What is Visual Literacy?

Visual LiteracyVisual literacy is the ability to

interpret, use, appreciate, and create images and video using both

conventional and 21st century media in ways that advance thinking,

decision making, communication, and learning.-North Central Regional Educational Laboratory

Why build Visual Literacy Collections?

• Circulation Statistics: graphic novels itypes comprise 30% of all checkouts

• 21st Century Skills : reduced digital divide with its demand for multitasking and trans-media navigation

• Center for Media Literacy

Vocabulary Builderstremendously

tardy

clobberbludgeon

fink

barricadevomitous

putrid

detestable

querychasm

impertinent

belly-achingtattler

All words from The Clouds Above

•Wordless, for engaging experience (think Flotsam by David Wiesner)•Style of Frog and Toad and Winnie the Pooh•Ages 9-12, but perhaps younger•If you don’t like it, you have no soul! - Amazon reviewer

Owly seriesby Andy Runyon

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales retold by Marcia Williams

•Grades 4-8•Elevated vocabulary with help from watercolor-and-ink cartoons•Chaucer’s essence•Friendly introduction to classic•Boisturous, zany, fart-scene!

The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane

•Absurd•non-linear storytelling•Surreal•appropriate for all ages

Baby Mouse series by Jennifer L. Holm

• Sassy in the spirit of Ramona, Olivia and Eloise

• Plays with power of imagination

• Grades 3-8• Captain Underpants

for Girls

Pinky and Stinky by James Kolchalka

• Brave piglet astronauts

• Appropriate for all ages

• Silly story of adventure and friendship

Tony Millionaire’s Sock Monkey series by Tony

Millionaire• Unique fusion of text

and image - 2 simultaneous stories eventually fuse

• Chance for children to work at how pictures/text can relate to one another

My Sassy Girl series by Ho Sik Kim

• Romance black comedy

• Teens, grades 10+

• Based on popular 2001 Korean movie

• YALSA’s top 10 Graphic Novels

The Metamorphosis retold by Peter Kuper

• Post-modern edge to old classic

• Kafka’s essence• More faithful than

many classic-books-to-graphic-novels

Now What?• Amazon.com’s listmania:

• Alternative Comics• Great Graphic Novels for Teens (part 1)

• 101 Best Graphic Novels (2nd ed)

• Graphic Novels: Everything You Need to Know

• Getting Graphic: Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy

• http://aclayouthservices.pbwiki.com/Visual-Literacy

More places to go…• Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art• Center for Cartoon Studies• Daily Comic Book News• Comics Worth Reading• Comics Continuum• Art Bomb.Net• No Flying No Tights• Comic Book Art Resource• Dark Horse Comics

Visual Literacy/Graphic Novel Blogs

• Manga Reviewer• EveryDay is Like Wednesday• Library Goddesses’ Graphic Novels• Best Graphic Novels Ever

YALSA’s Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth

1. Batman: Child of Dreams by Kia Asamiya2. The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman3. Vogelein by Jane Irwin and Jeff Berndt4. The Metamorphosis by Peter Kuper5. My Sassy Girl by Ho Sik Kim6. Yossel by Joe Kubert7. Paul has a Summer Job by Michel Rabagliati8. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi9. Little Vampire Does Kung Fu by Joann Sfar10. White Flower Day by Steven Weissman