View Scholastic's Recent Webcast to Schools Across America

Kazu Kibuiski, Jeff Smith, and Raina Telgemeier were guests on the broadcast that was aired across the nation to school children. Click this post's title to view it! I'm watching it now! :)

Dont Miss Jeff Smith, Professors, etc. on this Canadian Telecast

Click here to see Jeff Smith and others answer questions on comics/graphic novels, the classroom, and learning. Or, just scroll down. Listen to a woman call comics "quick, easy" and suggest the idiotic idea that the visual elements of comics take away from students' ability to use their imaginations. Jeff Smith's reaction is priceless. He reminds us of the complexity of process as well as reminds us that comics evoke reader response.



We (cartoonists, comics scholars, and comics-and-literacy advocates) fight SOOOO much ignorance, even from otherwise "educated" people. Thank goodness we get a mix of ideas here.

Eh? More like "Yeh!"

Review of _Tall Tales_ (Bone)

If I told you I wanted to share with you reflections on a story called "Big Johnson Bone vs. The Cobbler Gobbler," would you think my thoughts would be safe for work?

Despite the adulterated interpretation that particular short story might inspire, the latest installment of Jeff Smith's Bone series, Tall Tales, crafted with help from Tom Sniegoski, retains the core texts' jovial spirit and enjoyable readability. Sure, there are obligatory gas gags and over-inflated rhetoric, but that's all part of the fun.

The first story in Tall Tales is a framing device. Smiley and Bartelby the baby rat creature are now leaders of young Bone scouts rather than comic relief, and as they lead three scouts into the woods, they begin the series of tall tales. The first is very short and features Fone and Phoney acting true to form as they consider doing or not doing their laundry at Rose's request. Save for a few pages of frame narrative sprinkled about, the rest of the stories revolve around Big Johnson Bone, a larger-than-life Daniel Boone character with a stiff lower jaw and a legendary aire. And a funny name.

The first of the Johnson Bone tales is that of his birth, when, right from the womb, he whipped old man winter and brought the world spring. The second is a story of his young adulthood, when he falls in love with the rootin-tootin' Gertie while trying to defend his crown as the top food eater in all the land. Gertie's claim to fame is her ability to put away cobbler "as well as other food-type items," and Big John, as he is called in this short, mercifully, is impressed.

Alas, once John helps her win the eating contest by a smidge, the gas she passes is time the last the two ever see one another.

As someone who has recently defended Bone from censorship cases, the innuendo -- or possible innuendo -- here bothered me. I felt as though Sniegoski and Smith were trying to egg on those who claim that the other Bone books are more sexual and incendiary than they seem to be to most readers. True, one might say the perversion is in the mind of the reader, but if one wants to keep his texts considered kid-friendly and all-ages reading, I don't know why one would plant such obvious seeds.

The final story adds to the mythos of Big Johnson Bone and the stupid, stupid rat creatures, offering development on the legend of why rat creatures cut off their tales. It's the longest of the three and the biggest romp. The funnest too, if not because of the uncomfortable nuance of "The Cobbler Gobbler," a nuance that younger readers might not even consider, of course, making the text, generally speaking, a good one for most readers, just like the rest of the Bone books.

Tale Tales also features Smith's trademark tenderness and charm along with its adventure and bombast. Despite a bit of authorial trickstering I could have done without, Sniegoski and Smith add to the Bone saga admirably.

The Lovely Bone!

According to a District 196 representative, Bone will stay on the shelves of the district's local school libraries!!

The secret ballot vote in favor of the decision was 10-1. The voters consisted of five parents, three teachers, two media specialists and a principal.

The source tells me that media specialists used some quotes from my letter to the district as well as a personal letter from Jeff Smith (cool!!!) to help make the case for keeping the books. The complainant was also able to make a presentation.

The entire process was described as respectful and professional, which is nice to know as these things can get ugly quickly.

So, while we can, let us bask in this victory for the graphic novel and for freedom of choice and access in public schools!

UPDATE: We probably broke this news first, but now others are catching up. Here's the link to the story in the MN paper. And click here to see what the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund had to say about the decision. Tom Spurgeon covers the story too.

UPDATE UPDATE: ICV2 covers the story as well!

MN Parent Complains About Bone

I hate to admit it, but due to a certain project I've got in the works, I've been waiting on a good comics censorship story. To date, 2010 has been pretty dull regarding libraries and schools and comics being questioned. But now? Now comes word that -- of all series -- Jeff Smith's Bone is being called into question.

Yes, the same Bone that me and many other educators feel is a great entry-level series for just about anyone old enough to read.

Ramona DeLay feels the graphic novel is not appropriate reading for her son, who attends Southwest Elementary and checked out the book from the school's library. DeLay wants the book withdrawn from the library because she feels the imagery, use of tobacco products, sexual tension between characters, gambling and alcohol use make the book too mature for her son.

No word on whether DeLay then went home and let her child watch the Shrek movies.

What is known is that on April 27, a review committee will meet to decide the fate of the title in this little Minnesota town. If the book can't be removed, DeLay would like to see some sort of rating system in place in her library, which mean she probably hasn't looked over the book as well as she's implied. Certainly, she doesn't seem to have checked out any of the many online and print sources that not only recommend the book but suggest audience levels as well.

To the credit of the school system, no one seems to be panicking. There are procedures in place, and no one is rushing to remove the text simply to placate the parent. Indeed, there seems to be some knowledge about Bone's reputation as an exemplar text, which is refreshing.

Tom Spurgeon has some commentary on the topic here.

I need to decide if I'm going to write a letter to the school board. I often do in cases of comics controversies in the schools. At the very least, it looks like I need to keep an eye on this and update the introduction for a certain CD-Rom project regarding censorship and graphica that should be available in the fall of 2010......

Documentary on Jeff Smith on PBS

The Beat has the scoop on a television show featuring Bone creator Jeff Smith. Looks awesome!

Soon You Can Experience New Bone

Jeff Smith is going to continue his relationship with Scholastic and keep the Bone goodness coming. The Beat reports some previously-published material will be collected and new stories are on their way as well.