Graphic Novel Use in the Middle and High School Classrooms

Graphic Novels

Graphic novels have become an essential component of library collections for both children and teenagers, and they have enormous potential for classroom use. This page compiles graphic novel information and resources to help you learn more about this genre of publishing for youth.

Awards and Recommended Lists

Graphic Novels for Libraries: Recommended Titles for Children and Teens. A bibliography developed by former CCBC librarian Hollis Rudiger.

Great Graphic Novels for Teens: This annual list of recommended GNs from the Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association began in 2007.

Eisner Awards: These are the comics industry's own awards, recognizing excellence in a variety of categories.

Books for Library Collection Development:

· Crawford, Philip Charles. Graphic Novels 101: Selecting and Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy for

Children and Young Adults: A Resource Guide for School Librarians and Educators. Hi Willow, 2003.

· Goldsmith, Francisca. Graphic Novels Now: Building, Managing, and Marketing a Dynamic Collection.

American Library Association, 2005.

· Lyga, Allyson and Barry Lyga. Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A Definitive Guide.

Libraries Unlimited, 2004.

· Miller, Steve. Developing and Promoting Graphic Novel Collections. Neal-Shuman, 2005.

· Rothschild, D. Avila. Graphic Novels: A Bibliographic Guide to Booklength Comics. Libraries Unlimited, 1995.

· Weiner. Stephen. 101 Best Graphic Novels. NB Publishing, Inc., 2003.

Understanding, Using and Defending GNs

Web Resources:

Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Digital Resources for an Evolving Form of Art and Literature: The Association of College and Resource Libraries of the American Library Association publishes College and Research Library News. This online article from February 2005 offers terrific information for comics enthusasists, scholars and librarians, with links to a wide variety of comic-related resources.

Dealing with Challenges to Graphic Novels: This resource page from the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom summarizes key messages for libraries regarding graphic novels, and offers general tips on responding to a complaint or challenge.

Defending the Purchase of Graphic Novels: This perspective from the CCBC was provided in response to a question submitted to our What IF . . . Questions and Answers on Intellectual Freedom forum.

Books:

• Bang, Molly. Picture This: How Pictures Work. SeaStar Books, 2000.
• Carter, James Bucky, editor. Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels: Page by Page, Panel by Panel. NCTE, 2007.
• Cray, Stephen. Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom. Heinemann, 2004.
• Eisner, Will. Comics and Sequential Art. Poorhouse Press, 1985.
• Eisner, Will. Graphic Storytelling. Poorhouse Press, 1996.
• Gorman, Michele. Getting Graphic: Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy with Teens and Preteens. Linwood. 2004.
• Klock, Geoff. How to Read Superhero Comics and Why. Continuum, 2002.
• Lyga, Allyson A.W. and Barry Lyga. Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A Definitive Guide. Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
• McCloud, Scott. Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels. Harper, 2006.
• McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Kitchen Sink Press, 1994.
• Miller, Steve. Developing and Promoting Graphic Novel Collections. (Teens @ the Library Series) Neal-Schuman, 2005.
• Varnum, Robin and Christina T. Gibbons. The Language of Comics. University of Mississippi Press, 2002.
• Weiner, Stephen. The 101 Best Graphic Novels. Nantier-Beall-Minoustchine, 2005.
• Weiner. Stephen. The Rise of the Graphic Novel: Faster Than a Speeding Bullet. Nantier Beall Minoustchineg, 2004