Parenthetical.net has a few reviews of Cybils nominees:
Benny and Penny in Just Pretend by Geoffrey Hayes
Babymouse Monster Mash by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Nightmare on Zombie Island by Paul D. Storrie
The New York Times reviewed Cybils nominee Skim by Mariko Tamaki with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki
Then J.L. Bell at Oz and Ends talks about how graphic novels are treated in Great Divides in the Comics World. Included in the post is a link to a Christian Science Monitor article, Graphic novels, all grown up, which includes a definition for graphic novels: "...extended-length illustrated books with mature literary themes..."
Of course, mature means different things when you're talking YA versus adult graphic novels and something else entirely when you're talking graphic novels for kids. But for those of us who are educating ourselves on the subject, it's a start.
Is that Benny and Penny book by Geoffrey Haynes or Geoffrey Hayes? I think it might be Hayes. If so, I wonder if it is the same Hayes as wrote the Otto and Uncle Tooth books. Those were VERY successful Easy-to-Reads for us and I'd be delighted to see him working in Easy-to-Read Graphics. Easy to Read never gets enough love. The very thing you are striving for makes adult readers look at it, scratch their heads, say "Gee, not very inspired writing," and wander away to give an award to a book for an older reader. Only someone who is right now trying to get a kid to read will understand my undying love for Poppleton The Pig and for Hayes's books.
ReplyDeleteMy son loved Stinky, by Eleanor Davis. It's another good early graphic novel. My favorite might be Jellaby.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous--You're right, it is Geoffrey Hayes. I just made the correction in the post. Thanks for letting me know. Also, thanks for mentioning Hayes' other books.
ReplyDeleteKim--Both Stinky and Jellaby are also Cybils nominees.