Recommended Readings/Resources. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Scott McCloud. William Morrow Paperbacks, 1994.

Transcription

1 Recommended Readings/Resources Theory and Practice Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Scott McCloud. William Morrow Paperbacks, Cartoonist Scott McCloud creates a comics narrative that presents a technical and aesthetic approach to the medium. This remains the leading text on comics theory. When Commas Meet Kryptonite: Lessons From the Comic Book Project. Michael Bitz. Language and Literacy Series. Teachers College Press, A hands-on guide to comics activities in the classroom. Includes lesson plans and samples of student work. Recommended Readings Early Readers: The TOON Treasury of Classic Children s Comics. Art Spiegelman (Editor), Francoise Mouly (Editor), Jon Scieszka (Introduction). Abrams ComicArts, A large collection of classic comics from the 1940 s-60 s. Contains works by many classic creators, such as Carl Barks, John Stanley, Walt Kelly and Basil Wolverton. Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists. Various. First Second Books, Walt Disney s Donald Duck: Lost in the Andes (The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library). Fantagraphics, Carl Barks classic Donald Duck comics are considered some of the great works in the history of comics. Toon Books Series The Toon Books Series offers a diverse selection of colorful comics designed for readers at 3 specific age groups: K-1, 1-2, 2-3. For a complete list of works please visit: 1

2 General Interest Comic Strips: The Complete Peanuts. Charles Schultz. Multiple Volumes. Fantagraphics, current. The classic comic strip about melancholy children. Calvin and Hobbes. Bill Watterson. Multiple Volumes. Andrews McMeel Publishing A comic strip about the private fantasy world of a difficult young boy named Calvin and his imaginary best friend. Little Nemo in Slumberland. Winsor McCay. Taschen, Winsor McCay s comic strip ran in the early 1900 s yet still contains some of the most innovative and beautifully rendered comics narratives ever made. Elementary School Readers: Bone. Jeff Smith. Multiple volumes. Cartoon Books/Scholastic. A sweeping epic available in 9 color volumes or 1 enormous black and white edition. The story of 3 cartoon cousins who find themselves in a mysterious valley that leads them to a fantastical adventure. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama. Multiple volumes. Viz Media current. One of the most celebrated manga series of all time. The Adventures of Tin Tin. Herge. Multiple Volumes. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Belgium s national treasure, Tin Tin tells the adventures of a boy reporter and his dog, Snowy. Chi's Sweet Home. Kanata Konami. Multiple volumes. Vertical current. An adorable manga series about a Japanese house cat. Bake Sale. Sara Varon. First Second A comic cookbook about the relationship between a cupcake and an eggplant. The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1). Kazu Kibuishi. Graphix A fantasy adventure in the style of The Chronicles of Narnia. 2

3 Olympians. George O Conner. Multiple volumes. First Second Books current. A series of graphic novel retellings of classic Greek myths. Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. Matt Dembicki (Editor). Fulcrum Press Smile. Raina Telgemeier. Graphix A comic book memoir about a young girl learning and growing through her awkward years. Anya's Ghost. Vera Brosgol. First Second Books A story of friendship between a lonely young girl and a ghost. High School: Watchmen. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. DC Comics The definitive deconstruction of the superhero and one of the most deliberately crafted comics narratives ever made. V for Vendetta. Alan Moore and David Lloyd. DC Comics A compelling tale of political intrigue and insurgency. Batman: Year One. Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli. DC Comics Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller. DC Comics Frank Miller s gritty Batman stories bookend the characters fictional career. All-Star Superman. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. DC Comics The most grandiose representation of Superman as the mythological hero of our times. Skim. Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki. Groundwood Books A story of a young woman s confused identity and sexuality as she comes of age. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth. Chris Ware. Pantheon A sweeping narrative that tells the story of several generations of the Corrigan family, ending with Jimmy, a man so weak he s lost his own voice. Ultimate Spider-Man. Brian Michael Bendis. Multiple volumes. Marvel Comics

4 A contemporary update of the Spider-Man story. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man. Brian Michael Bendis - Volume 1. Marvel Comics After the death of Spider-Man, half-black/half-hispanic charter school student Miles Morales takes his place. Ghost World. Dan Clowes. Fantagraphics Books A contemporary counterpart to The Catcher in the Rye, Ghost World tells the story of wayward highschool graduate Enid as she grows apart from her best friend, Rebecca, and finds herself more alone than ever in a world that doesn t suit her. Ice Haven. Dan Clowes. Pantheon A fiction-rich story of a small town, told through an accumulation of tiny vignettes. Goodbye Chunky Rice. Craig Thompson. Pantheon A heart-breaking tale of friendship between a mouse and her turtle best friend who moves away. Blankets. Craig Thompson. Top Shelf Productions An autobiographical memoir of teenage love. Epileptic. David B. Pantheon An autobiographical memoir about growing up with a brother who has severe epilepsy. One Hundred Demons. Lynda Barry. Sasquatch Books A collection of personal comic strip memoirs. Summer Blonde. Adrian Tomine. Drawn and Quarterly Short vignette s about emotionally-distant characters. City of Glass. Paul Auster, Paul Karazik and David Mazzuchelli. Picador Art Spiegelman edited this comics retelling of Paul Auster s existential detective novel. We3. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. DC Comics A sci-fi take on the harsh realities of animal testing. Vimanarama. Grant Morrison and Phillip Bond. DC Comics

5 A Bollywood romance story told through comics. Hey, Wait Jason. Fantagraphics An understanding story of a single utterance that ruins a young mans life. Scott Pilgrim. Brain Lee O Malley. Multiple volumes. Oni Press A fun series about relationships and video-game culture. History and Culture: American Born Chinese. Gene Luen Yang. Square Fish A story of Asian-American identity. Hark! A Vagrant. Kate Beaton. Drawn and Quarterly A collection of clever comics strips that reference literature and historical events. Palestine. Joe Sacco. Fantagraphics Books A definitive work in comics journalism that shares a first-hand account of the harsh realities of life in Palestine. The Complete Maus: A Survivor s Tale. Art Spiegelman. Pantheon A post-modern memoir of the author s father s experience as a Holocaust survivor. The Complete Persepolis. Marjane Satrapi. Pantheon An Iranian woman s coming-of-age memoir, set during the Islamic revolution. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Alison Bechdel. Mariner Books A literacy-rich memoir of the author s authoritarian father as the author examines his life and closeted sexuality after his suicide. Essential Dykes to Watch Out For. Alison Bechdel. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt A decades-spanning collection of comic strips that follow the soap-opera adventures of a group of a politically-minded queer community. Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda. Jean-Philippe Stassen. First Second Books A surrealist story of one man s descent into madness after the genocide in Rwanda. 5

6 How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less. Sarah Glidden. DC Comics A young woman s exploration her own personal and political conflict while taking a birthright trip to Israel. Other resources: Young Adult Library Services Association Great Graphic Novels List: Best American Comics Series. An Annual Anthology of top-notch contemporary works. Multiple Volumes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt current. 6