SPONSORED BY: ABDO Publishing and School Library Journal
EVENT DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, December 4, 2012, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET/12:00 – 1:00 PM PT

This archive is no longer available.

Learn about ABDO’s new “Comic Book Curriculum” and “Star Wars Literacy” programs for your library’s support of ELL, Special Education, and Classrooms, as well as for library events, creative writing and arts projects, and more!

This webcast will feature a report on the 10-school pilot program ABDO led with elementary students and staff in a California district, using their Marvel Age comic books and graphic novels, eBooks, and teachers guides in a weeks-long “comic con” with the kids creating their own superheroes and stories based on the books.

As part of the pilot program, staff from the SELLASP (Supporting English Language Learners in After School Programs) initiative from the California Department of Education, and the National City Public Library in San Diego helped create free video training and materials designed to help educators provide the program for a range of students, from ELL through on-level English-fluent readers.

Following the report will be information on how to transfer the techniques to support creative writing and learning for your classroom teachers, book clubs, special education programs, Title I initiatives, and all the other student populations that the research shows are aided by comic books & graphic novels. Guests include ELL leaders, 501st Legion Star Wars characters, & more.

Also included will be research from ABDO’s “Comic Books & Literacy” compilation, Common Core and graphic novels information, a look at the amount of vocabulary that’s in Marvel and Star Wars books, and related information.

Tune in and put on your superhero and superheroine masks and capes for this webcast – you’ll be ready to defeat reluctant readers, provide super-strength support to your schools, and promote the greatest superpower of them all – reading.

Panelists:

Helen Gonzales – Lead Coordinator, Region 9 Technical Assistance Center

Helen Gonzales is currently the Lead Coordinator for the Region 9 Technical Assistance Center, After School division providing technical assistance for over 600 after school programs at the San Diego County Office of Education. Ms. Gonzales is also statewide Project Lead for the Supporting English Language Learners through After School Programs (SELLASP) Project funded by the California Department of Education¹s After School Division.

In her career an educator for over 30 years Ms. Gonzales¹ experiences include serving students and families in both rural and urban school settings. As an Elementary and Middle School Principal, Vice Principal, Counselor, Teacher, Grant and College Outreach Coordinator she has served on numerous educational boards and committees including English Language Task Force, Puente Mentor Project, Association of California School Administrator, California Association of Latino Superintendents, San Diego County RTI (2) Task Force, Latino Advisory Board and the California After School Network¹s Rural and English Learner committees. The success and educational achievement of English Language Learners in both the regular day and afterschool continues to be her focus with Principals and district administrators throughout the state.

Tamarie Tigh - Writer and Trainer, ABDO Publishing

Tamarie Tigh began working in the Literacy Department of the National City Public Library in California in 1994. Specializing in interactive, multisensory teaching techniques. Tamarie created and/or coordinated several programs, including Adult Literacy for adults needing to improve their English language skills; Families for Literacy for preschool children with their caregivers; KidSounds and Building Blocks, phonics programs for elementary students and preschool children; and Family Study Teams, a literacy program conducted during the after school hours at the local elementary schools.  In 2003, when the National School District contracted the National City Public Library to provide the out of school time programs for their ten elementary schools, Ms. Tigh created

WINGS: Winners Growing Strong, which provides academic and recreational enrichment for K-6 students before school, after school, and during the summer. Tamarie has written curriculum and training materials for all of the programs that she has administrated. Ms. Tigh graduated from the University of Phoenix with her Bachelors¹ of Science in Business Management and Business Administration. She raised and homeschooled five children and has worked tirelessly in church – for which she has also written curriculum!

Moderator:
Dan Verdick – Vice President of Marketing & Communications, ABDO Publishing

This archive is no longer available. 

Follow us on Twitter! @SLJEvent  #sljabdo

By registering for this webcast, you are agreeing that School Library Journal may share your registration information with sponsors currently shown and future sponsors of this event. Click here to review the entire School Library Journal Privacy Policy.

SPONSORED BY: Annick Press, Charlesbridge, Tuttle Publishing, and School Library Journal
EVENT DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET/12:00 – 1:00 PM PT

This archive is no longer available.

Learn about fall’s collection of new books for your young readers during this School Library Journal webcast event.  From illustrated books to chapter books, topics range from superheroes to farmers, and then some! Discover what it means to be a samurai in Benjamin Martin’s Samurai Awakening, and find out if an American teenager has what takes to save his friends.  Read about Bill Finger, the man who gave Bruce Wayne a name and made him a detective in Marc Tyler Nobleman’s picture book (illustrated by Ty Templeton) Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman. See a new take on the classic Old MacDonald nursery rhyme in Old MacDonald Had Her Farm (written by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Tina Holdcroft) with brightly illustrated pictures and tongue-twisters to help readers learn about vowels while using the same E-I-E-I-O refrain. Register now to see what else Annick Press, Charlesbridge, and Tuttle Publishing will share from their fall book releases.

Panelists:

Paula Ayer – Editor, Annick Press
Alyssa Mito Pusey – Editor, Charlesbridge
Rowan Muelling-Auer – Publicist, Tuttle Publishing

Moderator:

Luann Toth – Mangaging Editor, Book Review, School Library Journal

Can’t make it on October 16? No problem! Register now and you will get an email reminder from School Library Journal post-live event when the webcast is archived and available for on-demand viewing at your convenience!

Follow us on Twitter! @SLJEvent  #sljfallkids

By registering for this webcast, you are agreeing that School Library Journal may share your registration information with sponsors currently shown and future sponsors of this event. Click here to review the entire School Library Journal Privacy Policy.

This archive is no longer available.

Ever help a guy find food in the refrigerator? In this fun and informative webinar, you’ll discover how some everyday observations – like that time you maybe helped a guy find the mayo that was right in the front of the fridge – are really vital clues for thinking about getting boys to read in your library.

In addition to the fun, the serious side of the topic will be addressed, including why the gap between boys’ and girls’ reading levels is a major concern among health experts and educators, and why the vast majority of reluctant readers are boys. Attendees will learn some tips to promote and support genres that boys like, including comic books, graphic novels, sports, and nonfiction, as well as some ideas for creating reading role models and communities for boys grades K-12. If you want ways to get books in the hands of your guys – and take a different look at how we think about getting boys to read – this session will inspire you.

Panelists include author and education writer Richard Whitmire and graphic novels reviewer and librarian M. Brandon Robbins. The webcast will feature information on the March 2010 Center on Education Policy report on the reading gap for boys, a “Comic Books & Literacy” research compilation, a white paper called “Football Literacy” on how sports have a greater reach than ever among young boys, and related research and materials.

Panelists:

Dan Verdick – Vice President of Marketing & Communications, ABDO Publishing

Dan Verdick is an author and library speaker who has led sessions at dozens of district- and state-level meetings across the US, including the CSLA (California), FAME (Florida), Minneapolis Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, Dallas ISD, New York Public Schools, the AZLA, NVLA, and more. He’s been featured on the NBC Today Show and in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Dan is the Vice President of Marketing & Communications for educational publisher ABDO Publishing Group. He and his wife live in a suburb of Saint Paul with their two school-age readers.

Richard Whitmire – Author, The Achievable Dream: College Board Lessons on Creating Great School (The College Board)

Richard Whitmire, a veteran newspaper reporter and former editorial writer at USA Today, is the author of Why Boys Fail: Saving Our Sons from an Education System That’s Leaving Them Behind (Amacom, 2010, now in paperback), and The Bee Eater: Michelle Rhee Takes on the Nation’s Worst School District (Jossey-Bass, 2011).  In June, 2012, his latest book, co-authored with Gaston Caperton, was released. Called The Achievable Dream: College Board Lessons on Creating Great Schools (The College Board), the book contains stories that provide hope for the future through specific lessons of educational success that can be replicated in schools across the country – featuring students, parents, educators, policy-makers and communities. His commentaries appear frequently in publications including The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Whitmire is a former president of the National Education Writers Association.

M. Brandon Robbins – Reference Librarian and Teen Service Coordinator, Wayne County Public Library (NC)

M. Brandon Robbins is a Reference Librarian and Teen Services Coordinator at Wayne County Public Library in Goldsboro, NC. He reviews graphic novels for Library Journal, he also writes the Games, Gamers, and Gaming column for Library Journal. A lifelong fan of comic books and superheroes, Brandon also works at his friendly local comic shop, Heroes Are Here, and handles collection development for graphic novels at his library.

Can’t make it on October 4 No problem! Register now and you will get an email reminder from School Library Journal post-live event when the webcast is archived and available for on-demand viewing at your convenience!

Follow us on Twitter! @SLJEvent  #sljboysread

By registering for this webcast, you are agreeing that School Library Journal may share your registration information with sponsors currently shown and future sponsors of this event. Click here to review the entire School Library Journal Privacy Policy.

Currently working on books for the Tokyo publisher Kodansha, SLJ caught up with Wilson, who is a guest speaker at SLJ‘s August 9 online event, SummerTeen: A Celebration of Young Adult Books. If you’ve signed up for SummerTeen, make sure to gather your teens to hear Wilson speak on the “Classic Twists” panel from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Registration is still open.

Tell us about the kinds of comics and graphic novels you create?

SMW: I work in three or four genres within the general art form of the comic book or graphic novel. Adaptation of classics and historical work, manga, biography and documentary books are what most of my books have been. I can understand why librarians are more prone to classification, but in my mind I don’t make much distinction between the various types of books I write. The key elements of what leads me to write a specific book are two in all cases: what is interesting for me to create, and what will publishers want/ask me to do? (Unfortunately, those two are not also going in the same direction in this money-dominated system we have at present!)

How does it feel to have such a strong teen fan base?

SMW: Well, my books are not just for the YA audience, but for adults in general. In both types, what we are dealing with are human emotions, social situations and relationships, ideas that engage and motivate people-basically about the human condition. YA books are about the human condition at that particular age.
Of course, one of the basic aims is to increase YA’s interest in reading. We might take it a step further and say what is the point of reading, what advantages does it bring? I’ve been reflecting on [author and media theorist] Neil Postman’s point that reading helps encourage logical thinking, analysis, and a feeling that the world has some pattern, and that our current lives take place within a continuity. He contrasts that to television, which encourages a short-term memory type processing, the visual, the instantaneous, thinking that’s divorced from building patterns of connection. These are perhaps less desirable. So, graphic novels with the mixture of both visuals and text are one good way of bridging between these two ways of thinking.

How valuable are librarians at getting the word out about your work?

SMW: Very important, libraries and librarians are crucial, and getting even more so recently with graphic novels. In fact right now a good example of that is happening. My Wuthering Heights book has been shortlisted in the Stan Lee Excelsior Awards, which is an exciting new
award scheme where readers aged 11-16 choose the winner from eight shortlisted books held in their school library. In the process they, of course, read the eight books, and give some considered opinion on the merits of each—a good way for libraries to encourage reading and analytical thinking. This is organized by the libraries of around 170 schools in the UK.

What’s one of the most moving things you’ve heard about your work?

SMW: I was giving a lecture about my books in a college, and a teacher was there with her 14 year old daughter. She told me that so far she had not let her daughter read comics/graphic novels, as she had thought they would be detrimental to her reading development. But that after
listening to my talk, she had changed her mind and intended to buy my book for herself and her daughter. So, I managed to bring over both an adult reader and a younger reader-success!

Ever worry about your work being censored or challenged?

SMW: Censored no, challenged yes. I don’t think any publishers I’ve worked with so far have said ‘Don’t do that.’ The challenges often come from critics and often rather narrow minded and ill-informed ones at that. I do often get upset when a critic makes some point that seems totally inaccurate to me, and based on not having thought about the book enough or just mouthing off their own prejudices. People tell me I need to be more ‘thick skinned’ about it. But sometimes a point raised can make me reflect on how I write or what I write and lead me to try to do better next time.

What can you tell us about the books you’re working on now?

SMW: I’m working on a 150-page historical manga book with Kodansha, my first Japanese/English bilingual book. It’s exciting to have this bilingual version. Also a documentary-style comic book called ‘Parecomic’, with Seven Stories Press in NY. We’ve almost finished
that one now, a 200-page book with an introduction by Noam Chomsky. I’m also doing some library based use of comics to promote literacy with the ‘Upside Comics’ group in the UK:

Other SLJ SummerTeen Interviews:

Gareth Hinds

Earl Sewell

A.S. King

Johan Harstad

Barry Lyga

Fanboy and Goth Girl received two starred reviews and made the School Library Journal‘s 2006 Best Books list. Lyga is the author many books in different genres, including, Boy Toy (2007), Hero-Type (2008), Goth Girl Rising (2009) and Mangaman (2011, all Houghton Harcourt), and is currently hard at work on the sequel to his thriller, I Hunt Killers(Little, Brown, 2012).

Lyga, who lives in New York City, is a guest speaker at SLJ‘s August 9 online event, SummerTeen: A Celebration of Young Adult Books. If you’ve signed up for SummerTeen, make sure to gather your teens to hear Lyga speak on the “Alternate Formats: New Approaches to Teen Fiction” panel from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration is still open.

SLJ spoke to Lyga about what how he started writing for teens, his view of librarians, and how his books have possibly saved lives.

What do you like best about writing for teens?

BL: The enthusiasm and passion of the audience. Teens are at an age where a good book—or just the right book at the right time—can still dramatically change their opinions, their visions of themselves and the world, and their futures. Adults are pretty much set. Very few adults radically change their lives in adulthood. But teens are still amorphous, still in progress, so a book can still set them off on an entirely different course. That’s a pretty amazing thing to contemplate. I don’t write books with the intention of changing a teen’s life, but just knowing that it’s possible is phenomenal.

So what’s one of the most moving things someone has said after reading one of your books?

BL: Quite simply, this: “I was going to kill myself, but then I read your book and decided not to.”

How’d you end up writing your first YA novel?

BL: Sheer accident. I had written a couple of adult novels that I didn’t sell and friends kept telling me that all of the characters in them acted like teenagers, even though they were intended to be adults. This made me decide to try my hand at a YA novel. I got about three pages into The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl when everything just clicked for me and I knew that this was what I was supposed to be writing all along.

How valuable are librarians at getting the word out about your work?

BL: Enormously so! I write for an audience that doesn’t always have a great deal of disposable income, so the ability to read my books for free at the library is a gigantic benefit. And librarians—in my experience—are the best people in the world at performing that invaluable service of noticing what a kid is reading and saying to him/her: “Hey, if you liked that, I bet you’d like this…and this…and this…”

You sometimes write about sensitive topics. Do you ever worry about your books being censored or challenged?

BL: I wouldn’t say I “worry” about it. I think about it sometimes. It crosses my mind. But it never affects the writing itself. It can’t. You can’t write a story while trying to please some invisible, unknowable army of hypocrites who will never, ever be happy with what you write in the first place. There’s just no winning that game. So you write the story you want to see out there in the world, and if someone challenges it or yanks it off a bookshelf, you go and you fight the good fight. But to write a book trying to avoid a challenge or censorship… that’s ceding your authorial voice and your very soul to the forces of, well, blatant idiocy. Who would want to do that?

What are you working on now?

BL: I’m working on the sequel to my thriller, I Hunt Killers. I’m also working on a couple of other things. I always have multiple projects on shuffle—but nothing I can talk about yet.

Other SLJ SummerTeen Interviews:

Gareth Hinds

Earl Sewell

A.S. King

Johan Harstad

INZANA, Ryan. Ichiro. Houghton Harcourt. 2012. ISBN 9780547252698. JLG Level: GH: Graphic Novels High (Grades 9 & up)

Inzana artfully blends reality and myth in this intriguing story of a teen searching for his identity, both as a young man and a Japanese American. Absorbed in the memory of his long-dead soldier father, Ichiro lacks interest in his heritage until he moves to Toyko to live with his grandfather. He is soon immersed in the legends and spirit world of Japanese culture, and must focus on all he’s learned to find his way back home. A visual stunner.

ROMAN, Dave. Teen Boat! illus. by Green, John. Clarion. 2012. ISBN 9780547636696. JLG Level: GH: Graphic Novels High (Grades 9 & up)

This absolutely hysterical book features a teen boy who has the ability to transform into a boat—actually, a small yacht. Though this ability comes in handy, sometimes the change is unexpected and leaves Teen Boat high and dry. Best reason to read it? This compelling pitch from illustrator John Green at the recent Toronto Comics Art Festival!

BELLSTORF, Arne. Baby’s in Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles. First Second. 2012. ISBN 9781596437715. JLG Level: GH: Graphic Novels High (Grades 9 & up)

Baby’s in Black tells the tale of romance between Stuart Sutcliffe, the “fifth Beatle” and Astrid Kirchherr, a German photographer and friend of the band. Using charcoals and an understated presentation of the situation, Bellstorf focuses on the love and mutual respect Sutcliff and Kirchherr had for each other with the backdrop of the groundbreaking historical events that led to the formation of one of the most influential rock and roll bands ever. Not just for Beatle fans.

ANTHONY, Jessica and Rodrigo Corral. Chopsticks. Razorbill, 2012. ISBN 9781595144355. JLG Level: GH: Graphic Novels High (grades 9 & up)

This visually stunning and well-told story depicts a different kind of graphic novel. Told completely with newspaper clippings, photographs, artwork, and screen shots of IM conversations, readers learn about Glory Fleming’s rise in the music world, a romance with her new next-door neighbor, and her obsession with the song “Chopsticks. Though the story is expanded online, the print version is completely self-contained. A complicated but rewarding “read.”

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Peter Parker (Garfield), an outsider with an interest in photography, struggles with typical high school tribulations such as standing up to bully Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka) and untangling his tongue in the presence of his major crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Left in the loving care of his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field) when he was a boy, Peter is haunted by the long-ago disappearance of his parents and questions about his own identity. When he finds a briefcase left behind by his father, he’s determined to get to the truth, and his ensuing investigations take him to Oscorp and the lab of scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), Richard Parker’s one-time associate. Bitten by a mysterious spider, the teen finds himself in possession of astounding new abilities and faced by unfamiliar challenges. As Peter hurtles toward a showdown with the terrifying Lizard (the result of Connors’ experiment gone wrong), he must confront the mysteries of his past while making important choices that will determine the course of his future.

On the Web

Teens can visit the official movie website to sample the movie’s blend of gritty-looking realism, web-swinging acrobatics, and explosive action. Photos and brief bios introduce the main players, and viewers can browse video clips, an interactive trailer with additional click-to-access facts, and a gallery of inviting movie photos. A selection of wallpapers and other images are available for downloading, and YAs can also try their hand at taking on villains-and unlocking achievements- in a multileveled online movie game. Additional trailers and videos, photos, and movie news are available at Marvel’s website, along with a round-up of online games featuring the character. Kids who are curious about Spidey and his 50-year-long comic book career can check out the Marvel Universe Wiki for quick-click facts (powers, abilities, weapons, paraphernalia, and more) and a detailed biography that includes images and links to related characters and events in the Marvel Universe.

Book Tie-ins

The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie Prelude (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) draws in film fans with a movie poster front cover and a photo of Garfield and Stone in character on the back. This graphic novel opens with the newly minted Spider-Man taking on a bevy of masked fiends, while flashbacks to several weeks ago highlight important moments that have brought him to his current circumstances and state of mind. Some of the storytelling is done from Gwen’s perspective, adding depth to her character and foreshadowing the intricacies of the movie plot. High-energy artwork and succinct scripting keep the pages turning quickly. The book also includes an eye-dazzling reprint of an old-school “Amazing Spider-Man” three-issue comic book bonanza penned by Lee in 1969, in which the hero tussles with the deadly Lizard.

Also adorned with an inviting film photo cover, The Amazing Spider-Man: Secret Origins (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) collects together several comic book tales that inspired the film plot and provide insight into the characters. Included here are Lee and Ditko’s original story about Peter Parker’s transformation into Spider-Man first published in 1962; installments from the “Amazing Spider-Man” series detailing edge-of-your-seat encounters with the Lizard and other menacing villains; and a tale from Paul Jenkins’s “Spectacular Spider-Man” (2003) that provides a contemplative look at Peter’s inner conflicts and motivations revealed through a graveside “conversation” with his beloved Uncle Ben. Introducing characters such as Flash Thompson and Gwen Stacy, the stories also underscore Spider-Man’s trademark blend of superhuman ability and innate scientific smarts, his struggle to balance the commonplace challenges of day-to-day life with the demands of his alter ego, and his deep-seated sense of responsibility for taking care of others. The artwork is crisply and colorfully reproduced, and the volume ends with a 25-page section of detailed character profiles.

More Great Graphic Novels

Expand the movie-going experience—and update your graphic novel collections—with a selection of recently published works told with a contemporary sensibility that will reel in teens and offer a sampling of the vast body of Webhead lore.

Spider-Man: Season One (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) provides a slick update of the classic origin tale with modernized details and settings. Detailed artwork and snappy dialogue effectively convey Peter Parker’s experiences, from the fateful bite to his well-known power-equals-responsibility epiphany. A clash with the villainous Vulture provides a fitting climax and sets the tone for future adventures. Spider-Man’s acrobatic antics are depicted in vibrant hues and clean black lines, and the action often bursts beyond the panels’ borders to fill full pages. Plagued by self-doubt and forced to learn on his feet, Spidey is far from invincible and comes across as a believable and vulnerable teenager. Touches of humor—Peter gleefully bending Uncle Ben’s barbell into pretzel shape or trying out a sagging homemade costume and (thankfully) quickly discarded new name (Johnny Arachnid)—abound, along with web-flinging action scenes and instances of self-reflection, adding up to a well-paced and emotionally satisfying tale.

Avenging Spider-Man (Marvel, 2012; Gr 8 Up) collects together the first several issues of a new series by writer Zeb Wells and artist Joe Madureira that teams the Webhead up with other super-powered dynamos. In this stand-alone volume, Spidey goes underground—literally—alongside the gargantuan Red Hulk to save Manhattan from a subterranean invasion, partners up with the sharp-shooting Hawkeye on a stakeout, helps Captain America reconnect with the geeky comics-drawing youngster he once was, and more. Filled with dazzling colors, dynamic energy, and shifting perspectives, the artwork depicts both the events and the emotions. The storytelling is powered by spine-tingling action, clever plot twists, and Spidey’s snide humor and trademark quips. Revealing moments shine through, as readers catch appealing glimpses of Peter Parker’s personality—insecure, racked with self-doubt, kindhearted, often noble, and totally relatable to teens.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: Ultimate Collection (Marvel, 2012; Gr 9 Up), a hefty compilation of riveting—and more recent (2010- )—issues of this long-running series, gives teens a taste of a more updated version of the Webhead and his world. In these pages, Peter Parker’s personal life finally seems to be settling down (he has a steady girlfriend and a new dream job in a think tank at Horizon Labs, while Spider-Man (who gets to work alongside the Avengers and the Fantastic Four) tangles with a cavalcade of fearsome bad guys tricked out with all manner of super abilities and high-tech gear. It will take all of the hero’s ingenuity, scientific know-how, clever thinking, and perseverance to meet this new array of challenges. The adventures featured here represent a satisfying variety of moods and plotlines, as the protagonist wisecracks his way through conflicts, uses both his superpowers and wits in battle, grapples with personal issues, and bids farewell to a loved one. Readers will be swept away by the sublime storytelling and scintillating artwork.

Set in the alternate reality of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli’s Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man: Volume 1 (Marvel, 2012; Gr 8 Up) introduces the next-generation incarnation of the web-slinging wonder. Miles Morales, a likeable kid with loving parents, has just won a spot in a prestigious charter school that might be the ticket out of his dead-end Brooklyn neighborhood. However, when he is bitten by a mysterious spider at the apartment of his uncle (a thief recently seen rooting around an Osborn Industries lab), he suddenly finds himself with abilities that seem similar to those of-unbelievably-Spider-Man. Stunned, scared, and even a bit stoked, Miles keeps his metamorphosis a secret from his parents, while wrestling with what the change means to his future: does he have the wherewithal to live up to the responsibility that comes along with the power? His dilemma is pushed to the forefront when the real Spider-Man is tragically killed, and Miles must decide if he is ready to wear the mask. Filled with humor, heartbreak, and pulse-pounding action, the well-written script and detailed artwork create a believable and multi-dimensional character. The youngster’s perspective is spot on and compellingly expressed, as he navigates through difficult challenges and dangerous circumstances with courage and candor. It’s hard for anyone to step into Peter Parker’s shoes, but the charismatic Miles will quickly win over teens.

Movie and comics fans will find a wealth of information and full-color images in Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero (DK, 2012; Gr 7 Up). This handsome volume begins with a foreword by Lee, who puts a finger on why his character has made such a long-lasting impression (“…he’s possibly the most realistically human of all Super Heroes”) and continues to strike a chord with young adults (he is, after all, a teenager himself, and the first to step out of sidekick status and into role of full-fledged champion). Beginning with a recap of the character’s creation and comic book premiere in 1962, colorful spreads introduce Spider-Man (with in-depth treatments of his origins, suits, powers, web-producing abilities, and alter ego), his loved ones and allies, and the numerous villains who have set their sights on his destruction. An eight-page illustrated timeline details important events and relationships. Sections organized by decade outline major plotlines, providing plenty of meaty backstory and tracing the character’s evolution through the years. Overviews of key comic book issues appear throughout, providing a glimpse of each work’s plot and art and explaining its importance to the oeuvre. The well-written text is abundantly illustrated with spectacular reproductions of comic book art that span five decades and showcase a variety of artistic tones and styles. Both fun to browse and informative, this volume also deserves a place in library comic book collections.

Looking for materials for younger readers? Click here to check out movie tie-ins and related reads.

Publication Information

COHEN, Tom. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie Prelude. illus. by Neil Edwards. Marvel. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780785164999.

LEE, Stan & Paul Jenkins. The Amazing Spider-Man: Secret Origins. illus by Steve Ditko, John Romita, Gil Kane, & Mark Buckingham. Marvel. 2012. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9780785164722.

BUNN, Cullen. Spider-Man: Season One. illus. by Neil Edwards. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785158202.

WELLS, Zeb. Avenging Spider-Man: Volume 1. illus. by Joe Madureira. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785157786.

SLOTT, Dan, Fred Van Lente, et al. The Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: Ultimate Collection. illus. by Humberto Ramos, Neil Edwards, et al. Marvel. 2012. pap. $39.99. ISBN 9780785162179.

BENDIS, Brian Michael. Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man: Volume 1. illus. by Sara Pichelli. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785157120.

MANNING, Matthew K. Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero. DK. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780756690892.

Abandoned by his parents when he was a child, Peter has been raised by his loving Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field), but still struggles to understand the mysteries of his past. When he stumbles upon a briefcase left behind by his father, his investigations take him to Oscorp and the research lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), an award-winning scientist and his father’s one-time associate. As events unfold (and a fateful spider bite occurs), Peter finds himself with astounding new abilities…as well as a formidable new enemy, the Lizard (Connors in altered form). He soon faces difficult choices that will not only impact his survival, but also define his destiny as a hero.

Kids can visit the official movie website for a look at the action. Video trailers, character bios, and a gallery of colorful movie photos are presented along with wallpaper and other images to download. An online movie game allows users to take on bad guys while progressing through the levels and unlocking various spider-slick moves, equipment, and achievements. Youngsters can also cruise over the “Marvel Kids” website for more online games, a selection of Spider-Man online comics, downloadable character-themed drawing and activity sheets, full episodes and video clips from the Ultimate Spider-Man animated TV series, and an easy-to-use “Create Your Own Comics” option.

Book Tie-ins

Marvel Press, an imprint of Disney Books, has published a lineup of tie-in titles, each adorned with a fan-grabbing cover. A striking close-up image of the costumed superhero beckons youngsters into The Movie Storybook (K-Gr 5). Including plenty of dialogue and detail, this fast-read describes events and also emphasizes Peter’s gradual realization that along with his new superpowers come great responsibility. Ranging in size from small insets to a double-page spread, the numerous full-color movie photos—laid out with red and blue borders and be-webbed backdrops—include both character portraits and action scenes. This offering can be shared with younger movie viewers or enjoyed by independent readers.

Dr. Connors’s secret formula has unexpected results when the scientist is transformed into a rampaging monster, and all of New York City must Beware the Lizard! (K-Gr 4). Never fear, Spider-Man is determined to put an end to the danger and help his adversary regain human form. This staple-bound picture book blends a clearly written narrative with well-chosen movie photos and gritty, lizard-green backdrops and graphic designs. Becoming Spider-Man (K-Gr 2), a “Level 2″ easy reader, describes how Peter Parker goes from “normal kid” to web-shooting superhero. The book’s simple vocabulary, brief sentences, and open layout will encourage beginning readers. The accompanying movie photos add excitement and provide visual clues for interpreting the text.

The Tangled Webs of Spider-Man (Gr 3-6) will ensnare older readers with an intriguing cover image: Peter Parker wearing his everyday clothes, effortlessly affixed to a towering wall by hands and feet, his shadow falling in the shape of the elongated Spider-Man emblem. Filled by taut suspense, the narrative revisits highpoints from the movie plot with 10 short-story-like chapters. Bits of dialogue are interwoven into clear descriptions of the characters, settings, and conflicts. Each chapter is launched with a black-and-white drawing of Spider-Man in an action pose, and eight pages of captioned full-color film photos are also included.

More Spidey Reads

Catch the eye of moviegoers as well as other devotees of this ever-popular character with inviting titles starring the web-slinging champion. Marvel Press presents a series of staple-bound paperback picture books that pit the superhero against well-known villains: The Amazing Spider-Man vs the Lizard; Doctor Octopus; and The Green Goblin (Mysterio will be released in August). Each tale is told in a straightforward narrative and filled with colorful paintings that convey the action and plot details. Beginning with the kapow-packed cover images, the illustrations reflect the dynamic energy and shifting perspectives of comics-style artwork but presented in a larger-size, easy-to-view format. Just right for newcomers to the Spider-Man oeuvre, the texts explain the origins of each rogue’s super abilities (usually science gone wrong) and evil motivations. While there is plenty of punch-throwing, web-blasting, window-smashing action, the images and storytelling never tip toward overly graphic. The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection (all Marvel Pr./Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 3), a hardcover volume, compiles 20 action-packed tales similarly told and illustrated. Spidey tangles with a cadre of bad guys (including Sandman, Electro, the Rhino, and many more) while trying to balance his dual existence as superhuman and high school student and contemplating the essence of heroism. This hefty volume is a read-aloud or read-alone bonanza for the youngest Spider-Man buffs.

Great Graphic Novels

Power up your collection with age-appropriate graphic novels starring the web-slinging wonder from Spotlight’s “Marvel Age” line. “Spider-Man Set 4″ includes four spine-tingling standalone volumes: Spidey takes on both the Scorpion and Electro in one busy night and figures out how to make his victory a Two for One deal; survives a twist-turning encounter with a mysterious dragon creature and realizes that “…Everything You Read…” in the headlines isn’t necessarily true; finds himself Playing Hero when a villain-manipulated video game advances to a new level of destruction; and saves President Obama on Inauguration Day (all 2011; Gr 3-7) by foiling an evil plot. All of the tales combine fast-paced storytelling, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and humorous touches. Filled with vibrant colors and gloriously presented on large-size glossy pages, the dynamic artwork clearly conveys events. The volumes are attractively designed, and the publisher’s durable reinforced bindings ensure a long shelf life. Visit Spotlight’s website for other Spider-Man adventures.

Spider-Man: Tangled Web (Marvel, 2012; Gr 3-7), part of the all-ages “Marvel Adventures” line, collects together several exhilarating escapades in an easy-to-thumb-through paperback. Spidey clashes with a dream team of villains, attempts to save a family from being evicted by criminal mastermind Madame Masque, mysteriously switches places—and powers—with the otherworldly Silver Surfer, and more. The writing has a kid-appealingly contemporary tone, and the fast-paced action is balanced with humorous beats and the hero’s funny quips and one liners. Occasionally expanding out to fill a full page, the artwork panels propel the action forward while also emphasizing the light tone of the storytelling. A great first step into the world of Spider-Man comics.

Looking for Spider-Man adventures that will reel in YAs? Check out next week’s SLJTeen e-newsletter for a selection of tie-ins, graphic novels, and more.

Publication Information

SIGLAIN, Michael, adapt. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie Storybook. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-142315400-6.

CASTRO, Nachie, adapt. The Amazing Spider-Man: Beware the Lizard! pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315479-2.

PALACIOS, Tomas. The Amazing Spider-Man: Becoming Spider-Man. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315487-7.

CASTRO, Nachie, Tomas Palacios, & Michael Siglain, adapts. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Tangled Webs of Spider-Man. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-142315399-3.

WONG, Clarissa S., adapt. The Amazing Spider-Man vs the Lizard. illus. by Todd Nauck & Hi-Fi Design. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315423-5.

PALACIOS, Tomas, adapt. The Amazing Spider-Man vs Doctor Octopus. illus. by The Storybook Art Group. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314274-4.

BEHLING, Steve, adapt. The Amazing Spider-Man vs the Green Goblin. illus. by The Storybook Art Group. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314273-7.

The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection. illus. by various. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-142314292-8.

ea vol: Marvel Pr/Disney. 2012.

DEZAGO, Todd. Spider-Man: Two for One. illus. by Jonboy Meyers. PLB ISBN 978-1-59961-779-4.

_____. Spider-Man: “…Everything You Read…” illus. by Sanford Greene. PLB ISBN 978-1-59961-776-3.

SUMERAK, Marc. Spider-Man: Playing Hero. illus. by Sanford Greene. PLB ISBN 978-1-59961-778-7.

WELLS, Zeb. Spider-Man: Inauguration Day. illus. by Todd Nauck. PLB ISBN 978-1-59961-777-0.

ea vol: “Spider-Man Set 4.” ABDO/Spotlight. 2011. PLB $15.95.

Four vol. set. PLB $63.80. ISBN 978-1-59961-775-6.

TOBIN, Paul, J.M. DeMatteis, & Sean T. Collins. Spider-Man: Tangled Web. illus. by Matteo Lolli et al. Marvel. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-5258-3.

This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.

The Avengers movie premiered just prior to C2E2, but Marvel panelists seemed to be more interested in promoting their “Avengers vs. X-Men” (AvX) comic book crossover series, which was launched at the end of March. Marvel has several digital initiatives that tie in with the AvX event, including its Infinite Comics, which use limited animation and other digital tools to enhance the stories.

In the Marvel Ultimate Universe panel, participants discussed the new Spider-Man, Miles Morales, who was bitten by a radioactive spider shortly after the death of the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker. Parker lives on in The Amazing Spider-Man, and the two stories will cross over later this year.

Dark Horse announced two new comics set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one based on the character Willow and the other on Spike. A third Joss Whedon series, Drusilla, which was to be written by actress Juliet Landau, has been put on hold, possibly permanently. However, work has begun on another much-delayed title, Gerard Way’s Killjoys, with Conan the Barbarian artist Becky Cloonan supplying the art. Dark Horse’s marketing director, Jeremy Atkins, also highlighted its game tie-in comics, Mass Effect and Dragon Age, both written by the game writers and designed to fill in gaps in the game storyline.

At the Archaia panel, writer and artist Royden Lepp discussed his graphic novel series “Rust,” revealing that the second volume, due out this summer, will feature a new villain. Writer Jim McCann also talked about the second volume of Return of the Dapper Men, which will take the main character, Ayden, into teenager-hood. According to Mouse Guard creator David Petersen, another volume of the “Legends of the Guard” anthology is in the works.

Valiant Entertainment previewed four comics that it’ll debut this summer, which are based on classic Valiant stories from the 1990s. The first, which came out on May 2, is X-O Manowar, the story of a Visigoth who is captured by space aliens, steals a suit of living armor, and returns to Earth in modern times. The second series, “Harbinger,” due out in June, focuses on a group of teens with psychic powers.

While C2E2 focuses more on comics and less on movies and video games than other cons, this year brought one surprise crossover guest: actor Shia LaBeouf (Holes, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), who rented a table in Artists Alley and simply showed up with a stack of his comics, taking even the show organizers by surprise. Word spread quickly, and a line of fans quickly formed as LaBeouf signed copies of his three self-published graphic novels.

Check out Good Comics for Kids, a collaborative blog covering good comics for kids by Brigid Alverson, Robin Brenner, Katherine Dacey, Lori Henderson, Esther Keller, Scott Robins, Eva Volin, and Snow Wildsmith. You can also follow them on Twitter @GoodComics4Kids.

This article originally appeared in School Library Journal‘s enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here.

AGUIRRE, Jorge. Giants Beware! illus. by Rafael Rosado. 202p. First Second. 2012. pap $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-582-7.
Gr 3-6–A blacksmith’s daughter is unsatisfied with her peaceful life within the fortress of Mont Petit Pierre. Rambunctious and loudmouthed, Claudette yearns for action, like killing the giant that lives on the mountain outside of town. With her timid brother, Gaston, and her ladylike friend, Marie, she blusters her way through the fortress gate and into the Forest of Death, beyond which lies the Mad River, and then Giant’s Peak. Can these three kids, armed with a wooden sword, Marie’s intelligence, Gaston’s fortitude, Claudette’s stinky feet, and a pug named Valiant, survive in the wilderness and defeat the giant? Of course they can, but not in the ways they might have expected. The adults in the story are distinguished by exaggerated characteristics, but their actions are driven by realistic, largely generous motives. The story strikes a fine balance between being action-and friendship-driven. The art is similarly well-balanced: Rosado’s ink drawings are strong and lively, with expressive characters and well-drawn landscapes. Digitally applied color is natural, bright, and nonintrusive. Fans of Jimmy Gownley’s “Amelia Rules” (S &S) and Jeff Smith’s “Bone” series (Scholastic) will snap this title up.–Paula Willey , Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

For all the latest reviews in this section and more, see SLJ‘s new Reviews Center (Beta)!

The Reviews Center (Beta) is available free through March 1, 2012 to all users with a Library Journal or School Library Journal online account (this includes current recipients of our email newsletters). Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

Log in to the Reviews Center (Beta) now.

The following titles are reviewed in the May 1 print issue. Visit our Reviews Center (Beta) for the full reviews.

Elementary and Middle School

BEAUREGARD, Lynda. In Search of the Fog Zombie: A Mystery About Matter. Bk. 1. ISBN 978-0-7613-5689-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-8544-8; ISBN 978-0-7613-8744-2. LC 2011022374.
––––. The Nighttime Cabin Thief: A Mystery About Light. Bk. 2. ISBN 978-0-7613-5692-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-8543-1; ISBN 978-0-7613-8747-3. LC 2011016593.
ea vol: illus. by Der-shing Helmer. 48p. (Summer Camp Science Mysteries). glossary. CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. PLB $29.27; pap. $6.95; ebook $21.95.

DICKENS, Charles. David Copperfield. ISBN 978-0-7641-6304-3; ISBN 978-0-7641-4452-3. LC 2011920871
____. Great Expectations. ISBN 978-0-7641-6305-0; ISBN 978-0-7641-4453-0. LC 2010939397.
ea vol: retold by Jacqueline Morley. illus. by Penko Gelev. 48p. (Graphic Classics Series). map. reprods. index. Barron’s. 2011. PLB $15.99; pap. $8.99.

FARSHTEY, Greg. Mask of the Sensei. Bk. 2. illus. by Paulo Henrique. 64p. (LEGO® Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu Series). Papercutz. 2012. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-311-0; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-59707-310-3.

FOLEY, Ryan. Perseus: Destiny’s Call. illus. by Naresh Kumar. 86p. pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-93-80741-08-6.

WHITEHEAD, Dan. Jason and the Argonauts. illus. by Sankha Banerjee. 98p. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-81-907515-2-0.
ea vol: (Campfire Mythology Series). Campfire. 2012.

FORD, Christopher. The Wrath of Zozimos. Bk. 2.illus. by author. 224p. (Stickman Odyssey Series). Philomel. May 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25427-7.

JOHNSON, R. Kikuo, retel. The Shark King.illus. by author. 40p. CIP. Toon Bks. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-16-0. LC 2011026592.

LE GALL, Frank. Freedom! Bk. 1. ISBN 978-0-7613-7884-6; ISBN 978-0-7613-8546-2; ISBN 978-1-4677-0161-7. LC 2011021726.
––––. Rooftop Cat. Bk. 2. ISBN 978-0-7613-7885-3; ISBN 978-0-7613-8547-9; ISBN 978-1-4677-0162-4. LC 2011025646.
ea vol: illus. by Flore Balthazar. 48p. (Miss Annie Series). CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. PLB $29.27; pap. $6.95; ebook $21.95.

LAMBERT, Joseph. Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller.illus. by Joseph Lambert. 96p. (The Center for Cartoon Studies Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1336-2. LC 2011036324.

PETRUCHA, Stefan. The Hunger Pains. Bk. 4. illus. by Rick Parker. 54p. Papercutz. (Papercutz Slices Series). 2012. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-313-4; pap $6.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-312-7.

SPIEGELMAN, Nadja. Zig and Wikki in the Cow.illus. byTrade Loeffler. 40p. CIP. Toon Bks. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-15-3. LC 2011026676.

High School

GRANT, Pat. Blue. illus. by author. 96p. Top Shelf Productions. 2012. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-153-4.

RYUMON, Ryou. Bloody Monday. Vol. 1. tr. from Japanese by Mari Morimoto. illus. by Kouji Megumi. 208p. glossary. Kodansha. 2011. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-1-935429-22-7. LC number unavailable.