A Public Service Announcement! ;)

A Public Service Announcement! ;)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Webinar on GN's in Collections, Stores, and Stacks Available from Baker and Taylor, 12/08/10



From the site:

Why should a library or retailer stock graphic novels?

How can a librarian or retailer select titles that are appropriate for multiple audiences?

How do ratings work?

What authors and titles should they know about? To help answer these and other questions, Baker & Taylor is proud to present a unique webinar for retailers and librarians. We will provide insight from graphic novel experts Michele Gorman, Teen Services Coordinator, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library; Francoise Mouly, Editorial Director, TOON Books; and John Shableski, Sales Manager, Diamond Book Distributors. Discover the tips and trends that make graphic novels one of the fastest growing formats in the industry.


That's a big-hitter cast, right there, folks! Click the link embedded in this post's title to learn more and to register for the event. They're giving away free posters, for goodness's sake!!

Peter Gutierrez's Rationale for Teaching Literacy Skills Through GN's

A nice little piece that packs a wallop in its economy and straightforwardness. Sing it, Peter! And thanks for the shout-out too. :)

*Super-Powered Word Study* Press Release from eSchool News!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Offers Best GN's for Teens 2010 List

El Paso's own Cinco Puntos Press has a title on the list too!: Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush by Luis Alberto Urrea and Christopher Cardinale. (Thanks to CP for giving me a review copy at NCTE. I'll offer my own review very soon).

NCTE!

Thanks to all the presenters and participants in the roundtable I chaired this morning at NCTE. Thanks also to all the folks who stopped by the Maupin House booth to talk to me or let me sign a book or CD. Also, thanks to the ALAN Board for letting me sit in on today's meetings.

Now that I know how these things go, I'll know how to participate next time! :)

The only requirement remaining for me now is hardly something I'm being forced to do. I get to meet graphic novelists Barry Deutsch and George O'Connor on Sunday and facilitate their enjoyment of the ALAN conference before introducing them to the ALAN crowd on Monday.

Sometimes I lova-muh-werk!

Best,
Bucky

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thanks to Miami Book Fair and the School on Comics and Graphic Novels

If you weren't in Miami this morning you missed Bill Zimmerman rock the house! And thanks to the fair for having me as a speaker as well. I just wish I could have seen Raina and the folks from Stanford and all the other nice speakers scheduled.

Hey, organizers, I'd love to do it again next year, if you're reading.

And, OF COURSE, thanks to all the teachers and librarians and students in the audience and who stopped by to let me sign their books. :)

Now off to Orlanda for NCTE and ALAN!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Most Productive November of My Career?: Where I'll Be and What's New for the Coming Week



Hi there! If I don't update the blog for the next week or two, please understand that I'm having a very busy and joyous November! See below:

Fresh off my very successful (I've seen the evaluation numbers now) seminar for the Trans-Pecos Library Association, I'm getting ready for my first-ever presentation at the Miami Book Fair on November 18. My presentation, "Using Graphic Novels to Open a Different Door to Literacy," is the first full session of the day! No pressure, right?

Then it's off to Orlando for NCTE, where I'll be leading a roundtable and presenting on censorship issues with comics and graphic novels on the 19th from 9:30-10:45. If you're at the conference, come to Coronado/Fiesta Ballroom Salon 5 to see me, Crag Hill, Nick Kremer, Louann Reid, Alisha White and Mary F. Wright.

After the roundtable, it's off to the convention floor to do a signing with Maupin House, because my co-authored (with Erik A. Evensen) book Super-Powered Word Study is now available, as is the CD-ROM Rationales for Teaching Graphic Novels (in which you can find more rationales from the roundtablers mentioned above).
Then, I attend my first ALAN workshop, where I'll be formally introduced as a new member to the Board of Directors and will also do some formal introducing of graphic novelists Barry Deutsch and George O' Connor on the 23rd.

All the while, I'll also be celebrating my recent co-authored article in this month's English Journal (primary author Cheryl Gomes) and will hopefully get copies of the article that Katie Monnin, Brian Kelley and I wrote for Inland, which is supposed to be published this month as well.

Of course, I'll also be advertising this blog and SANE journal.

But the best part will be meeting old and new friends over the next 10 days! Maybe I'll see you soon?

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Hot Off the Presses!

Rebecca Lukowski of Maupin House marketing and copy editor Marilee Griffin model Super-Powered Word Study and Rationales for Teaching Graphic Novels. What can I say? Somedays it is good to be me.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Publisher's Weekly Best Comics List

I agree with Tom Spurgeon on Comics Reporter that this list seems a little specious.

The Comics Equivalent of Wal-Mart Hanging Up Christmas Stuff Post-Halloween...

...is the posting of "Best Of" lists. Click the title for Amazon's best GN's of 2010 and their list of best-sellers. Equivalent.

*Kill Shakespeare* Cocreator Conor McCreery Talks Teaching Comics

He doesn't care what you call them, but the cocreator of the YALSA 2010-2011 Great Graphic Novels for Kids nominated series feels comics have a place in the classroom.

Great Interview of Gareth Hinds, Adaptor Extraordinaire!

Come See Me and the Entire School of Comics and Graphic Novels at the 2010 Miami Book Fair!

Introduction and Welcome
10:00–10:05 a.m.Carol Fitzgerald, Founder of GraphicNovelReporter.com

Session 1
10:05–10:55 a.m.Using Graphic Novels to Open a Different Door to Literacy with Dr. James “Bucky” Carter

Why do graphic novels and comics work so well as a breakthrough tool in reaching challenged and reluctant readers? How does a graphic novel or comic hold the attention of gifted readers and reluctant readers alike? Dr. Carter discusses the effectiveness of the comics medium from a personal perspective, and helps educators discover how to use comics to help students develop a love for reading and learning. Dr. James "Bucky" Carter is the author of Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels (NCTE).

Session 2
11:00–11:50 a.m.Your Life In Comics: Using Do-it-Yourself Comics to Foster a Love of Reading, Writing and Creativity with Bill Zimmerman

Most educators understand that playing can also mean learning and this session will show how the fun process of creating comics can encourage children to practice language, reading, writing and communication skills. Bill Zimmerman is an award-winning author and has written more than a dozen books used by families, children and schools, including his most recent title, Your Life in Comics: 100 Things for Guys to Write and Draw.

Lunch
11:50–12:50 p.m.

Session 3
1:00–1:50 p.m.Connecting the Library and the Classroom: Developing a Brilliant Partnership and Resource for Teacherswith Librarian Kat Kan

Kat Kan is a leading voice in the development of the graphic novel category for public libraries. This session will address the value of resources available to educators, parallels between prose and graphic novels and how graphic novels can support in-class learning. Kat Kan has worked in school and public libraries. She has served on the Best Books for Young Adults Committee, among others, and she chaired the YALSA Graphic Novels Task Force, which recommended the creation of the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee. Kan also created the selection criteria for Brodart Company’s graphic novel collection development program and currently selects the recommended titles for their core lists.

Session 4
2:00–2:50 p.m.Developing a Graphic Novel Project for the Classroom with Dr. Adam Johnson

When professors Adam Johnson and Tom Kealey created the Graphic Novel Project at Stanford University, they discovered an incredible opportunity to introduce a collaborative environment where students from a wide variety of disciplines could come together to script, draw, edit and publish a graphic novel. What does it take to create and publish a graphic novel within a classroom setting? How do the students benefit from the program? Dr. Adam Johnson developed and implements the Stanford University Graphic Novel Project.

Session 5
3:00–3:50 p.m.The Art of Story Telling in the Graphic Novel Formatwith Professor Chris Schweizer

When it comes to creating the look and feel of a graphic novel, the author/creator draws on a wide range of influences and experience to bring characters to life. How does a swarthy pirate really sound? How do you show fear or real joy? To create a story in the graphic novel format, an artist and author has the fantastic opportunity to use separate skill sets. Chris Schweizer created the graphic novels Crogan's Vengeance and Crogan's March (Oni Press).

Friday, November 19

Educational Sessions for Comics and Graphic Novel Creators of All Ages
Session 1
10-11:30 a.m. Women Making Comics, A New Generation

For years comics and graphic novels were viewed as mostly a “boy thing.” Lately, the participation of women in comics-making has grown exponentially. From stories for the ‘capes and tights’ genre to biographies, adaptations and memoirs, get the scoop from four members of this new generation of women creators on writing comics and graphic novels. How do they approach story telling? What comes first, drawings or dialog? Where do they start the process, and does it come out the way they had planned? Amy Ignatow, The Popularity Papers Raina Telgemeier, Smile Tracy White, How I Made It to Eighteen Amanda Conner, Power Girl

Session 2
11:30-1:00 p.m. Brain to Hand to Paper: Getting Your Comics/Graphic Novel Done
Have a great idea for character? A story? A series? Get it done!

Four creators talk about the process and offer advice on how you too can get your comic book /graphic novel completed and published. Barry Deutsch, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword Mark McKenna, Banana Tail Alex Rodrik, Bushido Wasabi David Steinberg, The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy

FREE. Registration required. Please use registration form at the upper right of this page (above presenters' photos). For additional information, please call 305.237.3841or 305.237.3298.

Philippine Senator Wants Bill to Preserve Graphic Novels


Here's a great story out of the Philippines. Senator Lito Lapid wants to pass a bill to create a notational graphic novel archive. The idea is to allow the archive to preserve the rich sequential art narrative traditions of the nation.

I hope the bill makes it through. See it by clicking here.

Thanks to Everyone at TPLA!

Thanks to the participants and organizers of the Trans-Pecos Library Association event last Friday. We all seemed to have a good time, and at the very least, there are some librarians in West Texas who know more about graphic novels now than they ever wanted to know. :)

I also hope that if any of you are reading, you'll remember to stay in touch! :)

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Come See Me This Friday!

This Friday I'll be presenting a 4 hour workshop on graphic novels and literacy issues for the Trans-Pecos Library Association. It'll be my longest, largest presentation yet and will combine some of my "classic" spiels with some examinations of my most recent work. And we'll be raffling off books specific to graphica and libraries too, so hopefully it'll be a fun time had by all.

On Comics and Discourse...

Monday, November 01, 2010

Happy Birthday, MH!

Thanks for all the cool links you send my way and for the correspondence over the years! :)

The Comic Book Project is Going Global!!

From the Center for Educational Pathways:

The Comic Book Project is going global! In partnership with Australia's Distance Education Centre of Victoria, students will be launching an online comic book production company. This collaboration will involve young comic book creators in Australia, the U.S., and eventually around the world.

Also, this past summer our board member Susan Robeson led the Comic Book Project in Wales on the subject of her grandfather, Paul Robeson. Look for the Comic Book Project in Canada, Mexico, and Nigeria. And Manga High is being translated into Japanese and published in Japan by Iwanami Shoten Publishers. Finally, check out the great companion website for When Commas Meet Kryptonite.

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!

2010 Friends of Lulu and Eagle Award Winners Announced!

Friends of Lulu and the Eagle Awards for 2010 have been announced.