Description
Book SynopsisA complete critical guide to the history, form and contexts of the genre,
Children's and Young Adult Comics helps readers explore how comics have engaged with one of their most crucial audiences. In an accessible and easy-to-navigate format, the book covers such topics as: - The history of comics for children and young adults, from early cartoon strips to the rise of comics as mainstream children's literature - Cultural contexts from the Comics Code Authority to graphic novel adaptations of popular children's texts such as Neil Gaiman's
Coraline - Key texts from familiar favourites like
Peanuts and
Archie Comics to YA graphic novels such as Gene Luen Yang's
American Born Chinese and hybrid works including the
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series - Important theoretical and critical approaches to studying children's and young adult comics
Children's and Young Adult Comics includes a glossary of crucial critical terms and a lengthy resources
Trade ReviewWhile this book is an essential read for teachers and teacher educators who hope to incorporate comics into their curricula and to expand their definitions of literacy and literature, it is even more important for its unwavering commitment to diverse texts. Tarbox brings an invaluable perspective forward, and her critical approach challenges educators and scholars of children’s and young adult literature to rethink the texts we see as valuable. * Inks: The Journal of the Comics Studies Society *
Table of Contents1 Introduction: “Comics Are the Language of the Future” The educative potential of comics The relationship between children’s literature and children’s comics Features of this book
2 Historical Overview The parallel development of children’s literature and children’s comics The anti-comics crusade The influencers:
Archie and
Peanuts The second golden age of children’s literature From manga to mainstream
3 Social and Cultural Impact Diversity and intersectionality Fan culture and author/reader interactions Censorship and age designations
4 Critical Uses Thematic concerns of children’s literature Formal concerns particular to the comics medium Case study: closure and layout Case study: repetition and braiding Case study: wordless comics and hybrid formats Case study: image/text relationships Case study: focalization and point of view Case study: line style and color Case study: manga Bringing it all together: writing about comics
5 Key Texts Adaptation Historical Nonfiction Informational Texts Memoir Fairy Tales Fantasy Mystery Glossary Resources Index
