This document provides an overview of how comics and graphic novels can be used to support higher level thinking skills. It discusses how comics have won prestigious literary awards and should be viewed as a medium rather than a genre. Key concepts from understanding comics such as panels, gutters, and reading order are explained. The document outlines how comics can help develop vocabulary, support inferencing, and be used for analysis, evaluation, and creative expression activities. A variety of teaching resources and over 100 book titles that could be used are also listed.

1. Using Comics and Graphic
Novels to Support Higher
Level Thinking
Maria Selke
West Chester Area S.D.
maria@selkefamily.com
@mariaselke

2. Our Comics Life...

3. Clearing the Air
Comics are for Everyone
● Select titles with your target age in mind
Comics & Graphic Novels win prestigious awards
● Caldecott - illustrations
● Newbery- middle grade
● Scott O’Dell- historical fiction
● Printz- excellence in young adult fiction
● Eisner- American comics industry award
● Pulitzer (Maus)
Comics are a MEDIUM - not a genre

4. Language of the Discipline
Sequential Art
● Comic Strip
● Comic Book
○ Trade Paperback
● Graphic Novel
● Hybrid

5. Language of the Discipline
Structure
● Reading order
○ (L->R and Up-> Down IF not manga)
● Panels
● Gutters
● Captions
● Balloons
Adventures in Graphica
- chp 4 Understanding Comics - McCloud pg 86

6. Higher Level Vocabulary Development
“As readers navigate through a
piece of graphica, they are
exposed to a great deal of new
and interesting words. In fact,
some studies suggest that comics
utilize even more rare words
than many forms of traditional
text …” (Thompson, Adventures
in Graphica, 2008)
Zita the Spacegirl - Hatke

7. Inferencing
In the Gutters...
Understanding Comics - McCloud

8. Inferencing - Readers as Collaborators

9. Analysis
Literary Devices -
● How does the creative team show….? (flashbacks,
imagination, personification, imagery)
Compare and Contrast -
● Same story, different format (e.g., A Wrinkle in Time,
MacBeth, Wizard of Oz)
● Same creator/ different book (Nathan Hale)
● Same archetypes, different format (Hero’s Journey)
● Conventions in graphica vs. other formats
○ “Translate the Transfer” - Comics make it visible
(from Adventures in Graphica)

10. Evaluation
Creative Team Effectiveness -What helped you construct meaning?
What hindered your understanding?
● Illustrations
● Panel styles
● Lettering
● Coloring
● Captions
“Most Important” -->
Adventures in
Graphica -
Thompson
pg 69

11. Breaking Norms / Celebrating Diversity
Understanding Comics - McCloud

12. History
Classics
Introducing and Exposing

13. Creative Expression
Making their own comics
● Summarizing
● Sharing knowledge across content areas
● Collaborating with a team
Many book resources for guidance
● DC Comics series
● McCloud

14. Making Comics and Cartoons
Some online tools:
● Pixton http://www.pixton.com/ (adding animation)
● Read-Write-Think (Up to 6 panels, drag and drop style)
http://www.readwritethink.
org/files/resources/interactives/comic/

15. Help Your
Students Join
the Dance
Understanding Comics - McCloud

16. Teaching Guides/ Resources
Resources
http://cbldf.org/resources/raising-a-reader/ -- Excellent overall information on using graphic novels, including the
benefits for readers.
http://cbldf.org/2015/06/expand-your-comics-conversation-with-the-comic-book-club-handbook/ -- How to guide for
starting a comic book club!
Teaching Guides
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/guide-using-graphic-novels-children-and-teens (great resource list
and sources, includes activities useful for any comic/gn)
http://www.scholastic.com/graphix/Scholastic_BoneDiscussion.pdf -- overall information including title
recommendations.
http://www.abramsbooks.com/pdfs/academic/GraphicNovels_TeachingGuide.pdf -- another overall guide with many titles.
http://www.abramsbooks.com/pdfs/academic/El_Deafo_TeachingGuide.pdf -- a guide specifically for El Deafo.

17. Where to Find Great Titles..
The book Adventures in Graphica includes many sites and sources in the appendix.
http://noflyingnotights.com/ -- Frequent reviews of current titles.
http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/ -- School Library Journal reviews
http://www.cybils.com/ Bloggers choose the best titles in various age groups and genres. Go to the right and choose a
year and there will be lists for middle grade and young adult graphic novels.
http://www.txla.org/reading-lists -- Texas started including graphic novels
http://maslmd.org/winners/ Maryland also started including graphic novels
Junior Library Guild - a subscription service, but they also list excellent upcoming and current titles
http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/books/list?level[]=GE&instockorforthcoming=1 (elementary)
http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/books/list?level[]=GM&instockorforthcoming=1 (middle school)

18. Sources
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics:. New York: HarperPerennial, 1994. Print.
Moye, Kellee. "Amulet Books Graphic Novel Teaching Guide." Unleashing Readers. N.p., 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 07 July 2015.
Thompson, Terry. Adventures in Graphica: Using Comics and Graphic Novels to Teach Comprehension, 2-6. Portland, Me.:
Stenhouse, 2008. Print.
"Getting Graphic: Using Graphic Novels in the Language Arts Classroom." Getting Graphic: Using Graphic Novels in the
Language Arts Classroom. N.p., 2012. Web. 07 July 2015.

19. List of Books I shared (pt 1)
Aguirre, Jorge. Dragons Beware!. First Second, 2015.
Alphona, Adrian, and G. Willow Wilson. Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal.
Marvel, 2014.
Baum, L. Frank, and Eric Shanower. Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Marvel,
2014.
Bell, Cece. El Deafo. Harry N. Abrams, 2014.
Bendis, Brian Michael. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 1. Marvel, 2012.
Brown, Don. The Great American Dust Bowl. HMH Books for Young Readers,
2013.
Brown, Jeffrey. The Phantom Bully. Scholastic Inc., 2015.
Brown, Jeffrey. Star Wars: Jedi Academy. Scholastic Inc., 2013.
Burks, James. Bird & Squirrel on the Run. GRAPHIX, 2012.
Camper, Cathy. Lowriders in Space. Chronicle Books, 2014.
Cloonan, Becky, and Brendan Fletcher. Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to
Gotham Academy. DC Comics, 2015.
Davis, Eleanor. The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook.
Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2009.
Deconnick, Kelly Sue. Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight. Marvel,
2013.
Deutsch, Barry. Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. Amulet Paperbacks,
2012.
Deutsch, Barry. Hereville: How Mirka Met a Meteorite. Harry N. Abrams,
2012.
Fletcher, Brenden, and Cameron Stewart. Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of
Burnside. DC Comics, 2015.
Hale, Nathan. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Big Bad Ironclad!. Harry N.
Abrams, 2012.
Hale, Nathan. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy. Harry N.
Abrams, 2012.
Hale, Nathan. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor.
Harry N. Abrams, 2015.
Hale, Nathan. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud,
and Blood. Harry N. Abrams, 2014.
Hale, Shannon, and Dean Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. Bloomsbury USA
Childrens, 2008.
Hatke, Ben. The Return of Zita the Spacegirl. First Second, 2014.
Hatke, Ben. Zita the Spacegirl. First Second, 2011.
Hennessey, Jonathan, and Aaron McConnell. The Gettysburg Address: A
Graphic Adaptation. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2013.

20. List of Books (pt 2)
Hinds, Gareth. Macbeth. Candlewick, 2015.
Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. Babymouse #12: Burns Rubber.
Random House Books for Young Readers, 2010.
Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. Squish #1: Super Amoeba. Random
House Books for Young Readers, 2011.
Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. Dial Books, 2015.
Kibuishi, Kazu. The Stonekeeper. GRAPHIX, 2008.
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1.
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009.
L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Farrar, Straus and
Giroux (BYR), 2012.
Lendler, Ian. The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth. First
Second, 2014.
Lendler, Ian. The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet.
First Second, 2015.
Lewis, John, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. March: Book One. Top Shelf
Productions, 2013.
Lewis, John, and Andrew Aydin. March: Book Two. Top Shelf Productions,
2015.
Maihack, Mike. Target Practice. GRAPHIX, 2014.
Maihack, Mike. The Thief and the Sword. GRAPHIX, 2015.
Martin, Emily, and Jeremy Whitley. Princeless, Book 2: Get Over Yourself.
Action Lab Entertainment, 2013.
McCloud, Scott. Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and
Graphic Novels. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2006.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. William Morrow
Paperbacks, 1994.
O'Connor, George. Aphrodite: Goddess of Love. First Second, 2013.
O'Connor, George. Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess. First Second, 2014.
O'Connor, George. Hades: Lord of the Dead. First Second, 2012.
O'Connor, George. Hera: The Goddess and her Glory. First Second, 2011.
O'Connor, George. Poseidon: Earth Shaker. First Second, 2013.
O'Connor, George. Zeus: King of the Gods. First Second, 2010.
O'Neil, Dennis. The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics. Watson-Guptill,
2001.
Ottaviani, Jim. Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian
Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas. First Second, 2013.

21. List of Books (pt 3)
Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. Candlewick, 2011.
Runton, Andy, Chris Staros, and Robert Venditti. Owly, Vol. 3: Flying
Lessons. Top Shelf Productions, 2006.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Pantheon, 2004.
Shanower, Eric, and L. Frank Baum. Oz: Ozma of Oz. Marvel, 2012.
Spiegelman, Art. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began.
Pantheon, 1992.
Spires, Ashley. Binky the Space Cat. Kids Can Press, 2009.
Spires, Ashley. Binky Under Pressure. Kids Can Press, 2011.
Tamaki, Mariko. This One Summer. First Second, 2014.
Telgemeier, Raina. Drama. GRAPHIX, 2012.
Telgemeier, Raina. Sisters. GRAPHIX, 2014.
Telgemeier, Raina. Smile. Graphix, 2010.
Thompson, Terry. Adventures in Graphica. Stenhouse Publishers, 2008.
Watterson, Bill. Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons.
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1992.
Whitley, Jeremy, and David Dwonch. Princeless Book 1: Save Yourself. Action
Lab Entertainment, Inc., 2012.
Zahler, Thomas F. Love and Capes, Vol. 1. IDW Publishing, 2008.
Remember - this is just a sampling. I tried to
include titles from a variety of genres and target
age ranges.