Comics & Graphic Novels Archives -

Join the Peanuts Gang for Library Card Sign-up Month

September 20, 2013
goodreadswithronna
All Ages, Literacy

“Happiness is having your own library card.”
– Charles M. Schulz

This fall, a collaborative campaign between Peanuts and the American Library Association introduces Peanuts to a whole new generation of readers throughout school and public libraries.

In September—the American Library Association’s “Library Card Sign-up Month”—Peanuts is teaming up with the ALA to promote reading and literacy. The Peanuts gang will appear on:

a new Peanuts READ poster
reward stickers for young readers
two bookmarks

Snoopy: Cowabunga! A new collection of Peanuts classics for middle-grade readers from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

And for the first time, a Peanuts book—Snoopy Cowabunga— has been added to Andrews McMeel’s “Comics for Kids” program: As part of the READ campaign, AM creates companion reading/teaching guides that help parents, librarians, and educators teach with comics and illustrated novels—a relatively new classroom concept that has been recognized and embraced as an effective teaching tool. Studies have shown that comics can improve educational outcomes for all students and are especially effective in meeting the needs of struggling readers, special needs students, and English-language learners. Comics for Kids from AM strictly adhere to the Common Core Standards.

Snoopy Cowabunga features a collection of Peanuts strips that focus on Snoopy’s adventures and his hilarious interactions with the kids in Charlie Brown’s gang. Watch out for the new animated Peanutsmovie, coming to theaters in 2015!

“My husband, Sparky, was a huge supporter of reading, literacy and libraries,” says Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. “He would be thrilled to know that Snoopy—who is the master of adventure, after all!—is helping introduce children and adults to the greatest adventure: reading.”

To further mark the occasion, Jeannie Schulz has recruited her resident Vine animator Khoa Phan to create a special six-second Peanuts READ video using the Vine app. The video debuted earlier this month on @Snoopy.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month! (buenaparklibrary.wordpress.com)
My first library card. (mrsbongle.com)
September is National Library Card Sign-up Month (myyearinbookreviews.com)
Letter: Library card opens new worlds to kids (staugustine.com)

Not Another Nursery Rhyme Book, You Say?

Okay, I have to admit that when I was asked if I wanted to review a book of nursery rhymes, I wasn’t all that excited about it. But then when I discovered the rhymes are presented in comic book form, illustrated by 50 famous cartoonists, I perked up a bit.

The quality of Nursery Rhyme Comics ($18.99 First Second Books, Ages 3 and up) is so high, it’s sort of like a child’s version of a coffee table book, if you can imagine that. From the cover to the paper, the printing to the illustrations, this is a beautiful book. And it’s so entertaining too. Somehow reading traditional nursery rhymes while looking at cool comic illustrations, takes what were once classic rhymes to a whole new level of chic. In the front of the book is a wonderful intro by Leonard S. Marcus, historian and children’s book author. In the back of the book is a list of all the cartoonists, with short bios, so you know who is responsible for each comic.

Now that I’ve read the book, I must also admit that I love it so much, I am going to keep it for myself. It’s sitting right on top of the coffee table in the living room, for my guests to enjoy. I just hope no one walks away with it.

This book was reviewed by Debbie Glade.

I’m Just a Singer In A Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

Hi! I’m Coleman and I am almost 10 years old. I’d like to tell you about a book I liked SO much, I read it twice. The book is called Zebrafish by FableVision and is illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds ($16.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ages 10-14). You can read an excerpt from the book by visiting their cool website so just click here. The book came out last May, but I only just found the review in my backpack and my mom said she loved it, so, yeah, here goes …

Basically the book is about how an online band is formed (even though no one plays an instrument). It also deals with leukemia (which is why this book is recommended for Grade 5 and up) because a main character in the band Zebrafish gets this disease. There are five main characters in Zebrafish. They are called Plinko, Jay, Tanya, Vita and Walt. When I read about these people, they felt very life-like to me and also very nice. I think the author makes you care about everyone which is probably why I went back and read the book a second time. Because the story is told in comic-book form (a graphic novel according to my mom), with 19 short chapters, it is quick, entertaining reading. But don’t just take my word for it, read it for yourself and tell me what you think!