Category Archives: graphic novels

Laws and Orders

The death here in Minnesota of George Floyd has sparked world-wide protests against police brutality and racism, with people demanding new laws and orders to protect every person’s civil rights.  History has shown that “law and order” political leaders such … Continue reading

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Outdoor Art with Heart

Heartfelt messages to neighbors and neighborhood heroes have brightened many of today’s pandemic city views.  Drawing with chalk, kids have decorated sidewalks, driveways, and even walls with scenes and words to celebrate people and events such as birthdays and graduations.  … Continue reading

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Asian – American Heroes, Hopes, and Hurts

This is an important time to look at graphic works depicting Asian-American heroes, hopes, and hurts. The Covid-19 pandemic has spread some virulent ideas along with its deadly virus. Once-common stereotypes and fears about Asian–Americans, in particular Chinese-Americans, have flared … Continue reading

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Pandemic! One Hundred Years Later

One hundred years from now, what will people be reading about today’s Coronavirus pandemic?  While the full dire impact of Covid-19 is still unfolding, such a long-range perspective on pandemics can inform and possibly comfort some of us.  Such stories … Continue reading

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And the Winner Is

What a thrill!  Jerry Craft’s graphic novel New Kid (2019) recently won the prestigious 2019 Newbery Medal for the year’s “most distinguished contribution to children’s literature.”  With this award, the American Library Association placed graphic literature fully in the mainstream … Continue reading

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On Fire

Blazing sights and sounds dominate the news.  Very young readers may have “tuned out” the U.S. impeachment firestorms, but the vivid, heartrending images of Australia’s animals burned in that country’s worst-ever firestorm season are unforgettable.  These wildfires sparked just as … Continue reading

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On the Brink

On the brink of a new year, I have been thinking of medieval explorers at the brink of unknown seas or lands.  “Here be dragons or lions,” their mapmakers warned.  As we enter 2020 here in the U.S., the little … Continue reading

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Get Sets for the Holidays!

Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa—whichever winter holidays you celebrate, sets of graphic books make great, generous gifts for young readers.  Tweens in particular can take delight this holiday season not only in some sets already packaged by publishers but also … Continue reading

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In Season and Beyond

November 1 . . . Is it too late now for a great Halloween-based book?  Similarly, once this November’s national Native American Heritage Month is over, will it seem out-of-step to read about our country’s first peoples?  And just how … Continue reading

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It Takes Guts!

It takes guts to face one’s fears!  But this effort is worthwhile . . . even if the results may take time.  This realization is the focus of author/ illustrator Raina Telgemeier’s new graphic memoir Guts (2019, color by Braden … Continue reading

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