Children's books are defined as books written by, for, or chosen by children up to age 12. They include picture books, board books, concept books, pattern books, wordless books, and traditional literature. Children's books are categorized by age from 0-5, 5-7, 7-11, and 9-12. Fonts used in children's books are typically serif fonts like Times Roman which help guide a child's eyes across the page. Graphic novels use illustrations and limited text to convey a narrative and have gained acceptance in libraries. Text in graphic novels follows conventions like speech bubbles and captions to help the story flow easily. Layouts have evolved from grid formats to more creative designs.

1. Graphic Narrative
Olivia Bolt

2. Children's Books
• Children’s book normally go up to the age of 12. They are defined in three different ways: written by
children, for children, or chosen by children. Picture books include: board books, concept
books, pattern books, wordless books. Traditional literature includes myths, legends, folklore and
fairytales. Children’s books include Anthromorphism, magic accepted as normal, happy endings and
stereotypes. Children books can be very experimental with their design. They are many types of
children’s book and a lot of potential with how creative you can be.
This is a concept creative
children's book about the
alphabet. They teach this in a
creative way through illustration
and very little text.
This is a board & concept
book, its designed for teaching
children about animals making it
fun with bright colours and pop
out characters to let the child
interact with the story.
There is massive range of all types of
children's books out there as you can
see from the picture above.

3. By age category
• In children's book there are different ages categories with in the age range.
• Age 0-5 picture books: These are mostly visual means than text. A range of different materials are used such
as pencil, paint, media and oil painting. The illustrations are much part of the experience and overtake the
written text. Simple illustrations allow the children to see what is going on. Normally adults will read these with
young children then they help the child to learn to read themselves. Fabric may be used with the illustrations to
get the child involved within the story.
• Age 5-7: These books are usually helped designed so the child can improve their reading skills. They use
more written text that is spaced out and simple for the child to read it easily. There is some illustration to allow
the child to see what is going on and make the book more young and fun. These may have small chapters
• Young adult Chapter books: Short chapter books- Ages 7-11, These books include short chapters but more
words and more pages to develop children's reading even further. They are designed to challenge children
and to make them stronger readers. Ages 9-12 longer chapter books- A lot more text than visual means and
they are longer chapters which make the book longer and bigger to read. This develops the reading skills
further and prepares them for adult/ young adult reading.
• Young adult fiction- 12+ These books are designed for teenagers and young adults. They are easier than
adults fiction but not as easy as they contain long chapters mostly text, smaller print and no illustration. They
are to challenge the reading level and prepare them fo0r adult books. They also allow the stories and writing
more advanced.

4. Age 5-7 books
Young adult chapter
books 7-11/ 9-12

5. Fonts
• The font style in children's books are very important. Choosing the right font is very important. Among the most
common are Times Roman, Goudy, Garamond, and Baskerville. These are quite simple fonts that makes the
text very easy and reliable to a child. Children's books are commonly set in a serif font, because of their clean
straight lines: The serifs help to guide the eye from one letter to another making the text easily readableA sans
serif font such as Arial should be avoided for the main body of the text.
Baskervill
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6. Graphic Novels
• A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using artwork. The artwork can
be very experimental in design or follow a more traditional comic book format. Graphic novels are normally
longer and more durable formats ,They use the same materials and methods as a printed book does it just
includes a lot more illustration than an average novel does. They are generally sold in bookstores and
specialty comic book shops rather than in newsagents. As they have a specific audience. Such books have
gained increasing acceptance as desirable materials for libraries which once ignored comic books.

7. • Graphic novels are often the inspiration behind films and TV series such as Scott pilgrim ,Batman or Doctor
Who and many recent films started out life as and continue to be graphic novels. Sometimes this works both
ways, with films or TV series providing inspiration for graphic novels. Here is some of the on screen media
which has reach a graphic novel

8. Text
• The text is really important when creating the graphic novel. The limited text goes with the image to tell the
story. The amount of text that goes with the illustrations is different with every Graphic Novel, it is up to
whoever writes/produces it .It depends on whether the person finds it easier or harder more or less to add text
to their images. There are a few rules to consider. These are the conventions of traditional comic books and
graphic novels. They are designed to make the story flow easily for the reader. There are a great variety of
tools you can use. These have been developed over a period of time. Those used to reading comic books or
graphic novels understand the different meanings.
Less
text
More text

9. Text
• There are a few rules to consider. These are the conventions of traditional comic books and graphic novels.
They are designed to make the story flow easily for the reader. There are a great variety of tools you can use.
These have been developed over a period of time. Those used to reading comic books or graphic novels
understand the different meanings
Balloon A balloon tail
points to a character's mouth
as if an invisible line
continued on past the end of
the tail to their face
Joining Balloons with connectors;
There are two instances where this is
used. The first is when a character says
two separate ideas expressed one after
the other.
The second instance is when two
characters are speaking in a panel and the
conversation goes back and forth between
them.
Burst Balloons: These are
used/represents when someone is
screaming their dialogue. Burst
balloons typically aren't
italicized, but are often bold with
certain words enlarged or
underlined for even more
emphasis.
Thought balloon: This shows
when someone is thinking by it
being like a bubble. This is
rarely used now and is slowing
fading out.

10. Captions
• There are four different types of captions that can be used in
comic books;
• Location and time: The fonts are the same font as your
dialogue, Inside a caption box and italicized
• Internal Monologue: Captions largely replacing thought
balloons. The inner voice of that particular character. Typically
italicized
• Speak Captions. Shows when someone is speaking and is off
camera. These are not italicized but use special quote marks
• Narrative captions feature the voice of the writer or editor are
also italicized

11. Layout
• In the earliest comics the layout was always grid format. Over time this has changed to modernize comics and
to make them more interesting. You can now how integrated scenes and many more different kind of layout
formats. As comics grew in popularity and the talent level increased, artists injected their creative influences
and began to produce layouts that did not necessarily conform to a grid format. While they can be stunning to
look at, these pages can be a logical disaster if not planned properly. The most common grids are the 9 and 6
panel grids. The 9 panel grid is most useful when the story contains a lot of information.