Graphic Novel Roundup
By Steve Weiner -- School Library Journal, 5/1/2003
| Mutants for the Masses | Comics for the Classroom | Building a Strong Collection | A Found Feiffer |
It's time to add the X-Men's super powers to your collection Early this month, X-Men 2 hit our nation's big screens, riding on the box-office success of the first X-Men movie. The X-Men were one of the superhero teams that Marvel Comics created in the 1960s. Although the X-Men were hated by humanity because they were mutants, they used their super abilities for the good of mankind. Over the past 35 years, the X-Men have gone through several transformations. The following X-Men titles will empower your collection and appeal to children and teens.
New X-Men: New
Worlds
The Essential Uncanny X-Men
The X-Men: Mutant Genesis
Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate X-Men: World
Tour
X-Men Legends Vol. II: The Dark Phoenix Saga . |
CrossGeneration Comics (www.crossgen.com) has created a supplemental reading comprehension program called Bridges. The new reading program takes advantage of two of the publisher's graphic novel series: Meridian, a fantasy series that reminds some readers of The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis's popular kids' series, and Ruse, a Sherlock Holmesian mystery series. The Meridian series is aimed at middle school students, and Ruse is appropriate for high schoolers. The Bridges program comes with graphic novels, teacher's guides, and CD-ROMs with skill activities. Some educators may be pleased to know that the school versions of Meridian and Ruse have been edited for language and occasional sexual innuendo. Currently, the Bridges package is part of a pilot program in seven states nationwide. "This program was developed to embody the whole language approach," says Beth Widera, CrossGen's education consultant. For more information, contact Widera at BWidera@Crossgen.com. |
Thanks to Teen Librarian Mike Pawuk of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, the Ohio library now has a graphic novel collection with nearly 1,000 titles. We recently spoke to Pawuk about how to develop a strong graphic novel collection for children and young adults.
Which graphic novels are the most popular?
How do you select graphic novels for your collection?
Are any of your graphic novels unpopular?
How much do you spend on graphic novels?
What advice can you offer librarians who are starting a graphic novel collection?
Can librarians contact you for more advice or information? |
Jules Feiffer began as a cartoonist and went on to become a playwright, social critic, novelist, screenplay writer, and, of course, a children's book creator. Dial Press commissioned Feiffer in 1965 to create a book on the then-popular nostalgia fad. The result was a tribute to the early days of comics called The Great Comic Book Heroes. The collection of seminal stories and social criticism became a favorite with comic-book fans nationwide. Long out of print, Feiffer's little gem of a book is back.
The Great Comic Book
Heroes. |
