Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A Definitive Guide » (1st Edition)

ALLYSON A. W. LYGA is an elementary library media specialist in Maryland.

BARRY LYGA works for Diamond Comic Book Distributors.

Lyga, an elementary school teacher and media specialist, shows teachers and librarians how they can use graphic novels to encourage reading and support the curriculum. Her guide contains lesson plans linked to curriculums for all ages and includes lists for collection development. The guide also provides information on reviews, jobbers, Web sites, and publishers; tips for partnering with comic book stores; and interviews with librarians who use graphic novels. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

School Library Journal

This excellent resource guide offers school librarians and educators a comprehensive introduction to graphic novels. There is a growing number of professional resources about the topic, all of which cover similar subject matter, including definitions and terminology, cataloging, vendors, and recommended titles. What makes this book unique is the inclusion of numerous reproductions of sample pages from graphic novels and the many lesson plans designed for grades K-12, focusing on the curricular areas of English/language arts, the humanities, and social studies. Readers unfamiliar with the genre will appreciate the section on "How to Read a Comic Book" and the Lygas' ideas about using graphic novels to address multiple intelligences, visual literacy, and reluctant readers. A minor shortcoming is the lack of attention to the topics of age appropriateness and the depiction of women, a concern for many schools. This indispensable, well-organized guide will provide school librarians with all of the necessary information for implementing and developing a graphic-novels collection.-Philip Charles Crawford, Essex High School, Essex Junction, VT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.