Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir by Julie Bertagna; illus. by William Goldsmith Intermediate, Middle School Yosemite Conservancy 128 pp. 3/19 978-1-930238-94-7 $17.99 This creatively rendered biography-in-comics-format of John Muir (1838–1914) is filled with the naturalist’s adventures, from his childhood in Scotland to his pioneering conservation work and formation of America’s National Parks. Muir’s […]
Peep show…or how, nevertheless, the Little Red Hen persisted
April 17, 2019 by 4 Comments
Spring has sprung around Boston! Daffodils are blooming, birds are singing, and our library is hosting a “Peep Literary Diorama Exhibition.” This year, my family got in on the fun with our own entry. I’m using family and our loosely. I thought my kids would be excited about the idea of making a shoe-box diorama […]
Graphic biographies and memoirs
January 22, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Agrimbau, Diego Anne Frank Illustrated by Fabián Mezquita. Gr. 4–6 80 pp. Capstone Agrimbau, Diego Leonardo da Vinci Illustrated by Diego Aballay. Gr. 4–6 80 pp. Capstone Graphic Library: Graphic Lives series. These graphic novels detail the lives of the titular historical figures, with emphasis on events that garnered each the most notoriety. The comic-book […]
Review of Max & the Midknights
January 22, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Max & the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce; illus. by the author Intermediate Crown 280 pp. g 1/19 978-1-101-93108-0 $13.99 Library ed. 978-1-101-93109-7 $16.99 e-book ed. 978-1-101-93110-3 $8.99 It’s the Middle Ages, and redheaded Max is Uncle Budrick’s troubadour apprentice. Max longs to become a knight, but there’s just one problem: Max is a girl, a […]
Review of Older than Dirt: A Wild but True History of Earth
January 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Older than Dirt: A Wild but True History of Earth by Don Brown and Mike Perfit; illus. by Don Brown Intermediate, Middle School Houghton 104 pp. g 9/17 978-0-544-80503-3 $18.99 An extended conversation between a science-savvy groundhog and a new-to-Earth’s-history worm features a comprehensive overview of the geological past of our planet. The graphic format, […]
Graphic-novel biographies and memoirs
January 22, 2018 by 1 Comment
Chandler, Matt Outrunning the Nazis: The Brave Escape of Resistance Fighter Sven Somme Illustrated by Daniele Nicotra. Gr. 4–6, middle school 32 pp. Capstone/Graphic Library Yomtov, Nel Death Camp Uprising: The Escape from Sobibor Concentration Camp Illustrated by Wilson Tortosa. Gr. 4–6, middle school 32 pp. Capstone/Graphic Library Great Escapes of World War II series. […]
Review of Where’s Halmoni?
January 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Where’s Halmoni? by Julie Kim; illus. by the author Primary Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch 96 pp. 10/17 978-1-63217-077-4 $19.99 Gentle and humorous, this graphic novel for younger readers is told exclusively through dialogue, sound effects, and visual narrative. Siblings Noona and Joon smell the wafting aroma of (their grandmother) Halmoni’s red bean soup, […]
Parenting inspiration from Kazu Kibuishi and other graphic novelists at the MICE expo
October 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
“What is the hardest character for you to draw?” my second-grade son, Miles, asked Kazu Kibuishi, author and illustrator of his favorite graphic novels series, Amulet. Kibuishi had just finished an inspiring talk and demonstration for a group of children and adults at MICE (Massachusetts Independent Comics Exposition) at Lesley University on October 21 and […]
Crossing Literacy Thresholds: When Kids Are “Stuck” Reading the Same Things
March 22, 2017 by 3 Comments
I take a democratic spirit with regard to my children’s reading. In my view, if I take them to the library every weekend and they’re reading something — anything! — then we’re good, right? Maybe not. Lately, my nine year-old has been apathetic about our library trips, preferring to wait in the car. When in […]
Reading Without Walls: A Conversation with Gene Luen Yang
March 8, 2017 by 1 Comment
Gene Luen Yang, graphic novelist and the Library of Congress’s 2016–2017 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, has initiated a challenge to us all. Its rules are simple: read one book whose main character “doesn’t look like you or live like you”; OR read one book “about a topic you don’t know much about”; OR […]
