Clever Idea: historical character on facebook

The middle-years group was thinking it would be fun to do podcasts in role as historical figures.  Perhaps an interview between Gandhi and Hitler?  Today, when I was searching for an off-line facebook template to use in Seminar, I came across this:


Attribution: http://historytech.wordpress.com/

I love clever - and think this is just the right kind of clever for middle-years students.

Graphic Novels I have Loved. . . .

Here are a few of the graphic novels that I have read and loved, or my children have loved.  Click on the image to go straight to Amazon where you will find reviews and grade levels if you are curious.


 

Owly is the cutest little book - mostly without words.  I love that the author/artist created Owly on sticky notes that he left for his mom.

Baby Mouse is a wonderful character, the books are well-drawn (love the pink, black and white), and the content is quite engaging.  She is a little hero for girls everywhere. 

The pink, white and black content turned my 8 year-old son off, so when I saw Monster Mash I picked it up for him.  Liam got hooked on it, and continued to read the whole series - no longer concerned about the

colour or character. 

 

 

Bone is one of the most popular graphic novels in the school library.  Both my boys have read the series (9 books I believe), and I have enjoyed them too.  Liam has actually read them three times, he finds them that engaging.

This is a combination of traditional novel with graphic novel-like inclusions.  My boys wanted me to put this on the list - they've enjoyed them, but I must say they were never something they wanted to re-read, and they never kept their attention for long.  Still, they found them entertaining, and many kids love them.

Amulet is very well done, and has captured the attention of my boys.  It isn't as well known as Bone (in my experience), but it is just as good!(perhaps better, but don't tell anyone I said that). 

Not exactly a graphic novel, but a much-loved comic in our house.  Love the expression presented, and the slapstick world of a Calvin and his trust sidekick.

For older students, this book is gorgeous in its black and white drawings, and the coming-of-age story is beautifully told. It is the first graphic novel I ever read front to back and fell in love with.A graphic novel for adults - the drawings are incredible and the story well-told. 

 

For older readers.  I thought this graphic novel was incredible on many levels, it is really an interesting look the author's perspective/representation of growing up in a Chinese family in America.  It shows stereotypes through one of the storylines, and so I have heard debates about having this in schools, but I'll leave that up to you to decide.

If there is a graphic novel you think the blogosphere should know about (especially for schools, but not necessarily stricted to schools) - please leave a message.

As luck would have it, I just came across this list for the top 10 Graphic Novels of 2011 (click image to go to the article):

Picture Books I have Loved

Nothing like curling up with a good book (or twenty) over the  holidays.  Below are some of my favourites.  Just click on the image to get to Amazon, where you can conveniently read more about it. I love that it is easy to check professional reviews like School Library Journal and Kirkus Review. 
 These books were chosen because of their wonderful kid-appeal.  Most of them make great read-alouds, and are stories I love to share.

Compiling this collection of picture books that I've loved, felt like a walk down school library lane for me.  I picture all the students I shared these books with: the students who gasped when they understood the ending of The Sweetest Fig.  The students who said, "You have to read One Green Apple, Mrs. N., you'll love it!"  The group of kindergartener's who liked to chime in during King Bidgood's in the Bathtub.

Ah, sweet nostalgia!  Life is just better when you can share the books you love.