This week, media specialist Jill Whitson rolled out dozens of new novels, declaring the week "Graphics Novel Week."  With a collection that has grown from a handful to over 60 in the past couple of years, students can choose from Superman, Watchman, Runaways, Blankets, and others.

Today, graphic novels, comic books, and manga (Japanese comics) have their own sections in libraries and bookstores across the nation.  The format often entices reluctant readers and most students enjoy the relatively quick reads which require students to become more active participants in the reading process.  

The first graphic novel to receive literary respect was Maus (historical memoir of the Holocaust; story told by survivor Spiegelman to his cartoonist son, Art).  For this, Art Spiegelman won the Pulitzer Prize.  Since then many graphic novels have won acclaim.  Malissa Harris's 9th grade English students read and analyze American-Born Chinese; the summer of 2008 reading lists had many sophomores and juniors reading Maus I and Maus II, as well as the 9/11 Report.

Graphic novels bring sequencing, symbolism, imagery, decoding and comprehending both words and pictures together.  At the same time, most teach history and address personal themes such as prejudice, acceptance, social injustice, and triumph over injustice.

For additional information, see 

www.informationgoddess.ca/Comics&GraphicNovels/index.htm

www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp

www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/jaal/11-02_column/

www.choiceliteracy.com/public/242.cfm