The Strand Tote Bag Design Contest

Today marks the opening of The Strand's Tote Bag Design Contest! TOON Books has partnered with the Strand (and so has the School of Visual Arts, Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics) to host this opportunity for emerging artists around the world. The contest ends March 31st and will be judged by:

-Francoise Mouly, Editorial Director of TOON Books and Art Editor of The New Yorker
-Art Spiegelman, TOON Books author and first contributor to the Strand's Artist Tote Series
-Steven Heller, co-chair MFA Designer as Author Program, School of Visual Arts
-R. Sikoryak, creator of Masterpiece Comics
-Adrian Tomine, author of the bestselling book, Shortcomings.

Besides being a great resource for children's literature, the Strand has been wonderfully supportive of TOON Books. Next month, they are hosting two TOON events: On April 8th, a Family Hour reading of Zig and Wikki in "Something Ate My Homework" with Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler AND on April 22nd, a presentation by Geoffrey Hayes, author of the Geisel Award-winning Benny and Penny in the Big No-No.

Geisel-Award Winning Mice are Back for More Fun

Young readers and their teachers are ready to embrace Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker, which will be released in April alongside Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework.

Just a few months after his last early reader comic book, Benny and Penny in the Big No-No, was awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award by the American Library Association, bestselling author Geoffrey Hayes is giving TOON Books fans another charming tale featuring the mischievous mice.

In The Toy Breaker, Benny and Penny hide their toys from their destructive cousin. “This book holds so much power in its message,” said Andrew Kauffman, second-grade teacher at Chandler Elementary School in Indiana. “Students can really relate to [Benny and Penny’s] thoughts and feelings” in this expressive, beautifully crafted book.

Kauffman also praised the comic format as an exceptional educational tool: The “illustrations and comic layout really convey the important parts of the story to the students…Not only does this allow for students to see a different set-up in terms of reading style, but [it] conveys the sense of voice that we want our students to use” when developing their own work.

Young readers from Indiana to Oregon and Maine are sure to be delighted by Hayes’ thrilling new story. Look for it everywhere after its April 6^th release!

TOON into the Classroom at Chandler Elementary

As the Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework’s April release date quickly approaches, librarians and educators across the country are raving over the early copies we sent out.

In Zig and Wikki, the very first science-based early reader comic, two little space travelers land on our planet and find strange creatures like flies, frogs, and raccoons. Through their wild adventures, Zig and Wikki provide young readers with fun facts about nature. Second grade teacher Andrew Kauffman said, “This is such a great book to use when talking to students about science and how to include informational text in their own writing.”

Kauffman, who teaches at Chandler Elementary School in Goshen, IN, praised the brand-new TOON Book for “the great information it conveyed about animals here on earth…Tying the food chain into a graphic novel is one of the best ways for students to understand” the ties between different animals. “For that,” Kauffman continued, “I am very thankful.”

Kauffman told us his students ask for TOON Books all the time. Neither they nor you will have to wait much longer for new great, educational comics! Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework will be released on April 6^th…Let the countdown begin!

TOON Raffle Giveaway Draws to an End

Tomorrow we will be announcing our 2010 TOON Books Raffle Giveaway winners! But first, we would like to thank everyone for your enthusiasm and participation!

Before we draw names, let’s look at some of the flattering feedback we’ve received:

Head of Youth Services at Wood County District Public Library, Maria Simon, says: “Spotting your email had me so excited! I love the TOON books. We do need more at my public library. These books really take our children far with lots of fun. Thank you TOON.”

“What a wonderful experience it was to hear Ms. Mouly speak along with Harry Bliss in Naperville last year,” says Nicki Clegg, the library media specialist at Churchill Elementary School in Illinois. “The books are an excellent, wholesome choice for young readers.”

Gretchen Schroeder, Woodlynde School librarian of Strafford, PA, says our books have helped her work with reluctant readers: “We have been trying to introduce our lower school students with reading differences to graphic novels to encourage them to read more!”

Thanks again for all of the positive remarks! And be sure to stay TOON-ed for our raffle winner announcement!

PRINT IS THRIVING! (at least where we stand...)

TWO YEARS AGO, LIBRARIAN MICHELE GORMAN'S ARTICLE in School Library Journal about comics for young children was summarized thus in ERIC, the government database used by "education researchers, teachers, librarians, administrators, education policymakers, instructors and students in teacher-preparation programs, parents, the media and business communities, and the general public."

"After years of fighting for shelf space in libraries and classrooms, graphic novels have finally become an acceptable alternative to their prose-packed counterparts--and kids can't seem to get enough of them. For that matter, neither can grown-ups. In 2006, U.S. consumers dropped an estimated $330 million on graphic novels and comics, with librarians accounting for about 10 percent, or $33 million, of those purchases. Publishers have taken advantage of the format's rock-star status by launching special imprints--such as TOON Books, the new imprint from Raw Comics, published by "New Yorker" magazine art editor Francoise Mouly and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman--that feature developmentally appropriate comics for the pre-K-6 crowd. That means graphic novels are now addressing important personal and social issues like the power of imagination, being true to one's self, the benefits of teamwork, and how to cope with divorce and bullying. Teachers and librarians are also beginning to realize that these books are perfect for young readers who are making the transition from picture books to text-only titles. And with graphic novels' hypnotic power to pull kids into a story, they're also perfect for promoting recreational or free voluntary reading--one of the most effective ways to increase literacy and create lifelong readers."

And now, ERIC cross-references the above abstract with a recent article by educator Peter Gutierrez, also from School Library Journal, entitled: "Good & Plenty: It Used to Be Hard to Find Good Graphic Novels for the K-4 Crowd. My, How Times Have Changed," which prominently features (you guessed it!) the TOON Books!

From our point of view, as more and more parents discover how much young children love comics and books in general, the future of print looks rosy.

Expanding what will work for beginning readers!

Susan M. Veltfort, the chair of the Geisel committee, came over to meet us at the RAW Junior office (once her formidable research skills allowed her to find us.) We hosted a lunch to celebrate our sweep of the awards given "to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year." In attendance were, left to right: (seated) Françoise Mouly & Susan M. Veltfort; (standing) Geoffrey Hayes, Michael Rockliff, Leonard Marcus, Leigh Stein, Jon Scieszka and Trade Loeffler; (photo) Iru B.

While Susan could not talk about the committee's deliberations, she could tell us her opinions of the TOON Books. She's also hugely knowledgeable and the selection librarian for a large and well-funded library system in Washington State, so we were all ears.

Susan talked about how well the Geisel Award winner, Geoffrey Hayes' The Big No-No!, holds up when you dissect it with careful scrutiny. She appreciated the way the story and the words are perfectly suited for beginning readers or for older 'reluctant' readers. She loved the fact that the story starts out on the cover and draws the reader in. She pointed out how the title page echoes a 'hole in the fence' motif that recurs through the book. She noted that a TOON Book carefully blends easy and difficult words, that the harder words are made clear visually, and that it involves a lot of repetition, a thrill for the young reader. She appreciated the way the soft palette (done in colored pencils) underscores the mice's gentle personalities. Susan also mentioned that, while the twist ending in Geisel Honor Book Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith (of Bone fame) defies reality, she kept in mind that mice don't 'really' talk. She talked about how the TOON Books expand what's possible for beginning readers. Her committee's awards greatly expand what's possible for the TOON Books, so we could only chime in with a love fest of mutual appreciation.

Librarians Across the Country Chime In

Our raffle entrants really know how to make a publishing house blush. Esther Frazee of Tenacre Country Day school says, “You have provided so many of the first/second graders I teach with fun books. You are making them love reading. I teach pK-6 and many parents come in to say ‘thank you’ when I send home a TOON book with their child."

Lucie Dubuc of St. John’s School adds, “I read Stinky and I’m in love with him! I want to offer all the series to the students in my library.”

We are still reeling over the news from the ALA Midwinter Meeting and wish to express our deepest gratitude to the gatekeepers of children’s literacy by extending our TOON Books Raffle. Best of luck and thank you for your continued love and support!

What comics appeal to kids? Ask the librarians.

We've seen that librarians have been at the vanguard of the “comics for kids” revolution, while the medium’s self-styled experts lag far behind, not quite understanding which comics actually appeal to today’s kids.

Our allies in the fight for good comics for kids recently asked, Are all comics for kids? Esther Keller notes, "...the problem, in my opinion, is that the perception is that if it's a comic, it's for kids. And that's just not true. Those of us who are avid readers of comics know that there are comics for kids and comics for teens and comics for adults. The casual reader or the person who just knows they exist and doesn't care to read them probably doesn't realize the distinction."

Her co-blogger Kate concludes, "I'd love to see more publishers follow the example set by Toon Books; the editors worked with educational specialists to ensure that their scripts were suitable for beginning reader."

Thanks, Kate!

And to show our support for our librarian allies and celebrate the ALA Midwinter meeting in Boston, TOON Books is pleased to announce a raffle!

IT'S FREE FOR LIBRARIANS TO ENTER now at TOON-BOOKS.COM/RAFFLE.PHP

Lucky winners will receive a set of books of their choice for their library, as well as an advance copy of Zig and Wikki in “Something Ate My Homework,” the FIRST science-based easy-to-read comic!

Comics as Readers Theater

The Graphic Classroom, one of our faves and a great resource for teachers and librarians interested in comics, makes the wise suggestion of using graphic fiction as a perfect tool for read alouds! Here's what Chris Wilson has to say about our superhero easy reader, Mo and Jo:

I have used several Toon Books with Kindergartener, first and second graders, including MO AND JO. The students loved how the two siblings fight, fight, fight, but then come together in the end. Such experiences resonate with children who have brothers or sisters. They understand and can relate and it is that relevance and attachment to literature that helps build strong ties to literature.

Do not be afraid to put kids in groups of two or three and have them do a shared reading. The students can each pick a character (which can include a narrator, human characters, creatures, animals, or inanimate objects) and read the book aloud, each reading his or her part at the appropriate time. It builds a sense of community – a shared literature experience – that is unique to comic literature.

Of course, as many of you know, Mo and Jo isn't the only book that makes for great readers theater! Be sure to check out our lesson plan and activity sheet for Luke on the Loose by Harry Bliss, and maybe even watch our accompanying video of wild pigeon children.

Sarah, a fan and educator, says:

I just love the TOON Books series, and have used them with 1st and 2nd graders in a variety of ways this semester. They are a very motivating genre, especially for struggling readers. Further, it seems as if they are easier to comprehend as the text is mostly conversational speech and the illustrations hold a lot of information.

And now readers theater is something she can't wait to try!

Give the gift of reading this holiday season!

Struggling to finish your holiday shopping? Be sure to check out our brand-new Beginning Reader Basket and “I Don’t Like to Read” Basket before raising the white flag. Our carefully curated baskets are sure to please even the most persnickety readers (not to mention persnickety parents too).

For reluctant readers, we offer the "I Don't Like To Read" Basket, because within every child who doesn’t like to read is a child who hasn’t found what she or he enjoys reading. For our youngest readers, we start them off running with the Beginning Reader Basket.

At only $35, there may be a little left over for you know who.

Zig and Wikki: First Peeks

- Dr. Katie Monnin calls Zig and Wikki "A+ material for any early reader teacher of science!!!"

- Esther Keller at Good Comics for Kids talks to author Nadja Spiegelman about how she got the idea to write a comic with science facts woven in:

When my brother Dash was little, all he brought home from the library were photo books about guinea pigs and sea turtles and I often found myself jealous of how many cool things he knew. I wanted to write a story that would have both hugs and bugs— a friendship and gross facts about flies.

To request a review copy, write to RAW.JUNIOR (at) GMAIL (dot) com

Are comics fans the worst advocates for kids comics?

Heidi MacDonald, PW's queen of comics blogging, recently wrote about an interesting phenomenon: comics fans pushing old favorites (like Superman) on kids in lieu of more age and reading level-appropriate comics (like TOON Books). She laments:

"From where I sit, it’s pretty obvious that book publishers haven’t really figured out how to do kids graphic novels."

This got us thinking about a misunderstanding we keep running into.

Kids comics = kids graphic novels
You wouldn't give a five-year-old a copy of Wuthering Heights, just as you wouldn't give him or her a copy of Watchmen. I had a librarian come up to the TOON Book table at the NYC School Librarian Conference, and tell me that she had a 1st grader who wanted to check out a "graphic novel" adaptation of Macbeth. He thought it would be "easy" because of the illustrations. She handed him a TOON Book instead.

"The TOON Books are marketed as kid books, NOT as graphic novels," our editor Françoise Mouly says. "It's a crucial distinction. They will be discovered, bought, recommended by parents, teachers, librarians, NOT by comics fans. They are 100% targeted to parents of kids who are learning to read, and completely uninteresting to 99.99% of comics fans. Parents, teachers and librarians are the ones for which we publish."

Timothy Callahan, reviewing Art Spiegelman's Jack and the Box for ComicBookResources.com, wrote, "...without my seven year-old son's input, I'm not sure I would have given this book three and a half stars. From my jaded perspective, the book looks too simple, even for a child."

At the end of the day, we're not publishing for Timothy Callahan. We're publishing for his son.

Bridging Ideas using Big Fat Little Lit

We received an awesome email from Professor James Carter in El Paso this week, about his inventive use of the Little Lit series in his English 3349 class. He writes:

"For the second year in a row, I've asked students in my Dramatic Modes of English Language Arts teacher-education class to consider how they might use comics stories as thematic bridges into more traditional texts. Big Fat Little Lit is one of the key texts they use for their comics stories. This year's crop of ideas is pretty impressive!"

We agree! See what they're up to.

And for more on Little Lit, including online stories and games, click here.

Comics for Kids at KingCon

Yesterday I was lucky enough to sit on a panel moderated by Brian Heater, with Matt Loux, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Sara Varon, about "the past, present, and future" of comics for kids! Three real live kids attended, and I'm not sure how into our discourse they were, but I gave them a couple TOON Books, and we saw "kids love comics" in action.

Raina Telgemeier, artist behind the graphic novel Babysitters Club series, talked about target age ranges, and how adding a graphic component makes it possible for a younger reader to access the same book that's targeted for someone older.

Dave Roman made a lot of interesting remarks about gender and content: girls have no problems reading books with a boy protagonist, but boys are less likely to read something with a heroine.

We talked about librarians, what important gatekeepers they are to getting comics into libraries and classrooms.

Last Tuesday, while sitting at the TOON table at the NYC School Librarian Conference, one enthusiastic librarian picked up one of our books, looked at me with surprise, and said, "It's like a real book!"

Amen to that.

Reading a Comic Strip

Have you checked out TOON in the Classroom lately? Not only can teachers find lesson plans and activity sheets, but you can also watch kids act out Luke on the Loose, and listen to your favorite TOON Books read aloud by the authors in the TOON Reader! Hear Otto's Orange Day read by artist Frank Cammuso, and Little Mouse Gets Ready, read by Jeff Smith!

We loved finding the blog of Mrs. Clarken's class. To teach a lesson on reading a comic strip, she assigned Otto's Orange Day, and asked the students to comment on what makes a comic different from a picture book. One child wrote in:

"Mrs. Clarken, I think that when he got the lamp he got so, so, so, so, so, pleased but I think he will soon discover that he should not have done that."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.