Telegraph Article on Boys and "Long Books"

"Teachers are giving up trying to make boys read long books because they cannot get past 100 pages, new research as found."

That's the lead sentence to this article from the British newspaper, anyway. Apparently some research suggests that boys are turned off by long books -- defined in the article as 200+ pages -- simply because they are long.

It's more of the "boys can't sit still" stuff, but there are some good points about motivation and interest that come from the article as well.

The whole things reminds me of that body of "comics as a conduit" research that suggests that comics readers go on to read more and more varied literature than non-readers. The article does mention comics as a means of helping boys develop a love a reading.

Every Elfquest Comics Ever Available Online

NKU To Dabble in Awesome

According to Rich Shivener, Northern Kentucky University has chosen David Mack's Kabuki: The Alchemy for its 2011 Book Connection Program. This means that every member of the incoming freshman class will be reading and responding to a graphic novel.

Sweet!

I know LSU was considering doing this with Persepolis a few years ago, but I don't think they went through with it. I'm not sure if NKU's effort marks the first time a graphic novel has been the central text of a freshman entrance experience, but the "common text" idea is one that has become pretty popular over the last decade or so, so maybe it won't be the last.

Houston 4th-Graders Create Comic Book Depicting Harm to Classmates

An unfortunate story that the Houston Fox outlet is exploiting, but what is heartening is that so many players in the situation are being mature about things. Even the newscasters seem sincerely concerned about the story and what it might suggest about youth culture. Click the link embedded in this post's title, watch the video, and tell me if you don't feel the same.

A New Poster for my Office Door

Click the image to make it larger and legible. I try Prezis, posters, and leading by example to help my students see that teacher education shouldn't be a breeze, because the challenges of k-12 education are vast and need intelligent, motivated, progressive young educators who have been challenged to think and excell, not given hand-outs or spoon-fed their degrees and grades.

Stupid Politician Attacks Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, who is apparently a "pencil-necked little weasel" in the eyes of Minnesota Republican Matt Dean, is under fire from Dean for a $45,000 speaking fee he charged Stillwater Library last year. Gaiman says he gave the fee to charity. That's not good enough for Dean, who must be eyebrows-deep in an election campaign for douche-iest state representative.

I think he'll win. But he is a Republican in the 21st century, so the competition will be fierce.

ICV2 Covers Reaction to Action Comics #900, Wherein Superman Renounces his American Citizenship

Mike Cotton Leaves Wizard

After 11 years, Wizard writer Mike Cotton is leaving the company for other opportunities. The Beat writes, "it was commonly said that when Cotton left the Wizard ship it would be nothing but an empty hulk drifting the seas." I am one who certainly agrees with that statement, but I have to admit that it has been at least 5years since I've opened a copy of Wizard.

Here's my Mike Cotton story, and I think it says a lot about the man, who really is a fine writer. I don't know if he remembers this, but I do:

The only time I've been to SDCC was back in around 2001 or 2002. I happened by a row of tables near the Wizard booth. I remember a spinning wheel that featured give-aways, and I'm pretty sure Lou Ferrigno was nearby too. I happened to see a gentleman wearing a name tag. "Wow, that's Mike Cotton!" I mouthed silently, only to see the fellow reading my lips and display a little bit of blushing pride and humility at my awe.

Colin Upton Does Comics on Diabetes

Anyone who has or knows someone with diabetes will appreciate these autobiographical comics from Colin Upton. Heck, so will anyone seeking a sympathetic voice regarding food and weight issues in general. The Beat has a preview of "Diabetes Funnies" here.

Adam Hines Wins Another for _Duncan the Wonder Dog_

This time the graphic novel takes home the LA Times Book Prize for best GN.

Scheduled to Skype with a ELA Methods Class at NCSU

I'm hyped about my scheduled Skype with a class of middle grades pre-service educators tomorrow. That the audience will be college students from North Carolina State University makes it a little more exciting, as I am a native Old Hickory Stater. All my k-12 teaching experience took place in North Carolina as well. We'll be talking graphic novels and literacy/education, of course.

"Hamburgers for One," 2011 Eisner Nom for Best Short Story, Now Online for Free

Click the title to this post to access the 24-page sequential art narrative short story by Frank Stockton. I'm especially interested in this one because it also falls under the YA Lit category.

Heidi MacDonald calls it "the almost painful story of an awkward teen boy and his attempts to interact with his world."

ALA hosts Artist's Alley

For the first time ever, the American Library Association has hosted an artist's alley -- a place where comics creators can sit and sell their stuff while also chatting up fans -- at its national convention. New Orleans was the premiere of the happening, which surely suggests the interest in comics and literacy is still going strong among those who have been among the earliest and staunchest advocates of the sequential art form.

Kudos to my librarian friends for keeping up the great work!

"Lois Lane, Reporter" Comic

A feminist revisionist take on the mythos of Lois Lane? Just more realistic? Entertaining, for sure.

2011 Hugo Awards Noms Released!

There's the graphic novel category, of course, but several other comics are featured too.

Audrey Niffenegger's *The Night Bookmobile* Selected as "One Book, One Conference" Selection for Recent TLA

Learn more here.

Maureen Bakis Talks Comics in the Classroom

Maureen is a high school teacher at Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and is doing some writing for Graphic Novel Reporter.

Dorkly.com's 5 Advertisements from Watchmen...

Watchmen, that troper of tropes, proves that a troper of tropes is pretty easy to trope. I'm tropin' out on this! Trope, trope, trope....

Texas Librarian Wins $20G Worth of GN's!

At the recent Texas Library Association's state conference, Eduardo Zepeda won the "Great Graphic Novel Giveaway" prize, which contained more than 700 graphic novels. Zepeda is the librarian for Weslaco Public Library. Click here to learn more.

Another Eisner Nom 2011 Puts Work Online for Free

This time it's AdHouse's Afrodisiac that one can read gratis, following in the footsteps of Dave Kellett, who recently posted his book Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing with TV Since 1953 for free-of-charge online viewing as well.

Both titles are Eisner nominees for best humor production.