May 22, 2013

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Blast Off with ‘Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry’ | Win a Free Comics Workshop

Astronaut Academy Re-Entry

The long-awaited sequel to Dave Roman’s Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity has finally been released! And because there should always be prizes, Dave has created oodles of ways to win stuff. Get your hands on the new title, and blog about it, create fan art, or write a review, and you can win a chance to interview Dave, get a gigantic digital comics collection or original artwork. There’s even a special prize just for librarians and educators—one classroom or library will win a free comics workshop (held over Skype) by Jerzy Drozd, creator of Comics Are Great!

‘Iron Man 3′ Book Tie-ins | Media Mania

Extremis Javins

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the arrogant, irreverent, and ever likable Tony Stark, ingenious industrialist and high-tech super hero in Iron Man 3 (PG-13), which arrives in theaters on May 3, 2013, in traditional, 3-D, and IMAX 3D formats .Beef up your selection of tales about the Golden Avenger with offerings sure to appeal to teen movie—and comics—fans.

Graphic Novels | May 2013

Book Covers

Philippe Coudray’s Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! Is laugh-out-loud funny.

2013 ALSC & YALSA Book Picks: The year’s best titles for children and teens

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Check out School Library Journal’s comprehensive guide to the 2013 Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Notable Children’ Books and the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) Best Fiction for Young Adults and Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

Media Mania: Journeying to Oz—The New Film and a Whirlwind of Portal Fiction for Teens

Marvelous Oz

We have all fantasized about being transported to magical locations, and on March 8, Disney is giving everyone an excuse to revisit the 1900 novel and 1939 movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Oz the Great and Powerful (PG) tornadoes into theaters in traditional, 3D and IMAX 3D formats. Oscar Diggs (James Franco), an unscrupulous two-bit circus magician, is swept away via hot-air balloon to the Land of Oz. Teens can visit the movie website to browse videos and photos, play games, and access downloads. Then hook them in with a display of portal fiction that will not disappoint.

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Hits #1 on NYT Bestseller List

Hyrule Historia cover

The Legend of Zelda is one of the few video games my son plays that tempts me to park on the couch and watch. Valiant effort, haunting melodies, faerie-like creatures, and lots of swordplay are part of this hero’s journey tale. We even have some Zelda memorabilia around the house, including a not-often-played ocarina. Zelda fans are legion and loyal, and they proved it by pushing The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, the 274-page chronological account on The Legend of Zelda universe, to the top of the New York Times Advice and Miscellaneous Hardcover bestseller list on February 10, where it still sits as of this writing.

Pick of the Day: Peanut

blue cover with single peanut in center

HALLIDAY, Ayun. Peanut. illus. by Paul Hoppe. 216p. Random/Schwartz and Wade. Jan. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86590-9; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96590-6.
Gr 7 Up
–Worried about transferring to a new school, Sadie comes up with the idea of faking a peanut allergy. She thinks that pretending to have a life-threatening condition will draw attention to her and generate sympathy. Her predictions come true, and she makes several new friends and even attracts a boyfriend. But as time passes, Sadie finds it harder [...]

SLJ’s Top 10 Graphic Novels: 2012

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Twelve months ago, when we chose 2011’s best graphic novels, we predicted that this year’s list would be even better—and we were right.

On the Radar: Top Teen Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Two Parts Make a Whole: Using Graphic Novels in Your Common Core Classroom

Bloody Chester

If you’re looking for official justification for the purchase of graphic novels, look no further than the Common Core State Standards. In grades 6-12, students will be required to apply the Reading standards to a variety of text types, including graphic novels. For mature readers, this fall’s releases offer stories of war, madness, gangs, and failed dreams. Young adult patrons will have much to think and talk about after reading these selections.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Graphic Novels and the Common Core

Book cover with erupting volcanoes

If you’re looking for official justification for the purchase of graphic novels, look no further than the Common Core State Standards. In grades 6 to 12, students will be required to apply the Reading standards to a variety of text types and formats, including graphic novels. Today’s graphic artists and writers provide a plethora of titles for beginning readers to adults. Check out these new titles that will strengthen your collection and thrill your readers.

Librarians Flock to New York Comic Con

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Digital comics, gaming, and, of course, costumes were among the draws for teachers and librarians who attended New York Comic Con’s (NYCC) Professional Day on Thursday, October 11, featuring panels by the American Library Association, among other organizations. Once again, as in past years, New Jersey librarians dominated as presenters at Professional Day, covering collection development, library programming, and the history of the science fiction and fantasy genres.

Fall Graphic Novels Take a Walk on the Dark Side

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Vampires, zombies, robot policemen—this fall’s graphic novels don’t shy away from the dark side. You’ll find plenty of humor as well, to lighten things up.

Crazy About Comics? Visit Kids’ Comics Revolution!

zita the spacegirl

Cartoonists Dave Roman and Jerzy Drozd always seem to have something fun going on at Kids’ Comics Revolution! blog—which features podcasts, tips on creating sound balloons, and visual storytelling. Now is an especially good time to drop in for a visit. Drozd has just launched an online book club that’s devoted to Ben Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl (First Second, 2011), the tale of a young explorer whose best friend has been abducted by a space alien.

Win a Copy of The Book of Five Rings

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Many attendees enjoyed the Classic Twists webcast during this year’s SummerTeen virtual event. Author/illustrator Sean Michael Wilson was a panelist on that presentation (still available for on-demand viewing!), and just got in touch with SLJTeen to announce that his latest title, The Book Of Five Rings, is now available —and Shambala Publications is giving away ten copies to SLJTeen readers!

This manga version of Japanese classic The Book of Five Rings, the iconic book of confrontation and victory by the famed [...]

New Comics Make Their Debut at San Diego Comic-Con

Bloody Chester

The cliché about Comic-Con International is that it isn’t about comics any more, but that’s not really true. While the cameras focused on people waiting in line to see the cast of Doctor Who or paying $75 to be chased through an obstacle course by zombies from The Walking Dead, the media largely overlooked a bustling comics and graphic novel scene. About 130,000 people came to this year’s event, held July 11–15 at the San Diego Convention Center.

SLJ’s SummerTeen Speaker: Barry Lyga

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Having spent his teen years immersed in comic books, Barry Lyga worked for a decade as marketing manager at Diamond Comic Distributors before publishing his first novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (Houghton Mifflin) in 2006.

More Good Gaiman News: Sandman Returns

Photo: Kimberly Butler

In a recorded video message at Comic-Con in San Diego last week, the Newbery-winning author says he plans to return to comic books with a “Sandman” miniseries, drawn byBatwoman artist J. H. Williams III and published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint.

Gearing Up for Batman: Graphic Novel Grabbers for Movie Fans

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Christian Bale once again dons the legendary cape and cowl for the lead role in The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13), scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 20 in traditional and IMAX theaters. Following on the heels of Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), the movie marks the much-anticipated conclusion to director Christopher Nolan’s renowned film trilogy, which features a darkly realistic and emotionally nuanced incarnation of the iconic DC Comics character originally created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939. When Gotham is terrorized by a new menace, a formidable villain named Bane (Tom Hardy), Batman must return to protect the city he loves.

The Webslinger Returns

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Is your spider-sense tingling? The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) blasts back onto the big screen on July 3, in a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. This latest release isn’t a continuation of Sam Raimi’s blockbuster trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, but a reboot of the film franchise that presents a new installment in the Spider-Man cinematic opus. Andrew Garfield assumes the red-and-blue, be-webbed mantel in the new motion picture, which is directed by Marc Webb with a screenplay based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s classic Marvel comic book.

Watch and Read | Spider-Man: Amazing Again

A fan favorite for 50 years, this friendly neighborhood crime-fighting phenom swings back into action—and into theaters—on July 3. The Amazing Spider-Man(PG-13), a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures, provides a fresh big-screen take on the character by spotlighting his early days. High-school student Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an outcast who grapples with issues of insecurity and identity, as well as his all-consuming crush on the beautiful and bright Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone).