The books below lay out the history of graphic novels, their standing among the arts, and the most current academic thinking on their utility today, specifically at an educational mindset with an eye toward the concerns and thoughts of librarians.

Comics: Between The Panels
A thorough account of the history of the comics industry based on over ten years of research.

Getting Graphic! Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy
An introductory guide to promoting literacy through graphic novels for both school and public librarians.

Manga: the Complete Guide
A comprehensive guide to Japanese comics, featuring more than 900 incisive, full-length reviews of popular manga series, as well as extensive profiles of the biggest names in manga.

Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics
An accessible and entertaining introduction to the development and diversity of manga from the 1940s to the present.

Understanding Comics
A comprehensive theoretical study of the creation and reception of sequential narrative, depicted entirely in comics. Essential reading for comic book scholars!

Comics and Sequential Art
Master cartoonist Will Eisner reveals the basic building blocks and principles of comics, including imagery, the frame, and the application of time, space, and visual forms.

Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative
Based on Will Eisner's legendary course at New York's School of Visual Arts, this guide teaches how to control a story effectively using a broad array of techniques.

Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
Scott McCloud focuses his critical analysis on the art form itself, exploring the creation of comics, from the broadest principles to the most minute of artistic details.

Reinventing Comics
This volume explores the ways the art and practice of comics are changing with the advent of the digital age.