My youngest loves the graphic novels. Sadly, many of them are not content appropriate for an 11 year old. However, I have to say, as a long time fan of Doonesberry, that there can be sophistication to the format. I am not sure that it is fair to dismiss alternative literacies. Somebody probably made dire predictions about the demise of literature when comic books hit the newstands. There is room for more than one kind of literacy.
Lori On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 08:30 , Bill IVEY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> sent: >Hi! > >While at NMSA, I came across an article in the "Wall Street Journal" by >Meghan Cox Gurdon. In it, she reports that "for the first time in the >history of the National Book Wards (...) a graphic novel - a story told >through a series of drawn panels, with bubble dialogue and little or no >narrative text - has been nominated in any category." The book, by the >way, is a young-adult book - "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang. > >I inadvertently recycled the article before coming home, but as I remember >it Mrs. Gurdon had seriously mixed feelings about the graphic novel >format. On the one hand, she was applauding its ability to get some kids >interested in reading who may never have enjoyed reading before, and noted >the historical and cultural connection with the TinTin and Asterix books >from France. On the other hand, she seemed to be worried that TV and video >games are already making for a generation less inclined to the kind of >deep thought that comes from spending time with more complicated text, and >that we might be creating a generation of semi-literate readers who may >never feel the desire to pick and up and appreciate a traditional book. (I >wish I could quote her exactly - sorry!) > >So I wanted to put those ideas out there and see what was on your minds - >thoughts, hopes, concerns, questions. > >Have a great week! > >Take care, >Bill Ivey >Stoneleigh-Burnham School > > >_______________________________________________ >The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > >To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ lit_literacyworkshop.org. > >Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
