These diverse, compelling stories will hook readers.
Know a graphic novel fan? Chances are you do! In recent years, this genre has taken off and now there are so many wonderful and diverse graphic novels for young readers. The following high school and middle school graphic novels are some of our favorites for the classroom.
Middle School Graphic Novels
Finding a pet proves to be challenging for a kid with severe allergies. And unfortunately, the household is too distracted to notice.
This is the illustrated sequel to Craft’s “New Kid,” which won the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize.
The National Book Foundation’s new digital outreach series features a 12-event presentation of winners, shortlistees, and finalists, including international literature and translation.
In the main hall at Union Station in Washington, DC, during the holidays. Image – iStockphoto: Xackery Irving
Smith: ‘Fueling Important Community Conversations’
The National Book Foundation which produces the annual National Book Awards in November is a year-round operation with educational outreach programming made possible by a multi-year US$900,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
All announced programming for this season running through June in the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic will be held, of course, exclusively online, at no cost to viewers. Loyalty Bookstores in Washington, DC, is to again be the program’s bookseller.
The 2020 Caldecott Medal, for outstanding illustration
This year’s Caldecott Medal goes to
The Undefeated (Amazon) illustrated by the incredible Kadir Nelson, and written by Kwame Alexander. It’s on nearly every best children’s books of 2020 list, and has won numerous awards for its depiction of the strength of the Black contribution to American society. Start here for a must-have book for your collection at home, no matter how old your kids.
The 2020 Newbery Medal, for outstanding writing
I’m fascinated to see a graphic novel win the Newbery Medal this year, but the numerous awards that
New Kid (Amazon) by Jerry Craft received, make it clear that this book is something special. It’s about a middle school boy who loves to draw, but struggles to fit in at his new prestigious high school where he’s one of the few children of color in his grade.
For parents of school-aged children, it’s finally sinking in: This will be a long COVID winter. We’re already eleven months into isolation, which feels like the previous winter never really ended. We simply went from bundling up our kids before they played in the yard to slathering them with sunscreen (for the same yard) to bundling up again. And our hearts sink every time they wander back indoors. What to do
next?
In both our families, the answer is always books. Not only does an author reside in each household; in addition, Erin runs an elementary school library, and Sarah helps plan literary conferences. Plus, both of us are preliminary judges for the annual CT Book Awards: Erin in the Children and Youth category, Sarah for Fiction. We unabashedly consider writers to be essential workers.