2013 Year's Best: Nonfiction and Historical Fiction Graphic Novels for Kids and Classrooms

Reflecting on 2013, I thought I'd share my favorite non-fiction and historical fiction kids' grapic novels with you, hoping you'll find ways of incorporating them in your homes, libraries, and classrooms. For those of you interested in a wider reading list, I have also included links by other librarians, educators, and graphic novel aficionados who have listed their 2013 favorites as well. I've included a few outstanding "honorable mentions" in fiction (I just couldn't resist sharing them with you).

Before getting to my lists, I'd also like to thank you all for your visits this past year and wish for all of us that 2014 be a year of peace, prosperity, good health, happiness and success.

Nonfiction

March: Book One (Top Shelf), by Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. Gr. 6-10. Congressman John Lewis reflects upon his own life, the struggles of black men and women during the 1950s, and how he became involved in the student nonviolent movement in Nashville, Tennessee. [NOTE: Nate Powell also illustrated another book on the Civil Rights Movement, The Silence of Our Friends, which I placed on 2012's Best Graphic Novels list).


 Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas  (First Second), by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks tells how these three women began and followed their careers studying primates and the lessons they learned.

Relish by Lucy Knisley. One thing I loved about Knisley's 2008 memoir, French Milk, was her ability to write and draw about food in a delightful, mouth-watering way. With Relish, she explores her life in the kitchen while sharing some of her favorite recipes!


Historical Fiction

Dogs of War (Scholastic), by Sheila Keenan and Nathan Fox. Gr. 3-7 consists of three different stories set in three different wars: World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. While the stories are fiction, they've been meticulously researched and relayed in rich detail. Each vignette relates the trails and traumas,and dangers the dogs, their handler and fellow soldiers risk in battle, and the tolls the wars took on all concerned.

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster Keaton (Candlewick), by Matt Phelan. Gr. 4-7 is a story molded on silent film star Buster Keaton's early life, while telling a story of young Henry, a boy from Bluffon, Michican and his love for the girl next door.  Henry meets the aloof and enigmatic Buster and a friendship ensues when a vaudeville troupe comes to town. While Henry is enchanted by the glamorous strangers, Phelan hints that Keaton sees something that he longs for in his friend’s more settled life.


Boxers and Saints (First Second) by Gene Yang - National Book Award finalist and two-book set that recounts the Boxer Rebellion (1900) from both sides - that of the Boxers (Chinese peasants who believed they could invoke ancient Chinese Gods/heroes to help them battle Western Imperialism and the Chinese Catholics they converted) and the Saints (the Chinese converts who wanted to  bring peace to war-torn China.

Honorable Mention - Fiction

Monster on the Hill: Book One (Top Shelf), by Rob Harrell. Gr. 4-7
Every town has its own monster in Harrell’s delightful version of Victorian England, and the townspeople enjoy the thrill of being scared.  All the towns, that is, except in Stoker-on-Avon. At the Town Council's bequest, an eccentric doctor agrees to help "fix" their dragon in the efforts of restoring his lost license. The town crier/street urchin yearning for adventure hides away and joins him and together they set out to help their monster find his voice and calling terrifying people again.


Battling Boy - an action-packed story about a 12-year-old demigod  whose rite of passage is to save the monster-pocked city of Acropolis before he can return home, 'a man.' He's up against some overwhelming monsters and odds.

More lists:

• School Library Journal's Top Ten Graphic Novels of 2013
• New York Public Library's Great Graphic Novels for Kids 2013
• Young Adult Library Association's Great Graphic Novels Top Ten List for 2013 (note that most of their titles were actually published in 2012).
 

In closing I want to thank you for your visits and comments this past year and send you my sincerest wishes for a happy, healthy, successful 2014 - may it bring us all peace and prosperity to us all.

HERE'S TO A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST WISHES FOR 2014

LOVING and Learning from MONSTER ON THE HILL

After reading Monster on the Hill  (Top Shelf Productions, 2013) by cartoonist Rob Harrell (Adam @ Home, Big Top), I am itching to share it with you. It was a blast to read - a book for kids of all ages, from children through adults, and will make a welcome addition to any library or classroom.  Monster on the Hill  is simply - fun. The characters are awesome, the illustrations are complement the tone, plot and characters, and dialogue is fun and the twists and turns are pure, unadulterated fun! 

I gave a copy of this book to a (very) reluctant reader and watched him sit a VERY long time, reading through this, smiling and reacting.  It was a joy to watch. 

Here's why:

A Brief Overview:
Monster on the Hill  opens with a family vacationing in Billingwood, England, 1867 when a large, green, large sharp tooth-baring monster breaks into the sweet shop they're patronizing. Fear on their faces and running for cover they miraculously survive at which time, the mom, exhausted declares "That's the most frightened I've ever been! EVER!" and the dad two panels later notes, "Why he's...he's BRILLIANT!...[The monster, Tentaculor] makes OUR town monster seem bloody pathetic doesn't it?" They then go back to the shop to purchase Tentaculor souvenirs! On the way home, Dad notes "I'm glad you had a good scare, children" as we see the children in the back of a surrey, noting how discouraging it is that  their town monster, Rayburn, is so lame.

Three days later we are back in the famiily's town and learn that in fact their home town, Stoker-on-Avon is at their wits end. The Town Fathers have called the eccentric Dr. Charles Wilkie, the disgraced town doctor to "fix" the town monster.  If he succeeds, he'll be reinstated and get his laboratory back.  Reluctantly the 'doc' agrees and when at the Monster's Hill, discovers that the scrappy street urchin and town crier, Timmy, has stowed away in his trunk and has decided to join him on this adventure.

From: Monster on the Hill, by Rob Harrell (Top Shelf, 2013)

Why this is such a great addition and how it might be used in classrooms:

• Aside from a few cuss words ("suck" and "hell")  Mr. Harrell's text serves as a wonderful jumping board to discuss language use, word choice, and the art of creating character voices.
• When discussing Harrell's use of language you might discuss:
• his choice of dragon names;
• his use of British versus American English (example: "E's a bit of a soddy monster...";
• his use of 'old fashioned' toys, vehicles, names, etc. 
  For example:



From: Monster on the Hill, by Rob Harrell (Top Shelf, 2013)

• The book is a wonderful way to help address themes of:
• setting, meeting and not meeting expectations;
• addressing fears; 
• learning to use the skills and gifts one is given, while accommodating for those one might lack; 
• the power of friendship;
• the powers and pitfalls of pride;
• facing and meeting responsibilities; and
• finding one's 'inner voice'
• I would also recommend a conversation about visual literacy - and more specifically about Harrell's use of color choice, artistic style and design:
•  there is a wonderful congruence of color, image and context, so much so that the viewer feels transported to England, 1867
• many of the jokes and humor in this book are done visually - through image.  Take this panel, for example:



From: Monster on the Hill, by Rob Harrell (Top Shelf, 2013)

These are just a few classroom/book club/ read-aloud suggestions and whether read in or out of classrooms, this book will be wonderful addition to any library or reading list.

For more fun please visit:

•  http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/monster-on-the-hill/732
• http://www.robharrell.com/monster-on-the-hill.html 

 As always, I thank you for your visit.  Please leave your reactions and suggestions in the comments below.

Divine, Dastardly and Delectable Tales of Dragons

Coming back from San Diego Comic-Con, I found some awesome kids' tales about dragons, and figured what a neat way to end the summer than reading about dragons. This post also has awesome reading suggestions and resource links to learn more about Dragons - their formative myths, cultures, and Dragon-related facts.

According to Wikipedia:

A Dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits that features in the myths of many cultures...The word dragon entered the English language in the early 13th century from Old French dragon, which in turn comes from Latin draconem (nominative draco) meaning "huge serpent, dragon," from the Greek word δράκων, drakon (genitive drakontos, δράκοντος) "serpent, giant seafish." 

Before getting to some awesome Dragon Tales, here is some background to Dragon lore and  Dragon fun facts [note: most of the facts below come from Joseph Nigg's The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts (A Quarto Book published by Barrons, 2002)]:

• Dragons and other first-generation mythical creatures emerged from the world's mythologies, personifying both divine and demonic forces. Some were involved in Creation itself.
• The Egyptian Benu rose from the primal waters and became identified with the eternal sun;
• The Babylonian Dragoness, Tiamat, was the saltwater of the ocean of Chaos and mother of a brood of Dragons, demons, scorpion-men and other monsters. When Marduk slew her, her body formed earth.
• The Greek serpent-woman Echidna also gave birth to monsters including the multiheaded Hydraof Lerna, the Chimera, and the Sphinx.
• Joseph Nigg classifies three branches of Dragons - Water Dragons (Piasa, Nagas, Chinese Dragon, and Rainbow Serpent); Monstrous Dragons (Tarasque, Western Dragon, Dragon of India, Dragons of Joppa, Hydra, and Cosmic Dragon); and Serpents (Basilisk, Drakon, Salamander, Worm, and Amphisbaena)
• Wikipedia and others classify dragons as Eastern or Western.
• Dragons are the oldest and largest of all (mythical) beasts. Dragon is King of the Western earth, Emperor of the Far Eastern Sky, wise guardian, nighmare monster and a force of nature.

Here are some of the more well-known Dragon bios:

• Western Dragon - Western Dragon known as the greatest of all beasts, and found in myth and the Bible has been described as evil and/or demonic.  The Western Dragons have scaly bodies, broad spiny wings, a barbed tail, claws, a crest on their head and beard under their chin. Their bright eyes see all things, and while all Western Dragons have teeth, many have horns or antlers, and many guard treasure deep in the earth. 

• The Cosmic Dragon was the Babylonian monster, Tiamat, who originally was saltwater of the dark primal sea who mated with Apsu, the freshwater and produced all manner of monsters to battle the younger gods. Markuk their king ensnared Tiamat, shot an arrow into her heart and made half of her body the earth and the other half the sky. 

• Chinese Dragon - Unlike the Western Dragon, the Chinese Dragon is a powerful but benevolent ruler of the sky, earth and sea. It is believed to bring good fortune. Only when angered do they sink ships or flood villages.  While it began as a water snake, it evolved a scaly body, four legs, and is often seen to be playing with a ball of light called a "sacred pearl" believed to be the source of the Dragon's power. Emperors trace their ancestry back to the five-toed Imperial Dragon. 

• Drakon - was the sharp-sighted watchful Dragon of Ancient Greece and guardian of its sacred sights. It possessed the wisdom of the ages and played a role in much of Greek myth. Athena, for example, kept dragon teeth and gave them to Jason for one of his tasks obtaining the Golden Fleece. 

• Hydra - also from Greek myth, was the multi-headed terror of heaven and earth.  One of the most famous Hydra, the Hydra of Lerna, was the monster King Eurystheus sent Hercules to slay for the second of his Twelve Labors. One of the Hydra's many relatives was the great red Dragon of the Apocalypse - a form of Satan with seven heads and ten horns who St. Michael and his angels fought.

• Basilisk - was born from the blood of the Gorgon's eyes the deadly stare of its red eyes shrivel any living being who looks upon it. Its toxic breath withers forests into deserts, splits rocks, and poisons streams. According to legend, Basilisks will run from weasels and the crowing of a rooster sends the beast into convulsions. Alexander the Great was believed to have beaten the Basilisk by having a mirror placed between his army and the Basilisk and when seeing its reflected figure, the monster died instantly. St. George also turned his shield to kill a Basilisk, and of course, modern readers know how Harry Potter bested the beast.

Suggested Dragon Tales for kids of all ages:

CLASSIC Dragon Tales - note there are many versions and check with your librarian and bookstore for what is appropriate for your reader.


Beowulf and John Gardner's Grendel (the story of Beowulf told from the monster's perspective)

Hercules

Jason and the Golden Fleece

St. George and the Dragon

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

FICTION - Prose/poetry

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch - an empowering tale of a princess who must save her prince (and her realm) from a fire-breathing dragon who has burned all of her kingdom - down to her clothes (hence the paper bag).  It is a wonderfully empowering tale for today's girls of all ages. (ALL ages)

Dragonwings by Laurence Yep - historical fiction. Winner of the Phoenix Award from the Children's Literature Association and runner up for the Newbery Medal. This book relates a story of Chinese immigrants at the turn of the twentieth century in San Francisco. Yep tells a powerful story about assimilation, bigotry, Chinese rail-road workers, the Great Earthquake and much more. (Grade 5+)

Dealing with Dragons and the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede - Princess Cimorene is sick of learing etiquette and would like to learn fencing, math and Latin.  As her father refuses to let her learn these skills, an enchanted frog suggests she seek help from the Dragons.  This is the story of how Cimorene gets her wish, how and what she learns from the powerful King of Dragons, how wizards aren't always wise or good, and how interning with the Dragons empowers Cimorene and saves her kingdom. (Grades 4+).

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett - a Newbery Honor Book and ALA Notable Book - is about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon. This is the first of a three-book series published in 1948 - but is truly timeless! (Grades 2+)

The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons by Ernest Drake and Dugald A. Steer. This indispensable workbook teaches everything you need to know to become a dragon expert. (Grades 3+)

The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash; illustrations by Lynn M. Munsinger - humorous poem where Custard the cowardly dragon saves Belinda's pet animals from a dastardly pirate. (All ages)

How to Train Your Dragon - a series by Cressida Cowell - also made into a DreamWorks Animation film. The series  chronicles the adventures of Viking underdog Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragon, Toothless. (Grade 5+)

FICTION-Graphic Novels

Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell (Top Shelf, 2013) is an awesome story about a dragon-like monster who's just lost his confidence. His town is embarrassed about him and two unlikely townies - the town cryer and a disbarred scientist must help Rayburn find the monster within him. Harrel relays an outstanding, fun-filled story through prose and enchanting illustration about confidence, friendship, redemption and life's battles. (Please check back in a few weeks for more on this book). For readers of ALL ages.

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay. Based on Yolen's novella, "Dragonfield" - this graphic novel tells the story of how two hundred years ago the humans drove the dragons from the islands of May. Now, the last dragon egg hatches and only a healer's daughter, Tansy, and a kite-flying would-be hero are there to face it. (Grades 6+)

Reason for Dragons by Chris Northrop and Jeff Stokely (Archaia, 2013) This is a coming of age story about Wendell a lonely high-school outcast who has to come to terms with bullies and his stepfather, Ted. But it's also a coming of age story for Sir Habersham a Medieval Fair worker who's lost himself and his mission.  Their lives cross and each one helps the other find their way. (Please check back for more on this in a few weeks as well).  Also, there is an "Olde Faire" Dragon drawing contest in conjunction with the release of this book- details can be found in the book's inset cover. Click here for some preview pages and background information. (Ages 12+)

Courtesy: The Reason for Dragons by Chris Northrop and Jeff Stokely. Arachaia 2013

NON-FICTION

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon by Tracey Miller-Zameke and Cressida Cowell - features

 artwork, character designs, story sketches and concept paintings from DreamWorks Animation's film How To Train Your Dragon - a film about an unlikely alliance between a young Viking and a deadly dragon - inspired by Cowell's book.

The Truth about Dragons by Rhoda Blumberg - a nonfiction book comparing Eastern and Western dragons with many details on the appearance and habits.

Aside from fantasy and myth, Dragons are even found in the Bible:

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven ehads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads...And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which decieveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:3, 9)

Additional Dragon Resources:

• Dragons in Chapter Books and Novels For Children 
• Poems About Dragons
• Dragons in Literature Collections
• Nonfiction Books for Children

In closing one more thought - or question for you: What is it about Dragons that has so enticed readers of all ages and all Ages from Myth to the New Testament and on to Fantasy?

According to Joseph Bigg, we're so enthralled with Dragons and mythical creatures because:

 "...we created them. They are expressions of human fears and of our wonder at the awesome forces of nature. Bestowed with magical qualities, they embody our longings for health, riches, wisdom and immortality...Such creatures are all around us in words and images...Figures of the Far Eastern Dragon enhance the decor of Chinese restaurants. These beasts and others of their kind enliven children's literature, fantasy, fiction, film, and video games and are featured on scores of websites."

What do you think?

As always, thank you for your visit.

Please share your thoughts on why Dragons are still so influential in our culture, myths, logos, games and books, and please leave your favorite Dragon story/book suggestions in the comments.