Graphic Novels

Both of our March books are graphic novels so I thought it was time for a graphic novel post. First, for those of you who may be new to the graphic novel scene, a graphic novel is similar to a comic book except that it is usually longer and the story is more complex. There is a fantastic website called No Flying, No Tights that really explains the difference between a graphic novel and a comic. It also contains a wealth of information about graphic novels and the people who create them. I've linked to the "Sidekicks" portion of the site, since that is the section for children.

Anime (Japanese animation) and Manga (Japanese comics) are often associated with graphic novels. Check out The Black Moon's Glossary of Anime and Manga terms to expand your knowledge.

I know many of you are super artistic and are interested in creating your own graphic novels. We have two books in the library that you will want to check out. First, Create Your Own Graphic Novel Using Digital Techniques by Mike Chinn and Chris McLoughlin is a wonderful resource that explains how to take your ideas and use the computer to realize them.

Second is Write Your Own Graphic Novel by Natalie Rosinsky. It is a great book that will help you figure out how to get your ideas on paper.

Or perhaps you'd rather create online? Visit Comic Creator or play around with Garfield's Comic Creator. Both sites instruct you in creating your comics online.

Finally, I just want to mention that the children's department has an entire section devoted to graphic novels. There are many wonderful titles out there for kids from Babymouse to Alison Dare. As we know from our March books, there are also lots of classic stories that have been turned into graphic novels, including Black Beauty and Treasure Island. There is even graphic non-fiction including graphic biographies of people like Jackie Robinson. If you've never read one, come in and browse or ask a librarian and we'll help you find one that's right for you today!