Graphic Novels--all books?

The article made a comment about how children were really the only readers who could truly appreciate graphic novels. In a way, I agree. Once you start seeing pictures with words, you almost rely on the words to tell the story for you. But a little kid's imagination can tell a completely different story. I work at a daycare, and the kids love "reading" books to me. Of course, they just make up the story; but I love to hear what they come up with. While they're "reading", they are basically just looking at the pictures and telling a story. So, in a way, it seems like picture books are graphic novels to kids before they can read. Agree or disagree?

Session 4

Hi Everyone,

We'll have two themes in session 4: exploring graphic novels and other innovative picture books and practicing the different types of responses to text so that you'll feel more comfortable preparing for our first literature discussion.

To prepare, please:

• Read Rudiger (2006) "Graphic Novels 101". (On Angel) What are graphic novels? What types of visual literacy skills might we use to read them?
  

• Recommended: Read the Kiefer (2004) and Sipe (NA) articles on Angel. They'll provide useful vocabulary for discussing illustrations.
  

• Optional: Check out this post and resource on manga!
  
• Optional: Bring in a graphic novel, manga, or other innovative text.
  

Also, if you haven't posted or commented on our blog, remember that you should try to do so by the end of next week. (Roughly by the end of the first five weeks of class.)

Valerie

American Born Chinese: Lattice Group

I just went to a bookclub discussion of "American Born Chinese". I'm going to save what I got out of it until we're together in person and I can show you the book.

We've talked a little bit about how the context of reading and discussion makes a big difference. (Little wonder that we started off with food and bit of catching up with old friends!) Only then did we move into talking about the book. Some people had done research on the author, others talked about graphic novels in general, we spent some time looking at particular illustrations that we liked or had problems with, people asked questions about the ending, someone passed around a couple of resources on China, etc.

I guess my point is that talking about books helps us understand texts, but it is also fun! I hope that we can recreate some of that in our class. (And maybe you will in your future classes!)

Anyone a manga fan?

I'm planning ahead for the session in which we'll be discussing graphic novels and manga. I'm new to reading manga and was just wondering if anyone in the class reads it? If so, I would love to talk to you (and have you share what you know with the class)!