Definitions

Isn't a comic book the same thing as a graphic novel? No, not quite. A graphic novel while still has images and text within a panel like a comic books, actually tells a story just like a regular work of fiction. It presents a narrative that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, graphic novels can be published in multiple volumes. Yet, they are considered to be a single monograph. Examples include American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (First Second Books) and To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel (Atheneum Books).

Usually you will see comic books in a library or bookstore as a compilation of comics put into bound matter, whether it is a hard back or paperback. These bound renditions are actually a collection of serials, or periodicals which are what comics are. They come out on a regularly scheduled publication date. Or take a look at your daily newspaper. Often times, the cartoonist will then collect a year's worth of comics then bind that into a book. Examples of bound comic book compilations include The Complete Peanuts, Little Lulu, Calvin and Hobbes, and the Garfield books.

It was time to open up to a new chapter

When I started my current position as a children's librarian, one of my collection development areas was the juvenile fiction collection. As I was initially evaluating the collection and determining my users needs, I saw how lacking the collection was in juvenile graphic novels. The only books that resembled graphic novels were the Garfield books by Jim Davis and the TinTin books by Herge. I couldn't help but notice that many libraries around me (including where I worked) had graphic novel collections, but they were only for teens. I didn't like this concept and was about to make a bold statement by ordering graphic novels designed especially for children.

Finally the light bulb went off and I began a special collection of "Juvenile Graphic Novels". While the collection only took up two shelves, I was mighty proud because I knew that this collection would grow and many children would benefit from it. While I had less than 100 circulations the first month it was available, a year later, I have over 1,000 circulations a month and the collection keeps growing and the patron interest continues to grow. A big thanks goes out to today's publishers who realized that kids need graphic novels and comic books just as much as the big folks do!