringer of War by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Aphrodite: Goddess of Love by George O’Connor – grades 4-6

-   Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Hades: God of the Dead by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Poseidon: Earth Shaker by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Zeus: King of the Gods by George O’Connor – grades 3-6

-   Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm – grades 4+

-   Smile by Raina Telgemeier – grades 4+

-   Foiled by Jane Yolen – grades 4+

-   Curses! Foiled Again by Jane Yolen – grades 4+

 

“The Intersection of Words and Pictures: Second Through Fourth Graders Read Graphic Novels” by William Boerman-Cornell in The Reading Teacher, November/December 2016 (Vol. 70, #3, p. 327-335), http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trtr.1525/abstract; the author can be reached at [e-mail].