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Got kids? Nieces? Nephews? Students? Or just love reading something fun and not too heavy-handed? Here are some new titles you might enjoy!
(But first, the serious boilerplate:)
So, here’s what caught my eye. Please comment below, and please feel free to mention titles I may have marginalized or overlooked. My tastes are eclectic, but there’s stuff which doesn’t interest me, or doesn’t evoke much of a response. I respect everyone who manages to publish something, but with some 400 graphic novel titles a month, I have to be selective.
CAVEAT: As I discovered while doing the publisher posts, that some titles have been canceled or postponed. The titles below, the information is subject to change. Some may already be out and on sale, some may be vaporous. Covers and text are supplied by the publishers.
Oh, and the advisory: I am employed as a bookseller. Nothing I say here or anywhere else online has any connection to my employer. I know my employer can take umbrage at any association people may make between my private and professional activities, so I’m careful to let Lions Mane Jellyfish be.
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Betty & Veronica: Best Friends Forever
Dan Parent
Trade paperback, $9.99
9781879794764, 1879794764
Author Bio: Dan Parent (born 1964 in St. Albans, Vermont) is an American comic book artist and writer best known for his work for Archie Comics. A graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Parent began working for Archie immediately after graduation. His writing of the Love Showdown series from 1994 received widespread attention. Parent has also illustrated Felix the Cat, Barbie, Disney Adventures, and a wide variety of other titles.
Summary: Betty & Veronica’s very first full-length graphic novel story is another major step forward for the Archie book line! A follow-up to the successful full color Betty & Veronica: Storybook graphic novel collection of fun fairy-tale sendups—Best Friends Forever should continue to gain ground with girls in bookstores and libraries.
Features an engaging story celebrating the power of friendship featuring the most famous BFFs in all of comics in an all-out reality show friendship competition!
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Hades: Lord of the Dead
George O’Connor
Hardcover, $16.99
9781596437616, 1596437618
Author Bio: GEORGE O’CONNOR is the author of several picture b
Wow, that’s a load of stuff my fiancee would be interested in. She’s going to be an elementary school teacher, and wanted to incorporate comics into the class library.
Also, there’s just something about one of the Zenescope guys doing an all ages book that is delightfully warped. But good on him!
What? No POLLY & THE PIRATES vol. 2? Ted Naifeh and Robbi Rodriguez are awesome. You are sentenced to walk the plank, reporter!
Zenescope started the Silver Dragon imprint for young readers in 2010.
http://www.silverdragonbooks.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=news
One of their FCBD issues last year showcased the Discovery Channel titles. (Sharks! Dinosaurs!)
Lerner has a good line of graphic novels (including a “choose your own adventure” line!) Toon Books, via Candlewick, specializes in beginning reader titles.
(I’m working on a “what I saw” post from the recent American Library Association conference. Lots of kids comics!)
Billy Fog and Spera are both better suited for tweens and older, not for younger readers – they’re both excellent books, but younger kids who are easily scared should not read Billy Fog (they’ll be crying for days after, and probably scared to sleep, too). On the other hand, younger kids who have a sort of ghoulish sense of humor will really enjoy it.
Capstone/Stone Arch’s Graphic Revolve line has been publishing some interesting graphic adaptations of fairy and folk tales; this season, the Kipling Just-So Stories are being adapted, so there are 6 of them, all with uniform covers.
Thanks, Kat!
That, folks, is why you need libraries and librarians! Let them know what you like, what you need, and they’ll recommend all sorts of stuff! (And advise you if something you picked might not be quite what you want.)
It would be helpful to know the publishers of each project… otherwise, it looks like a lot of good books are on their way!