Graphic Novels for elementary set?

[karne]

I was just reading a review of two graphic novels, the Babymouse series, and Owly. They look really fun and engaging...I am thinking of my 3rd grader whose reading is starting to take off. Anyone have any input on these or graphic novels in general?

[kathymuggle]

If your kid likes them - great!

My kids can read whatever they want (for the most part). I know in later elementary and middle school - one of the ways to keep a reader a reader is to let them select whatever they are intereswted in.

Kathy

[scoob]

My dd is in 2nd grade and is really enjoying Bone right now. We've been able to get a number of the books through our local library which is nice (the entire series is really long but there are individual books that collect 10 or so issues each...there's also a complete in one volume version, but it's LONG; I don't think a child would be able to finish it within a library loan period even with renewals). She loves Baby Mouse and Owly, too. Fashion Kitty is another favorite. I think there are a few volumes of that out now. And of course, there's the ever popular Captain Underpants.

This isn't quite a graphic novel, but the Carl Barks' Duck comics (Walt Disney Comics and Stories, Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, etc.) are absolutely wonderful. I know how that sounds if you're not familiar with Barks. Disney, UGH! But truly, Barks is one of the greatest comic writers of all times and those comics were written specifically for kids, so you don't have to worry about content. Libraries often carry collections of those (look for Carl Barks Library as a series title).

We're actually seeing more and more graphic novels making their way into our local public library. Ours has a big display, and since dd loves comics, we've been through quite a few of them. There are Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys that are written as graphic novels now. She also borrowed various collections of myths from different places (Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, etc.) that were told in graphic form. You do want to flip through and check them out first though. The one from that series that was Aztec myths turned out to be truly gruesome and voilent. And sometimes the librarians aren't aware of what they have and put ones with more adult themes in the children's area. So just be aware of what they're getting.

Have fun! There's some great stuff out there

[karne]

I bought the first of the babymouse series today and DD loved it. We read the entire book in one sitting, which is really my goal--any reading that she can do with me, fun, not presssured and engaging. I looked at Owly too, and I thought it was very sweet. I think it will find it's way into the Easter Basket.

[Leatherette]

Bone, by Jeff Smith (Scholastic), and Akiko, by Mark Crilley. Both are awesome. My son's copies are torn to shreds from love. Akiko can be hard to find(I like it better than Bone). I think they will be coming out in color soon, and will be more readily available. If you want something completely non-scary, it is not for you, but they are for kids, and my son was afraid of the Incredibles movie (the first few minutes) and has had no problems with the comics.

Owly is really cute - we have some, but it has not gotten the same level of play as the other two. Not many words to read in it, either.

L.