Bridge Building at ALA
It’s an exciting time to be involved with comics and education. At the recent annual librarian’s association convention, the Graphic Novel Institute occupied a whole day of programming at ALA’s Pop Top Stage.
Pop Top was symbolically well placed. Flanked by the traditional print publishers on one side and the new media purveyors on the other, it positioned graphic novels as the bridge-builders in the coming literary revolution. The Graphic Novel Institute was the brainchild of Diamond’s John Shableski, the maestro of comics and education on the convention circuit.
At “Great Graphic Novels for Teens: Ground Zero for a Cultural Shift in American Publishing” librarians Robin Brenner, Michele Gorman, Kat Kan, Mike Pawuk, and Jody Sharp discussed the process of creating YALSA’s Graphic Novels for Teens list–the ins and outs of getting permission from the larger organization to do so, as well as the nitty gritty of the selection process itself. It was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what a group of committed and intrepid supporters of the form can do. Michelle Gorman also spoke passionately on the need for creating graphic lists for the children and adult markets.
At our panel, “Reading and Teaching with Graphic Novels,” Peter Gutiérrez was a skillful and charming moderator. He asked thoughtful questions and offered germane anecdotes from his teaching and consulting experience. Broward-county librarian David Serchay, author of the encyclopedic The Librarian’s Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and ‘Tweens, referred librarians to relevant listservs—e.g., comix scholars—as well as foundational professional books in the field.
Reading expert Katie Monnin, author of Teaching Graphic Novels, offered the literacy perspective. She discussed how important and necessary it is for librarians to begin the process of “foundationalizing” (my new favorite word) graphica. (This in response to an excellent question about using webcomics in the classroom.) Katie also concisely and passionately positioned graphic texts within the literacy revolution—from prose-based literacy to multiple-media literacy.
As for me? I talked about empowering teachers. I’ve always believed that teachers really can address any content or skill with the graphic form. Often, all it takes is getting comfortable with the architecture of a comic page, the vocabulary of a new form, and the range of resources out there. In this regard, I mentioned Drawing Words & Writing Pictures (vol. 1), chapters 1.2 Comics terminology, and 11.1 Panel design.
Leaving the ALA’s convention floor at the end of the day, my head filled with pedagogical minutia of graphica, I turned once more to look at Pop Top Stage’s Graphic Novel Institute sign.
I thought how fitting it was to have The Graphic Novel Institute at ALA. From the beginning, librarians have been the early adapters when it comes to embracing the graphic form as literature.
It was a kind of homecoming.
NOTE: This blog entry was cross-posted from Drawing Words & Writing Pictures' website.
Pop Top was symbolically well placed. Flanked by the traditional print publishers on one side and the new media purveyors on the other, it positioned graphic novels as the bridge-builders in the coming literary revolution. The Graphic Novel Institute was the brainchild of Diamond’s John Shableski, the maestro of comics and education on the convention circuit.
At “Great Graphic Novels for Teens: Ground Zero for a Cultural Shift in American Publishing” librarians Robin Brenner, Michele Gorman, Kat Kan, Mike Pawuk, and Jody Sharp discussed the process of creating YALSA’s Graphic Novels for Teens list–the ins and outs of getting permission from the larger organization to do so, as well as the nitty gritty of the selection process itself. It was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what a group of committed and intrepid supporters of the form can do. Michelle Gorman also spoke passionately on the need for creating graphic lists for the children and adult markets.
At our panel, “Reading and Teaching with Graphic Novels,” Peter Gutiérrez was a skillful and charming moderator. He asked thoughtful questions and offered germane anecdotes from his teaching and consulting experience. Broward-county librarian David Serchay, author of the encyclopedic The Librarian’s Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and ‘Tweens, referred librarians to relevant listservs—e.g., comix scholars—as well as foundational professional books in the field.
Reading expert Katie Monnin, author of Teaching Graphic Novels, offered the literacy perspective. She discussed how important and necessary it is for librarians to begin the process of “foundationalizing” (my new favorite word) graphica. (This in response to an excellent question about using webcomics in the classroom.) Katie also concisely and passionately positioned graphic texts within the literacy revolution—from prose-based literacy to multiple-media literacy.
As for me? I talked about empowering teachers. I’ve always believed that teachers really can address any content or skill with the graphic form. Often, all it takes is getting comfortable with the architecture of a comic page, the vocabulary of a new form, and the range of resources out there. In this regard, I mentioned Drawing Words & Writing Pictures (vol. 1), chapters 1.2 Comics terminology, and 11.1 Panel design.
Leaving the ALA’s convention floor at the end of the day, my head filled with pedagogical minutia of graphica, I turned once more to look at Pop Top Stage’s Graphic Novel Institute sign.
I thought how fitting it was to have The Graphic Novel Institute at ALA. From the beginning, librarians have been the early adapters when it comes to embracing the graphic form as literature.
It was a kind of homecoming.
NOTE: This blog entry was cross-posted from Drawing Words & Writing Pictures' website.
Views: 39
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marcy Prager on
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I think graphic novels are a fabulous way to draw in reluctant readers. I have looked all over Amazon.com to find graphic novels for second graders. All I could find were fairy tales... Any ideas? I often have my students make their own graphic books as a formal assessment for what they have learned and synthesized.
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Permalink Reply by Sari Wilson on
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Hi Marcy. Have you checked out Francoise Mouly's TOON Books series, Andy Runton's Owly, and the Sardine in Space books? Also, of course, Jeff Smith's Bone series, but that might skew a bit older. Good luck! I love the idea of using graphic books for assessment...
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Thanks, Sari! I will check out the books you suggested!
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I checked out all the books you listed, Sari, and I have a pile of books in my cart at Amazon. I can't thank you enough!
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Sure thing, Marcy!
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Abel on
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Little Lulu? Other classic comics like Dennis the Menace, or even Calvin and Hobbes.
Other Toon books like their big classic kids comics collection they just put out, (or was that Raw Jr.?), or Raw jr. Little Lit books.
from First Second:
Adventures in Cartooning, Sardine, Little Vampire, Robot Dreams. -
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I know the kids LOVE Sardine!!!!!!!! I'm buying a variety of books parents can't find fault with. The name alone, Little Vampire, might upset second grade parents. I am VERY cautious about the books I display for kids to read.
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Well, take a look at it. It's monsters, but could hardly be cuter.
And the old stuff, well, the parents are likely to remember some of it themselves. There are a lot of reprints coming out now. -
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Goble on
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Marcy - you might also reach out to Peter Gutierrez here at MC POP - he works a lot on little dude/ette books. Check these great study guides linked below do consider posting a crowdsource question here in the GN & Comics Discussion forum - you can title it something like "QUESTION: Good Graphic Novels for Elementary Students?" - you can include the suggestions already given here and then I can broadcast it to the whole membership - should get great ideas from the crowd.
At any rate - do check:
New Free Reading Guide for Teaching with Classic Kids' Comics
LESSON PLAN: "Little Mouse Gets Ready" K-1 Lesson Plan
Good Vibes,
Ry:) -
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