OTHER RESOURCES FOR FINDING GOOD GRAPHIC NOVELS
There are lots of resources available to those who really want to expand their graphic novel collections. I will continue to add to this page as I find more, so check back often to see what else is available.
ALA's Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
This group formed in 2018 to help fill the gaps for libraries in collection development of Graphic Novels. If you are a member of ALA, you can add this group to your annual membership for $15. Additionally, you can join their Facebook page for free (does require administrator approval, but if you are working in a library, chances are you will be added easily). Here, the members post lots of resources for cultivating graphic novel collections, including reviews. This group is super active, so be ready for a deluge of resources!
This group formed in 2018 to help fill the gaps for libraries in collection development of Graphic Novels. If you are a member of ALA, you can add this group to your annual membership for $15. Additionally, you can join their Facebook page for free (does require administrator approval, but if you are working in a library, chances are you will be added easily). Here, the members post lots of resources for cultivating graphic novel collections, including reviews. This group is super active, so be ready for a deluge of resources!
Booklist
Every year, Booklist publishes a list of the best Graphic Novels for that year. They separate them by Adult, and Youth. They also have some lists that are "nonfiction," but not all of these are actually nonfiction titles.
Search results on Booklist.com for "graphic novels"
Every year, Booklist publishes a list of the best Graphic Novels for that year. They separate them by Adult, and Youth. They also have some lists that are "nonfiction," but not all of these are actually nonfiction titles.
Search results on Booklist.com for "graphic novels"
Columbia University's Resources
Columbia has assembled a massive resource list for blogs, publishers, guides, organizations, awards, and much more. Not all of the links work anymore, but you can do a Google search for it and find the new link rather quickly.
Columbia has assembled a massive resource list for blogs, publishers, guides, organizations, awards, and much more. Not all of the links work anymore, but you can do a Google search for it and find the new link rather quickly.
Comic Book Collection and Programming
A slightly difference resource - a book! This practical guide by Matthew Z. Wood, a public and academic librarian, covers everything from terminology to collection development, displays to getting patrons interested in your collection. It also contains a book lists and recommendations for kids, teen, and adult libraries.
Available on Amazon!
A slightly difference resource - a book! This practical guide by Matthew Z. Wood, a public and academic librarian, covers everything from terminology to collection development, displays to getting patrons interested in your collection. It also contains a book lists and recommendations for kids, teen, and adult libraries.
Available on Amazon!
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The CBLDF is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping librarians keep graphic novels in their libraries. They have a ton of resources and multiple lists they publish every year, including a list of the most challenged graphic novels of the year and resources for keeping them in your library.
The CBLDF is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping librarians keep graphic novels in their libraries. They have a ton of resources and multiple lists they publish every year, including a list of the most challenged graphic novels of the year and resources for keeping them in your library.
Comic Book Resources
This website was established in 1995 by a group of individuals who wanted to bring more enthusiasm to superhero comics. These are avid readers who review comics and comment on the quality of the storyline. Their reviews are in-depth, but they are not educators. There is nothing about the reading level or suitability level of the books, but it is a good place to go if you want to read a bit about the book and determine if it is a quality story.
This website was established in 1995 by a group of individuals who wanted to bring more enthusiasm to superhero comics. These are avid readers who review comics and comment on the quality of the storyline. Their reviews are in-depth, but they are not educators. There is nothing about the reading level or suitability level of the books, but it is a good place to go if you want to read a bit about the book and determine if it is a quality story.
Comic Book Round Up
This site is 1 part Booklist and 1 part Goodreads. They collect professional reviews from all over the place, and those individuals give each title a score out of 10. There is also a way for users to log in and give the titles a score as well, so you get the "fan" side of it as well as the critical side. These reviewers are doing each individual issue, however, so make sure you click on "Collected Issues" if available to see the review on the bound trade paperbacks.
This site is 1 part Booklist and 1 part Goodreads. They collect professional reviews from all over the place, and those individuals give each title a score out of 10. There is also a way for users to log in and give the titles a score as well, so you get the "fan" side of it as well as the critical side. These reviewers are doing each individual issue, however, so make sure you click on "Collected Issues" if available to see the review on the bound trade paperbacks.
Diamond Bookshelf
Diamond is one of the largest distributors of graphic novels to bookstores. Their publication, Diamond Bookshelf, boasts resources specifically for educators and librarians. It has reviews, news releases related to graphic novels and comics, lesson plans, collection development resources, and lots more. You can also sign up to receive the Bookshelf as a monthly newsletter straight to your email inbox.
Diamond is one of the largest distributors of graphic novels to bookstores. Their publication, Diamond Bookshelf, boasts resources specifically for educators and librarians. It has reviews, news releases related to graphic novels and comics, lesson plans, collection development resources, and lots more. You can also sign up to receive the Bookshelf as a monthly newsletter straight to your email inbox.
History Comics
Website runner Tim Smyth may be a history teacher, but his website provides resources for teachers in many curricular areas. Tim offers guidance on how to teach comics, integrate them into the classroom curricula, and activities to do with students to get them to create their own comics.
Website runner Tim Smyth may be a history teacher, but his website provides resources for teachers in many curricular areas. Tim offers guidance on how to teach comics, integrate them into the classroom curricula, and activities to do with students to get them to create their own comics.
Manga Bookshelf
Manga Bookshelf is a multi-blog network featuring discussion, news, and reviews of English-translated Japanese comics. In addition, our growing body of contributing writers provides coverage of topics such as anime adaptations, gaming, films, live-action dramas, online fandom, Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua and more.
Manga Bookshelf is a multi-blog network featuring discussion, news, and reviews of English-translated Japanese comics. In addition, our growing body of contributing writers provides coverage of topics such as anime adaptations, gaming, films, live-action dramas, online fandom, Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua and more.
Manga Librarian
Ashley Hawkins is a school librarian from New York City who loves everything manga. On her website, she posts helpful videos and reviews for school and teen librarians, and is a wealth of knowledge on Japanese culture and the different types of manga. You can even catch her reading some stories outside of the "teen" range, so she's got recommendations for kids and adults too.
Ashley Hawkins is a school librarian from New York City who loves everything manga. On her website, she posts helpful videos and reviews for school and teen librarians, and is a wealth of knowledge on Japanese culture and the different types of manga. You can even catch her reading some stories outside of the "teen" range, so she's got recommendations for kids and adults too.
Manga in Libraries
Manga in Libraries was founded by Jillian Rudes, a certified school librarian and the Japanese Culture & Manga Cooperative Collection Development librarian for the New York City Department of Education. The site includes recommendation lists, an archive of all Manga in Libraries webinars, and tons more resources!
Manga in Libraries was founded by Jillian Rudes, a certified school librarian and the Japanese Culture & Manga Cooperative Collection Development librarian for the New York City Department of Education. The site includes recommendation lists, an archive of all Manga in Libraries webinars, and tons more resources!
Manga in the Middle
This blog is run by Julie Stivers, a middle school librarian, and she gives her unique perspective to collecting manga for middle-graders. She has must by series, recommended title reviews, and resources on getting an Anime club started at your school.
This blog is run by Julie Stivers, a middle school librarian, and she gives her unique perspective to collecting manga for middle-graders. She has must by series, recommended title reviews, and resources on getting an Anime club started at your school.
No Flying, No Tights
This review site is a semi-professional collection of reviews by librarians and other professionals from across the country. They review comics, manga, and anime, and reviews are separated by genre and age group. The page's Editor-in-Chief, Robin, is also a main organizer for ALA's Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table.
This review site is a semi-professional collection of reviews by librarians and other professionals from across the country. They review comics, manga, and anime, and reviews are separated by genre and age group. The page's Editor-in-Chief, Robin, is also a main organizer for ALA's Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table.
School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids blog
This blog is part of the free content available on SLJ's website, and is specifically aimed at getting good graphic novels in the hands of students. Their reviews include comics and manga, and you can sort by age level to find titles appropriate for your audience.
This blog is part of the free content available on SLJ's website, and is specifically aimed at getting good graphic novels in the hands of students. Their reviews include comics and manga, and you can sort by age level to find titles appropriate for your audience.
