The Evolution of Comics in the School Library

The Evolution of Comics in the School Library “Mind Candy” to Motivational Reading and Teaching Tool (Diana Maliszewski)

Credit Where Credit Is Due • Comic Books and Graphic Novels in School and Public Libraries • Gail de Vos = Instructor • Contact Gail via storyteller. devos@telusplanet. net

A 30 Second History of Comics in Canada • Precursors in political cartooning (1849 -1940) • Golden Age (1941 -1946) - Canadian gov’t banned foreign comic books in WWII as economy measure • “Branch Plant” & “Moral Danger” (1947 -1956) • Lean Years (1957 -1966) – U. S. imports only • Underground Alternative “Blip” (1967 -1974) • Silver Age (1975 -1985) – Captain Canuck, Dave Sim and Chester Brown • (This list is an abbreviated form of an essay by Gail de Vos. )

Change in Perspective • Comics chosen as medium and study topic for serious writers and themes • Increased visibility in popular culture • Misconceptions and gender differences clarified / reduced • Krashen and others advocate comic use • “Maus” wins Pulitzer Prize for literature • For one example of the paradigm shift, see www. districtadministration. com/pageprin t. cfm? id=355 • (Points taken from Gail de Vos’ essay)

Excellent Web Sites by U of A Classmates • Boys and Comics by Dorothy Cousins: www. sves. sd 85. bc. ca/Boysandcomics/boysa ndcomics. html • Non-Fiction Comics by Mark Bendall: www. sd 22. bc. ca/vss/Library/Non. Fic. Comics • Online Reviews of Graphic Novels by Janice Biebrich: http: //members. shaw. ca/rjbiebrich 7/GNVi rtual. Seminar/virtualseminar. htm

My Evolution in Comic Knowledge & Use • Read some graphic novels • Learned from course and discussions • Purchased graphic novels (especially manga) for student pleasure reading • Ran book talks on lesser-known graphic novels • Taught lessons promoting graphic novels as a research and reading tool

The Experts Advise Educators • Q: How do you do a read-aloud of a comic? • A: “Powerpoint or slides would probably be the best way. Not always practical, unfortunately, but it is doable. Great if you can get audience members to dramatize specific roles too. ” • (Scott Mc. Cloud, author of “Reinventing Comics”)

Experts Advise the Educators • Q: Is it just me, or are there few graphic novels that target grades 4 -8? • A: “Yes there is nothing that targets that age group. I have tried to make both of my books accessible to all ages. Unfortunately for some “all ages” translates as pablum for kids. But as someone that grew up on Looney Tunes I refuse to believe that something can’t be entertaining for an adult as well as a kid…” • (Jay Hosler, author of “Clan Apis”)

Things to Make You Go Hmmm • Lots of issues & topics to contemplate, as we did in the course: • Cataloguing – where do they go? • Collection development policies? • Censorship? • Reviews and places to purchase?