Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden
Level: 7- 12, College Jessica Abel and Matt Madden are cartoonists, teachers, and married! Together, they've produced the very first classroom-ready
comics textbook. Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is broken into fifteen units, perfect for a semester-long course. It offers in-class
exercises, homework assignments, and even extra credit. I've used this several times in my own classroom.
Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost
Level: K- 6 Not only is this a gripping tale about a young knight, a dragon, and an elf, it's also a book about the mechanics of comics!
Sturm, Arnold, and Frederick-Frost have created something magical here. There are even doodling tutorials in the back!
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Level: 7 - 12, College Nobody understands or helps you understand comics better than Scott McCloud. In this modern classic, McCloud explains the inner workings of comics through thoughtfully constructed comics. This is a must-read for anyone interested in visual communication. I'm not sure I'd be doing comics right now if I hadn't read this book in high school.
Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud
Level: 7 - 12, College In this sequel to Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud talks about the comics medium's relationships with society and technology. McCloud wrote this at the beginning of the millennium, so some of the material is dated. Still, the energy and enthusiasm behind his ideas are undeniable.
Making Comics by Scott McCloud
Level: 7 - 12, College The final installment in Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics trilogy. Here, the old master gets down and dirty with practical advice on making good comics. In my favorite section, McCloud talks about mixing human facial expressions like paint colors. Brilliant stuff! Making Comics has a place in every art classroom.
Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom by Stephen Cary
Level: Teachers of Grades 4 - 12 This book, written by University of San Francisco professor
Stephen Cary, makes a compelling argument for comics as an indispensible
tool for ESL students. Cary not only gives statistical and anecdotal
evidence for the efficacy of comics in education, but also presents
comics-centered lesson plans. He ends the book with a list of resources,
both print and online. Although directed at the multilingual classroom,
Going Graphic would benefit any teacher at any level.
Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A Definitive Guide by Allyson A. W. Lyga with Barry Lyga
Level: Teachers of Grades K - 12 Allyson Lyga is a teacher, school librarian, and author with
several years' experience in the classroom. With her husband Barry,
a former employee of Diamond Comics Distributors, Allyson has created
a roadmap for any educator who is interested in graphic novels, but
unsure of where to start. Her book includes several detailed lesson
plans for different levels and subjects.
The Librarian's Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and 'Tweens by David S. Serchay
Level: Teachers of Grades K - 12 David Serchay knows his comics, and he put together a big, thick book to prove it. If you're a librarian new to the world of graphic novels, here is your map. Serchay gives you and overview of the genres, lingo, and history of the graphic novel.
Copyright
2003 Gene Yang