Good Comics for Kids

November 30, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

I have mixed feelings about comics in the classroom. On the one hand, I think comics are a terrific tool for promoting literacy, as they engage the imagination, expand vocabulary, and show kids that reading can be fun. On the other hand, I don’t always find comics the best vehicle for teaching science or history, as authors seldom find that sweet spot between textbook clarity and superhero thrills. Jay Piscopo makes a game effort to find that sweet spot in The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli, borrowing plot lines and visual tropes from Aquaman, Jonny Quest, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to teach students about the Bermuda Triangle. Unfortunately, Capt’n Eli falls short of the mark, demonstrating just how hard it is produce a comic that’s fun, educational, and aesthetically pleasing.

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November 21, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Wolves get a lot of bad PR in fairy tales: they menace grandmothers and little pigs, snack on sheep, and stalk cute kiddies who get lost in the woods. The five stories in There’s a Wolf at the Door may not do much to change our perception of wolves as the “bad guy” in “The Three Little Pigs” or “Little Red Riding Hood,” but at least we know who that wolf is—it’s the same wolf in every story, in case you were wondering—and what sort of fellow he is—a dandy, judging by his fondness for top hats and waistcoats.

There’s a Wolf at the Door
By Zoe Alley, Illustrations by R. W. Alley
Roaring Brook Press, 40 pp.
$19.95
Ages 4 to 8

The husband-and-wife team of Zoe and R. W. Alley bring a whimsical to...Read More

October 11, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

SUIHELIBE!, Vol. 1
By Naomi Azuma
CMX, 158 pp.
All Ages (8 and up), $9.99

Visit the graphic novel aisle at Borders or Barnes and Noble, and you’ll realize that there are plenty of manga for teens and adults, but almost none for younger readers. The few companies licensing all-ages titles generally favor established franchises like Pokemon and Disney’s Kingdom Hearts, on the assumption that TV shows, video games, and plush toys are more likely to spark children’s interest in manga than the other way around. A notable exception is CMX. Unlike their competitors, CMX publishes quirky, quality titles free of the merchandising tie-ins and pop culture references that make some children’s books seem more like extended advertisements...Read More