Review: Incognegro by Mat Johnson

Check out author Carol Baldwin's review of graphic novel mystery Incognegro (DC Comics) by Mat Johnson.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid returns

Jeff Kinney's much anticipated fourth installment of this popular graphic novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, hit stores October 12. Click here to watch a video of Kinney discussing the new book.

For more on the Wimpy series and why its humor and format appeals to boys, girls, kids, and adults, check out another interview with Kinney.

First digital comic on iTunes

Singer/actor Tyrese Gibson, known for his role in the blockbuster movie Transformers, has partnered with Apple to create the first digital comic, which is available on iTunes. The third installment in the Mayhem series was the first interactive, digital issue, complete with sound effects, page-turning technology, and voiceovers (including Gibson as the lead vengeance- and justice-seeking title character).

The creator might surprise people, but we all know Hollywood has grown to love comic books. Just look at the popularity of motion-picture remakes of classic comics like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine -- not to mention last month's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment (including its 5,000 comic characters) by Disney. And while the digital platform is certainly nontraditional, it's no surprise either. We live in a digital age where technology rules, accessibility is key, and new literacies are being embraced.

Borders Educator Appreciation Week

Borders Educator Appreciation Week runs September 29-October 7. Current and retired educators save 30% off the list price o purchases for personal or classroom use. Now you can buy all the graphic novels you want! Just bring proof of your educator status.

Some other Educator Appreciation Week events/specials:

• Teacher Town Hall Meeting with networking, refreshments, and giveaways: Tuesday, September 29 at 7 p.m.
• Where the Wild Things Are Wild Rumpus Teacher Celebration with activities, crafts, giveaways, and more for the whole family: Friday, October 2 at 6 p.m.
  
• Borders Classroom Discount Card: Educators receive 25% off purchases for their classroom every day!
  

-who can save: Individual teachers, from preschool through high school, as well as school librarians and homeschool educators.
-how you benefit: Save 25% off the list price of books and music CDs and 10% off the list price of DVDs for professional use.
-how to get a card: Applications are available at all Borders stores, and signing up is completely free. You'll need to show proof of your educator status when you submit your application. Homeschool educators will need to document certification in states that require certification.

Inatimate Alice

"Inanimate Alice" is an interactive, online narrative that "tells the story of Alice, a young girl growing up in the first half of the 21st century, and her imaginary digital friend, Brad." Alice's life spans ten episodes, where readers see her grow from a child into a twenty-something animator/designer with a games company.

According to the website:

Because the level of interactivity starts out low in episode one, increasing with each subsequent episode in order to reflect Alice's own growing abilities, we've found that we can take an audience unfamiliar with multimedia fiction with us. Educators like "Inanimate Alice" because of this; students from primary to post-graduate level find the work engaging.

...But how can teachers successfully integrate new media literacies into the classroom?

"Inanimate Alice" is easily assimilated into learning environments; its use of multimodality (images, sounds, text, interaction) enables students to see storytelling in a new, multi-sensory light. "Inanimate Alice" is a new media fiction that allows students to develop multiple literacies (literary, cinematic, artistic, etc.) in combination with the highly collaborative and participatory nature of the online environment.

Well, you already know that Teaching Graphic Novels embraces this multiple-literacies approach and encourages teaching both print-text and image literacies. So go meet Alice! Teachers can even request a free downloadable education pack to use with the stories in their classroom.

The best of the best: K-4 graphic novel recommendations

With the explosion of graphic novels for younger kids, it can be hard to know where to begin. Luckily, literacy education consultant and graphic novel expert Peter Gutiérrez has done the hard work for you. He offers a nice round-up in School Library Journal of great graphic novels for the K-4 crowd that have recently been published but often overlooked.

Great Graphic Novel Resource

Hi everyone!  

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the start of the new school year.  

I just wanted to offer everyone a quick link to an excellent graphic novel resource maintained by my new friend Stergios Botzakis.  Enjoy and thanks Stergios!  

Katie