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Tag Archives: graphic novel
2024 ‘One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens’ Titles Selected
The Nebraska Library Commission is excited to announce the 2024 titles selected for the One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens program:
Wouldn’t it be great if kids all over Nebraska were talking about books? And wouldn’t it be even better if those kids were talking about the SAME book? Hold on to your bookmarks, the Nebraska Library Commission and Regional Library Systems have a program for that!
Each year, the One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens program selects a title for kids (roughly grades 4-6) and teens (older readers) and encourages youth across the state to read and discuss the book together. Read more about the program, and see current and past selections here: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/Youth/OBOK/index.aspx
One Book For Nebraska Kids 2024:
Parachute Kids, by Betty Tang (Graphix, 2023).
A middle-grade graphic novel that follows Feng-Li and her siblings as they navigate life alone in a new country. After a fun-filled vacation in California, Mom and Dad announce that the family is staying and enroll the children in school. When their parents’ visas expire, the children are left in their rental house while their parents return to Taiwan to sort out a legal reentry to the United States.
One Book For Nebraska Teens 2024:
Between the Lines, by Nikki Grimes (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018).
This 2018 companion to Grimes’ Bronx Masquerade combines verse and prose to explore the thoughts, feelings, and struggles of a diverse class of poets as they prepare for their school poetry slam. In addition to honing their writing skills, they find friendship and support in each other.
The Nebraska Library Commission and each Regional Library System will have book sets for the 2023 and 2024 titles to check out to librarians and school media specialists for their book clubs. See our Book Club Kit page, or contact your regional library system directory for details.
Friday Reads: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
Is there anything better than a crisp cool night at the pumpkin patch in the fall? The smell of campfire smoke, kettle corn, and apple cider in the air?
Deja and Josiah have been partners in the Succotash Hut for 4 seasons at the world’s greatest pumpkin patch. It’s their last night, and Deja is on a mission to get Josie to finally talk to his long-time crush at The Fudge Hut…and score some snacks along the way.
This YA graphic novel by Nebraska author Rainbow Rowell and Canadian artist Faith Erin Hicks was the perfect quick read to kick off my autumn. While I may not visit the local pumpkin patch this year (darn you coronavirus!), I am definitely ready for s’mores, fire pits, and pumpkin pie.
Rowell, Rainbow. Pumpkinheads. First Second Books, 2019.
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged #FridayReads, Book Review, Friday Reads, graphic novel, Rainbow Rowell, YA
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#BookFaceFriday “Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper”
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
― Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen really knows how to tell it like it is. This week’s #BookFaceFriday is a tribute to this favorite author and all her works. “Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper” by Manuela Santoni (Graphic Universe TM, 2018) is a unique graphic novel for kids and teens introducing them to the life of the author.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman in possession of a keen mind must be in want of a husband . . . This graphic work of historical fiction, translated from the Italian, examines the life of beloved author Jane Austen. The story begins with spreads from the end of Jane’s life as she writes to her sister, Cassandra, remembering their time together as children, progressing into womanhood, and recounting how she cultivated, with the support of her father, her love of reading and writing. The author shows faith in younger readers by including some challenging vocabulary that may have them reaching for dictionaries. However, the illustrations and context clues make the work accessible. A lovely, quick read.”―Kirkus Reviews
This title comes from our large collection of children’s and young adult books sent to us as review copies from book publishers. When our Children and Young Adult Library Services Coordinator, Sally Snyder, is done with them, the review copies are available for the Library System Directors to distribute to school and public libraries in their systems. Public and school library staff are also welcome to stop by and select some titles for their library collections. Contact Sally Snyder for more information.
This week’s #BookFace model is Aimee Owen, NLC’s Information Services Librarian!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
Tagged Book Art, Book Covers, bookfacefriday, Children, graphic novel, Jane Austen, Kids, Manuela Santoni, Reading, YA, YA books
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#BookFaceFriday “Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide…”
Holy Wisdom, Batman! Check out this week’s #BookFace!
Do you struggle with purchasing graphic novels for the library, or recommending them to readers? Luckily for you this week’s #BookFace has you covered with everything from super-heroes to horror. “Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More” by Michael Pawuk (Libraries Unlimited, 2007) is the perfect fit for understanding all of the diverse genres. This title is part of our Library Science Collection, the collection provides professional and reference materials for Nebraska librarians and library science programs! You can check this out yourself by searching the Online Catalog,
Adding graphic novels to your library collection is a surefire way to boost circulation and build customer loyalty. But with thousands of graphic novels being published annually and no sign of a slowdown, how do you determine which graphic novels to purchase, and which to recommend to teen and adult readers? This guide is intended to help you start, update, or maintain a graphic novel collection and advise readers about the genre.
This week’s #BookFaceFriday model is NLC’s Technology Librarian, Amanda Sweet Since she was the face behind the book this week, it was only fitting to let you in a couple of her favorite graphic novel series:
Scott Pilgrim series written and illustrated by Bryan Lee O’Malley.
This six-book series is quirky and fun. Scott Pilgrim is perpetually unemployed and in a band. The characters are wonderfully drawn, in more ways than one.
Mercy Thompson series, written by Patricia Briggs & David Lawrence, illustrated by Francis Tsai. This graphic novel series is a prequel to the book series about shapeshifter coyote Mercy Thompson. This series is great whether or not you’ve read the books. She’s a strong character.
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged Book Art, bookface, bookfacefriday, Comic book, graphic novel, Library Science, Manga, Michael Pawuk, Reading
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Friday Reads: I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero by Brad Meltzer
As graphic novels have gained popularity and recognition as legitimate reading, authors and illustrators continue to expand into other areas. Although nonfiction told in graphic novel format has been around for 
quite some time, it seems in recent years more opportunities have been taken. Well-known nonfiction writer, Brad Meltzer, has created a slim volume the publisher is calling a graphic biography.
I Am Gandhi is illustrated by 25 artists, with the variety of art strengthening this excellent biography of an outstanding man. Meltzer tells of his childhood in India, his time spent in London and South Africa, and mentions a particular picture book that influenced his life. It is written as if Gandhi himself is telling of his life to a small group of children. How he developed his non-violent approach, what existing ideas influenced him in its development, and how he and others put it into practice are all included.
This title is a good introduction to Gandhi, his life and beliefs. It may guide readers to look for more in-depth information about him. The timeline, quotes, and photos at the back of the book add to his story.
Librarians may see the title and author and think of his series of biographies for much younger readers, also titled “Ordinary People Change the World.” This younger series is aimed at kindergarten through grade 3 and gives a much briefer look at a number of amazing people.
Meltzer, Brad. I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero. , 2018. Print.
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged #FridayReads, Brad Meltzer, Friday Reads, graphic novel, I Am Gandhi
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#BookFaceFriday “Re-Gifters”
Happy #BookFaceFriday from the Nebraska Library Commission!
I love this week’s #BookFace. It’s fun and festive, and since we don’t have a pile of presents here at the office, Aimee Owen volunteered the use of the pile under her tree. I also love that we get to highlight our amazing collection of Young Adult Book Club Kits. “Re-Gifters” written by Mike Carey, and illustrated by Marc Hempel and Sonny Liew (Minx Books, 2007) is a great example! This graphic novel follows Korean American teenager Dixie through LA’s Koreatown. It’s a well-developed characters, plot, and setting make it perfect for dedicated comic readers and those new to the genre.
Love this #bookface & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub.
Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged Book Club, Book Club Kits, Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, books, Comic book, Fiction, graphic novel, Re-Gifters, YA, Young Adult
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