CVSD EAGLE VIEW MIDD L E S C H O O L The Occasional EV Library Newsletter Published every Volume 2, Issue 1 now and again September 22, 2010

Check it Out: Graphic Novels and Graphic Novels And Comics in Schools: Manga, informational books, adapted popular and Not Just For Laughs classic novels, Shakespeare, Greek myths, mysteries, hor- Graphic images and icons are everywhere. Like it or not, ror, and traditional comic we have to learn to make sense of a world of information that is strips are all represented in no longer entirely text-oriented. Whether you call them comics, Eagle View’s cartoons, visual literature, or sequential art, the collection. Here’s a few books that make up the genre we call “graphic samples of what’s available. novels” in the IMC are a great tool for doing just that. Graphic novels are quickly growing not only in popularity, but in depth and diversity. Once viewed, at best, as a bridge that could lead kids to “real” books, this is a genre that is now earning genuine respect. Gene Yang’s graphic novel, Graphic novels and comics fly off the American Born Chinese, won the shelves at Eagle View. If you haven’t read com- 2007 Printz Award ics since you were a kid, you might want to check out some of the featured titles for some A science fiction choose-your- reading suggestions, or just come to the IMC and browse. There own adventure with a mere are also great books 3,856 story possibilities. By about graphic novels. Jason Shiga. Scott McCloud’s classic book Understanding Comics is both fun and A fictional informative—I highly story about recommend it (and the space you can find it at the race. By IMC, too!) Jim Ottavi- ani. If you’re in- terested in using graphic novels with your students, here’s a few ideas. First, graphic “novels” is a bit of a misnomer, because nonfiction titles are also available. Your A graphic students can get content information from a graphic “novel” pre- adaptation of sented in a fun, visually appealing way: at Eagle View, we have the popular titles about World War II and the Civil War (these are among the novel by most popular books we have in the whole library), inventions, and Neil Greek myths, just as a few examples. Gaiman.

Graphic novels can also be used in reading and language arts classes. For example, according to an article published by the National Council of Teachers of English, comics can be used to teach literary devices, since today’s graphic novels often rely heavily on allusion, satire, parody, and irony. Using comics to teach punctuation is another natural application. Speech balloons are the comic equivalent of quotation marks.

Eagle View’s Tommy McGough has been using comics in a science lesson on genetics for several years. Students must create a new based on traits inherited from two superhero parents se- lected from the Marvel or DC Comic Encyclope- dias (both available in the IMC). Ever wonder if x-ray vision is a recessive or a dominant gene? No Girls Allowed tells stories Ask Mr. McGough’s students this spring. of women throughout history Want to learn more about graphic novels and comics? who have dressed as men in Check out www.diamondbookshelf.com for links to book reviews, order to gain entrance to places where women weren’t allowed lesson plans, articles, and general information. (such as the battlefield). By Susan Hughes. An original graphic novel fantasy by well- known author Jane Yolen about A biography of Harry a girl who is an Houdini, the famous expert at fencing. magician and escape artist, by .

Comics are capable of being anything the mind can imagine. —Bill Watterson

New This Year! ODDS AND ENDS

Eagle View 6th graders have been intro- The historical fiction sec- duced to the Young Reader’s Choice Award tion in the library has been removed. program, and are already reading the In its place, there is now a section books! The seventh and eighth graders will called “Lit Circle” books. This section be on board within the next two weeks. includes books that the library owns The list of 15 books includes mysteries, multiple copies of (between 6 and 20 fantasies, sports books, and historical fic- copies of each title are avail- tion—in other words, something for eve- able ).Teachers may check out these ryone. Please help us by making sure your books to use in their classrooms, or students get their passes to come to the have students check them out. A list library and pick up their books. of all 114 titles, which comprise fic- tion books representing a wide vari- The first book club of the year will be held ety of genres, is on the shared drive on September 23. Kids can bring in and under Library Information. share any book they read over the sum- mer. Next month’s book is Chasing Ver- meer. That meeting is tentatively going to be held on October 19. For info and per- mission slips, have your students see Mrs. Bokelman, Mrs. Sevcik, Mrs. Maus, Mrs. Van Zile, Mrs. Ewert, or Mrs. Daly. What’s On the IMC website?

Trying to remember the MLA rules for citing a website? Wondering if the library has a copy of the seventh Harry Potter book available? You can find out the an- swers to these questions—AND MUCH, Check the shared drive under “Library MUCH MORE—just by visiting the Ea- Information” for the student aide sched- ule, flex guidelines, a listing of our periodi- gle View Library/IMC website. cal subscriptions, and general policies.

Go to the “How to Cite Sources” link (or direct your students there) for examples, style guides, and links to citation builders.

To access Destiny (our library catalog) Banned Books Week starts and other research databases, go to the October 25!! Check out the “Research Databases Online” link. There, American Library Associa- you’ll be able to connect to Destiny, tion’s website for more infor- World Book Online, Proquest, Power mation. Celebrate your intel- Library, and other databases. From lectual freedom by reading one school, you will be able to connect di- of the top ten banned books of rectly. From home, you will need logins 2009. Try To Kill A Mocking- and passwords to get to some of the data- bird or Twilight, both of which bases. An EV Research Databases Home Access Guide is available for students and are on the list and available in staff in the IMC that includes all the infor- the Eagle View IMC! mation you need to use CV databases at home.

You can also find out more about the PA Young Reader’s Choice program, web evaluation and other research skills, new books in the library, and other fascinating and useful information on the IMC web- site. Past copies of The Occasional Li- brary Newsletter are available there too! www.uscupstate.edu/eblast/default.aspx?id=29018