Getting Graphic! Comics for Kids

Michele Gorman is the teen services manager at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center; The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, NC.

"This book will be warmly welcomed by librarians and others who are faced with ever younger children clamoring to read graphic novels. An original Jimmy Gownley “Amelia Rules!” episode opens the book, offering a taste of age-appropriate comic fiction. The short introduction features a list of reasons to collect graphic novels for kids ages 4-12. The book is then divided into sections on comic fiction, manga, and comic nonfiction. Each section presents a collection of titles with descriptions and recommended age range. There are full-page reproductions from titles discussed, providing a much-needed opportunity to evaluate the graphic aspects of the works. Where the comic fiction section describes a slew of unique titles, many of the manga titles will be familiar from television cartoons or video games. The comic nonfiction covers too many titles from educational series, with over half the chapter devoted to a single series from one publisher. Despite the apparent unevenness in what’s available, this is a solid reference that will help librarians make informed decisions as they build graphic novel collections. Bibliography. Glossary. Web sites. Index. Recommended." - Library Media Connection