Helpful Links

Library Resources

Cataloging Graphic Novels
The Lewis & Clark Library System presents a guide to cataloging graphic novels in libraries. Includes definitions, history and informational resources.

Comic Adventures in Academia
Comixology hosts a monthly column by Karen Green, Columbia University's Ancient/Medieval Studies Librarian and Graphic Novel selector. This column deals with the particular experiences, challenges and rewards involved in developing a graphic novel collection at an academic library.

Comic Books For Young Adults
Compiled and maintained by librarian Michael R. Lavin, an avid, life-long fan of comic books, Comic Books For Young Adults is designed "to introduce librarians (as well as teachers and parents) to the rich, diverse offerings from today's comics book publishers, and to encourage the acquisition of comic books and graphic novels in libraries serving young adults." Its features include extensive background information and a useful section on collection development, as well as recommendations and reviews.

Graphic Novels: Where To Start
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives' (KDLA) April/June issue of SelectioNotes, “a bi-monthly publication designed to assist small and medium-sized Kentucky public libraries in their material selection process,” added graphic novel coverage to its content. The April-June 2004 issue contains a feature article that serves as an introduction to graphic novels and also offers reviews.

H.W. Wilson’s Graphic Novels Core Collection
Graphic Novels Core Collection is a collection development resource from H.W. Wilson, featuring approximately 2,000 recommended titles with descriptive and evaluative annotations, plus cover art.

Recommended Graphic Novels for Public Libraries
Steve Raiteri is a public librarian from Ohio who has done more than simply incorporate graphic novels into his collection – he’s also been reading them for more than 25 years! You can take advantage of his wealth of experience at his website, where he lists titles that are appropriate for a young adult collection as well as information about starter collections, websites of publishers, and links pertaining to the graphic novel industry.

School Resources

Comics: A Multi-dimensional Teaching Aid in Integrated-skills Classes
Originally published in Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities, March 1997, Nagoya, Japan Nagoya City University, by Randall Davis, the article also appears on his ESL-themed website. The commentary espouses the virtue of comics as an aide in teaching language skills.  It has relevance to the regular classroom as well, providing a sample lesson plan and other pedagogical uses of comics.

Comics in Education
Educator, cartoonist, and comic writer Gene Yang’s (American Born Chinese, Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks) informational website provides the history and the strengths of using comics in education. Also included are various links to educational resources in print and on the web.

Comics in the Classroom
Canadian elementary school teacher Scott Tingley's website, Comics in the Classroom.net, is designed to help fellow teachers and parents choose comics for both eager and reluctant readers in grades K through 8. Tingley, a parent, teacher and longtime fan of the comics medium, uses the site to share the positive experiences he has had using comics in the learning process.

Going Graphic
Sample chapters from second language learner specialist Dr. Stephan Cary's book regarding comics at work in the multilingual classroom.

The Graphic Classroom
The Graphic Classroom is blog maintained by Chris Wilson, a graduate student majoring in Elementary Education. Graphic Classroom functions as a resource for teachers and librarians to help them stock high quality, educational-worthy graphic novels and comics in their classroom or school library. Chris Wilson reads and reviews graphic novels and comics and assigns a rating as to appropriateness for the classroom.

Learning and Teaching Scotland
Scotland’s main organisation for the development and support of the Scottish curriculum, Learning and Teaching Scotland works closely with the Scottish Executive and education authorities. They have recently developed a new graphic novel resource, highlighting how graphic novels and comics can engage pupils and how they can be used throughout the curriculum.

National Association of Comics Art Educators
Created to promote the acceptance of the comics medium within art and educational institutions, NACAE is a resource for students, teachers and school programs interested in the potential for integrated learning through comic art programs. The website features an extensive database of articles and lesson plans, as well as a forum for educators.

Owly Lesson Plans
Andy Runton and Patty Runton have produced a series of lesson plans for the award winning series Owly, which are available for free download from Top Shelf Productions. These lesson plans feature a variety of activities, including reading, writing and drawing exercises, and can be adapted to accommodate students of different ages and reading levels. The lesson plans also feature adorable drawings by Andy Runton.

Publishers

Dark Horse Comics
Bearing in mind the special needs of librarians, Dark Horse (publisher of such titles as Trigun, Star Wars, Sin City, Hellboy, and more) created a website specifically devoted to librarians. The site includes information about current and upcoming titles, reviews of Dark Horse graphic novels, and a list of bestsellers.

DC Comics
The official website of DC Comics (home of iconic superheroes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman) includes a graphic novel section with books separated by imprint (DC is also the home of graphic novel imprints Vertigo, Minx, Wildstorm and CMX) and a list of 30 essential graphic novels. For kids titles, go here.

Image Comics
The official website of Image Comics (publisher of such titles as Savage Dragon, Invincible, Madman and more) includes titles organized by release date and allows you to preview their comics online.

Marvel Comics
The official website of Marvel Comics (home of iconic superheroes Spider-Man, Captain America and the X-Men) features an extensive catalogue that can be searched by title, creator and/or release date. It also includes character bios and many interactive features.

Reviews

Artbomb.net: A Graphic Novel Explosion
Artbomb’s site features reviews on current graphic novels, searchable by either genre or creator. One of the site’s gems is free online graphic novels. Artbomb also features a terrific introductory section for newbies.

The Graphic Novel Review
A resource for the discriminating graphic novel reader, GNR provides regularly updated reviews of mainstream literary graphic novels.

No Flying, No Tights
Robin Brenner, library technician at Cary Memorial Library in Lexington, Massachusetts, crafted this website to serve as a central repository and resource on graphic novels for kids, teens, and adults. Each section is broken down by genre and reading interest level.

Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly now runs regular coverage of the comic book industry (particularly about graphic novels and how they pertain to book markets) and runs a special review section on graphic novels on a quarterly basis.

School Library Journal
School Library Journal contains its “Graphic Novel Roundup” of graphic novel reviews on a bimonthly basis.

VOYA: Voice of Youth Advocates
VOYA features “Graphically Speaking,” a column by librarian (and Diamond Bookshelf reviewer) Kat Kan that reviews YA-appropriate graphic novels.

Miscellaneous

The Beat
Heidi Macdonald's blog, hosted by Publisher's Weekly, covers all aspects of comics culture and industry news, and is updated daily.

The Graphic Novels Guy
A bi-weekly column by John Shableski, who works for Diamond Book Distributors as a sales manager with a focus on the independent bookstore market, public and school libraries. Updated every other Tuesday on M.J. Rose's Buzz, Balls & Hype blog, Shableski focuses on such issues as "Why Won't Johnny Read" and "Can Graphic Novels Save Independent Bookstores?"

ImageText
The University of Florida's online academic journal designed "to advance the academic study of comic books, comic strips, and animated cartoons." With the guidance of a cross-disciplinary editorial board, ImageText publishes various papers investigating the material, historical, theoretical, and cultural implications of sequential art.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA)
The official website of MoCCA, a museum devoted to "the collection, preservation, study, education, and display of comic and cartoon art."

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (RPI) Comics Research Bibliography
Described as "an international bibliography of comic books, comic strips, animation, caricature, cartoons, bandes dessinees, and related topics," the bibliography is divided by author into four sections, contains more than 16,900 entries through August 2003, and has been featured by USA Today, the Library of Congress, and the Research Libraries Information Network.

Resources for Kids

Amelia Rules Website
The critically acclaimed Amelia Rules series by Jimmy Gownley has a brand new website, featuring interactive games and downloads for kids. Fans of the series will find podcasts, videos, trivia games and pages to color, as well as comprehensive information on the series and a step-by-step guide to comics creation. Fans are encouraged to submit original artwork and fiction for display. There is also a special section for teachers.

Make Beliefs Comix
This is a website that allows users to make their own comics, by selecting from a variety of characters, poses and expressions and supplying the words themselves. Available in both English and Spanish, this site is an ideal resource for language learners, as well as offering a wealth of opportunities for writing and dialogue exercises. Cute human and animal characters are designed to appeal to kids. Makebeliefscomix was created by Bill Zimmerman, author of the book Make Beliefs: A Gift for Your Imagination, with artwork by Tom Bloom.

Riverside Reads
Riverside Reads is a new initiative from Scott Tingley of comicsintheclassroom.net. His third grade class has created their own website to showcase student-created comics, interviews and reviews. This project helps students to build confidence in their literary education – students not only read comics, but they also create their own comics and write reviews for comics they have read. The third-grade staff of Riverside Reads welcomes comics submissions from kids all over the world, to be posted and reviewed on the website.