Sunday, December 18, 2011

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, Vol. 1: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer
 
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.

Babymouse #1: Queen of the World!
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. 
Babymouse #9: Monster Mash
 
Product Details 
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.

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye (Geronimo Stilton, No. 1)
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.

The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1)
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). 
It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection
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.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
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. 
Product Details 
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):

ANYAS GHOST.jpg

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