News and Reviews Archives
Going APE Over Two New Comics I was recently emailed a couple of comics in PDF form and even though they are completely different, I thought I would review them together.
This Year's FCBD selections Lots of stuff for younger readers, older readers and you. A couple of lesson ideas and lots of selection.
Neal Adams on Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws It has been in the Canadian Scholastic Book Club forms already this year, and now you can order it from Diamond.
Kids, Comics and A Literary Festival This year the local literary festival put an emphasis on youth and children by having workshops and school visits by the attending authors. Lucky for me, as part of this focus they brought in some comic creators.
All Ages Free Comic Book Day Issues Tracy Edmunds has put together for us what seems like all of the all-ages books being offered this Free Comic Book Day.
Amelia Rules! Deals With Iraq - Press Release - Comic books are known for their portrayal of heroes, violence, and victory...but never has a book gone to the heart of the sacrifices made by the children of war veterans.....
KIDS' COMIC CON -LINK -
So, What are you doing on Saturday, April 28, 2007? I'm giving a comic workshop at the Moncton Public Library, but if you live in or around New York City (Bronx Community College), you should check out KIDS' COMIC CON!
Free Comic Book Day Plans - 2007 UPDATE What comic shops are doing this year for you and your family on May 5th's FCBD. There are some great ideas already.
Press Release: "The Road to God Knows...is the story of Marie, a young teenage girl coming to grips with her Mom's schizophrenia - should appeal to teens.
LINKS: Our friends at The Graphic Classroom review Lions, Tigers and Bears Vol.1
Newsarama's ALL AGES READS is now archived on its own Blog.
LINKS: Read an interview with DIAMOND KIDS' JANA MORISHIMA
Read an interview with KEAN SOO creator of JELLABY
Retailers! What kind of kid/family friendly things are you doing for the upcoming Free Comic Book Day? Let me know, and I will let our readers know.
Mike Bullock goes Sub-Sonic Mike (Lions, Tigers and Bears) Bullock joins the Archie team this summer to write issue 21 of the popular SonicX series.
Cowboys and Wizards! Texas Strangers Out Next Week Check out this fun new book. It won't take long - I didn't write much. Lay off - It's Monday - and Report Cards are due!
Comic Book Exchange Program Mike Bullock is begining an international push to start Comic Book Exchange Programs in elem. schools and libraries. I had the chance to talk with him about it...
How to be A Comic Book Artist….Not Just How to Draw A one-shot handbook that takes an informative look at how comics go from words on a script page to pictures on the comic page.
Mr. Big: A Nature Documentary / Murder Mystery for Your Elementary /Middle School Class 'Nuff Said.
LINK: Chris Wilson is doing some great reviews on his Blog: The Graphic Classroom. Check it out.
Point Form Notes for March 09, 2007- Bits of All Ages news from around the web. Links to cheap comic news, KIDS LOVE COMICS DAY, a new Spider-Man cartoon, a review and a new children's book...
Nickelodeon Magazine All-Comics Special I didn't know much about this magazine a week ago, and I certainly didn't know that they had an all-comics special, but I thought I would give it a read...
POGO to be re-released. I have seen some of the Peanuts re-printings by the same company - Would I love to have this!
I just received this Press Release From Scholastic about their booth at the NY Comic Con - Feb 23-25. What a line-up! Jeff Smith to name a big one!
Out Right Now! you can check out the collected Franklin storites in FRANKLIN RICHARDS: LAB BRAT HERE, and Rabbit and Bear Paws by Chad Solomon is still available through Scholastic's Jan Arrow Book Club.
Free Comic Book Day 2007 It is almost that time of year again! Free Comic Book Day! Come in for the titles available and the date.
Kids Love Comics... Cards! Kids Love Comics, a collection of all-ages creators and publishers promoting literacy through graphic novels, is gearing up for next week's New York Comic-Con
LINK : HERE is an article on a new fantasy comic, Mice Templar, and HERE is a five page introductory story.
LTB WINS ANGOULEME YOUTH AWARD It's not often that an American book wins top honors at Europe's biggest Comic Con, but LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS VOL. 1(Tigres et Nounours) did.
LINK: "Comics In The Classroom" Essay on the Fat Jack Blog. It would be really good even without the mention of this site. Check out his first all ages review HERE.
The "Classic" Comics I'm not sure if they were ever really gone, but the use of comics to tell some of the great stories of classic literature is certainly here now, and here are two fine, and completely different examples.
Comics in the Classroom in the News! I did a workshop for boys on Wednesday, January 24th and it was covered by the local newspaper.....
ACTIONOPOLIS: When Adventure is Your Destination - A sort of review in which Scott sort of rambles and rants on about stuff until he gets tired of typing. Oh, and he also tells you what he thinks of the books.
Point Form Notes for Jan 14, 2007 - Bits of All Ages news from around the web. This time I link you to a couple of books that are new to me, and we see the first two put out for this year's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!
Marvel Adventures Articles and Previews Come in for previews and articles about a series that your kids will love if they are fans of the recent crop of superhero movies...Jan 06, 2007
Big news for CitC! A couple of big things have happened this past holiday season.... well, click and find out what.... Jan 05, 2007
Amelia Rules! Three Books To Make You Laugh AR is back again with a vengeance with three very attractive trades in that reduced size that the Scholastic run of Bone has made so popular....Jan 04, 2007
At Risk Kids, Suicide and Robin #156 The title sort of says it all. A very well done comic that uses a fine touch when dealing with a very sensitive issue...Jan 03, 2007
A New Look At Betty & Veronica's New Look Take a look at the controversial new image for the popular characters....
A Dynamic New Look for Betty & Veronica Holy Cow! Things are about to change in a big way for Archie and Friends!...
Get A Bit Haywire NOW! A Bit Haywire is out now, and since the interview we have here was a few months ago, I thought it was a good time for a refresher...
Paul Newman, Actionopolis and You Actionopolis announces the launch of a drive to spread cheer and promote reading. It urges publishers to donate material to Paul Newman's Double H Ranch
HERO FOUNDRY RAISING MONEY TO BENEFIT N.O. PUBLIC LIBRARYThe Hero Foundry have placed the 2006 Convention Season Sketchbook on eBay to raise funds to help put comic books into libraries, schools and hospitals that cannot afford them.
GIANT SIZED Point Form Notes Bits Of News From Around the Web: Links to Mouse Guard reviews, lots of news on a new line of books for teenage girls, and LOTS more....Nov 30 , 2006
Comic Site Team-Up: Free Comics and Specials! -CLOSED-This site and OOTWcomic.com once again team up to offer you fresh new (FREE!) material for your important work with at-risk students...
Point Form Notes Bits Of News From Around the Web: Links to reviews of the new Babysitter's Club GN, an interview with American Born Chinese creator, and more....Nov 22 , 2006
National Book Award Nominated American Born Chinese Are you interested in getting your teenager reading National Book Award nominated book and maybe talking to you about something? This book might be for you...
The Canadian début of the Degrassi: The Next Generation graphic novels at the second annual "Triple Threat" series of young adult graphic novel presentations Nov 17, 2006
Kat and Mouse: A Review Would you be interested in an intelligently written and smartly illustrated book that empowers young girls and even has a cool science experiment and...
One Year Later! Comics In The Classroom Turns One! ! It has been a long year, but never in my wildest dreams did I think when I launched this thing twelve months ago that it would have grown as fast as it has...
To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel is the beautiful story of the writer, Siena Cherson Siegel's life as a young dancer...
TALES OF ADVENTURE, HORROR & SCIENCE FICTION Eureka Productions announces the publication of the second edition of Graphic Classics:Jack London (press release)
Review - Emily Edison: Teen Heroine vs. Evil Robots, Monsters, and...Her Grandfather Kind of says it all...
First Look at STUFF Harper Collins has provided CitC with an early preview of Stuff by Matthew Armstrong and Jeremy Strong. See it here first!...
Anger Management Comic GIVEAWAY! --CLOSED-- Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Resource Teachers, Youth Care Workers, Principals, Parents! Looking for fresh new (FREE!) material for your important work with at-risk students?
Point Form Notes Bits Of News: Two big pieces of news concerning a new all ages publisher and an Archie fundraiser for schools....Sept 28, 2006
Review - Castle Waiting: What's It Waiting For? For the awful joke that answers that question, and for the review of this beautifully bound book you will have to click and read....
Kids Love Comics! I'm not sure how I missed this one, but I just discovered the KLC website dedicated to " to increasing awareness and interest in kids' comics" Learn more inside....
Links for Librarians! I just found a couple of good articles that you might want to read if you are thinking of adding comics and Graphic novels to your library. Here and Here.
New Webcomic: Eskimo Dave It is an all-ages quest story about a man and his best friend a wise cracking polar bear named Steve. A new episode goes up every Wed. (now added to this site's Web Comic page)....
Point Form Notes Bits Of News: Links to interview with Krypto The Superdog writer, Lost Colony Writer, Amelia Rules! news, and my press release....Sept 21, 2006
"World of Quest" storms comic shops next week Created by Jason Kruse, "The World of Quest" is a graphic novel full of adventure, humor and excitement....Sept 21, 2006
Point Form Notes Bits Of News: Links to Jeff Smith BONE WORLD TOUR news, Spider-Man and Spider-Girl news....Sept 17, 2006
Ahoy There Me Hearties! Ahoy There Polly and the Pirates! The Polly and the Pirates digest is out now and I am pretty sure that I have the only review with a Wiggles reference...
Things Take Flight: Review of Flight 3 This is the third in a series of anthology books with the loose theme of…wait for it….Flight! This is an incredibly beautiful book, so keep reading...
Bears And Old Socks = TOYS FOR TOTS All during the month of September, The Astonish Factory is excited to be offering for sale a small sampling of Original Artwork from Herobear creator Mike Kunkel...
Point Form Notes Bits Of News: Links to a new Lions, Tigers and Bears preview, links to a preview of a new book, A Bit Haywire, Mouse Guard #5 and more....Sept 8, 2006
Good Comics for Girls: The Babysitter's Club Graphic Novel Now, I was never the target audience for the original Babysitter's Club series of novels, so my only experience with them is seeing my sister carry them around...
Need More Narnia? Read Thieves and King The series so far has a strong Narnia feel to it without feeling like a copy of any of those wonderful books. But was it any good? ....
Hammers, Valkyries, Heroes, and Villains - All In Time For Summer Kevin Grevioux: Creator/star of the movie UNDERWORLD Is now creating all ages comics. What did I think of them? Keep reading...
Web Comics? What's That? Free comics, that's what. That's right. There are free comics on the internet just waiting for you and the young people in your life to access them. Here are a couple of them...
I Know More About Bees Than You Do! Well, I do after reading the science graphic novel Clan Apis.Are you ready for a comic book about BEES!? You may not think so, but you are...
These are some articles, reviews and bits of news that were not transfered over to the new site. This page will be where pieces from the home page go when they are no longer new.
HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH COMICS…
Do you know a teen that would fit this description? "Ever daydreamed about making your own comic book or manga? Lie awake late at night imagining being comics' next superstar? Ready to stop spending money on comics and start making it?" If so, come on in. Aug. 2 , 2006
One Mother's Tips for Kid-Friendly Comics Back when I was just building this site, I came across a series of reviews by Tracy Edmunds, and her young daughters Shelby & Sarah. Tracy and the girls are now writing reviews for Newsarama (see piece below), and she has offered me her old pieces to put up (I will be updating some availability information and editing out things that are no longer available). Thanks Tracy . Enjoy. July 23 , 2006
AMELIA RULES! - Press Release AMELIA RULES! GRAPHIC NOVELS SET TO DEBUT AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON
Spider-Girl Lives! This is the series that will not go away. It has been on the chopping block almost since it started. Loyal readers thought all their hard work keeping the book alive was finally over with the announcement that SG would be cancelled forever with #100 (out now). However, Marvel will be launching the new Amazing Spider-Girl. Fans rejoice. Read the Newsarama article HERE July 12 , 2006
One Of The Best Is Back: Franklin Richards #3! This came out on Wed, July 5. Read what Marvel has to say about it: You loved his first two smash-hit one-shots! Now there's even more to love, because Franklin Richards is back for more fun and mischief in this third spectacular collection of short tales... and, as always, his robot pal H.E.R.B.I.E. will be nearby to help prevent the potential disasters he unleashes.32 PGS./All Ages ...$2.99 July 7 , 2006
Great New Weekly All Ages Column Tracy Edmunds has been doing all ages comic reviews with her two young daughters for a while now. I will be putting up the still relevant portions of their old reviews later on this summer, but for now be sure to check out their new work at Newsarama.com every Sunday evening. Here are the four that have been posted so far: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4. June 30 , 2006
World of Quest: The Book That Has It All
If you were looking for a book to satisfy the action loving, booger joke laughing, magic/mystery fan in your family – Come on in! June 12 , 2006
Buzzboy Proves "Sidekicks Rule!" in August Sky-Dog Press Launches New Buzzboy Mini for Kids Month, announces"Create-A-Hero" Contest . June 11 , 2006
Team Zoom Offers Free Download in Lieu of 2nd Print Zoom Suit from Superverse has sold out. Its writer and publisher, John Taddeo has been a good friend to this site since last December and I am very happy for his success. I feel this book is fine for upper elementary students, and possibly for early elementary, but check it out first to see for yourself. Read the press release and then read the comic. Click HERE to go directly to the download page. June 11 , 2006
Interview and Award – All In One Day
You can check out an interview I did recently HERE. I also received this message from the site: “Because of your diligence in proving that comics can be effective learning tools, we have decided to make you Occasional Orb's "Double O Award" winner for excellence.” Thanks Occasional Orb. Also, you can read an interview I did in February HERE. June 3 , 2006
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Article
at Newsarama.com. Here is a great comic for boys and girls. Nice looking art, great writing and Spider-Man. Check out the article and then the comic (Cover shown here for issue on sale in June). May 24 , 2006
The Last Island Falling steering wheels, getting lost at sea - too far from your own deserted island, coutry mouse vs city mouse. What am I talking about? Come on in and find out. May 14 , 2006
Lions, Tigers and Bears! - Updated - The first issue of Mike Bullock and Jack Lawrence's great all ages series is out now (Price: $2.99 US/$3.65 CAN). Read a recent interview HERE. If you have not read any LTB go to runemasterstudios.com/literacy.php to read a free ten page complete story - Go HERE to read a preview of issue #2 May 11 , 2006
What Are Comic Shops Doing for FCBD? Every shop is different, and some are doing nothing, but here is what a few are doing for Free Comic Day.
Zoom Suit #1 - Out Now! John Taddeo, creator and publisher of the Zoom Suit comic has been a friend of this web site since last December. His new book is on the shelves now. Check out a preview HERE. April 26, 2006
Uptown Girl Newsletter Check out the newest Uptown Girl news from series creator Bob Lipski. Never heard of it? From uptowngirlcomic.com: 'Uptown Girl' is a black and white comic book that follows the misadventures of Uptown Girl, and her two best friends, Ruby Tuesday and Rocketman. 'Uptown Girl' is an all ages comic that appeals to kids and adults as well. April 16 , 2006
Out of This WorldWe teachers are always looking for resources to help us tackle difficult subjects with our students. Getting a dialogue started is not always easy. With that in mind, you might want to check out the Out of This World series. I have not read these books, but the OOTW site has previews of each of their issues (as well as a How to use this issue as a Guidance tool section). They deal with anger management, bullying, concentration and motivation. April 14 , 2006
Our First Award! Carla Beard from Web English Teacher contacted me this week to present Comics in the Classroom with its first award for being an "Outstanding Resource". Thanks to Carla and everyone at Web English Teacher. I am honored...March 31, 2006
Amelia Rules! That is the name of the comic I would like to share with you today, and truer words have never been spoken. Amelia certainly does Rule (lame, I know, but how could I resist)...March 31, 2006
The First of My Free Comic Book Day Reviews Come in to get early reviews and lesson ideas for some of the books being offered absolutely free on May 6, 2006....March 24, 2006
More Free Comic Book Day Selections Update - Come in to get more early reviews and lesson ideas for some of the all ages books being offered absolutely free at your local comic shop on May 6, 2006....Spring 2006
That's Oddly Normal From the Viper Comics press release: We all remember the growing pains of childhood. Trying to fit in, not looking quite right, being teased and having to relocate to a fictional world with fantastic creatures pulled from dreams and nightmares alike. Yes, some themes are universal... March15, 2006
Free Comics! No, Really What? You've never heard of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD)? Click HERE to find out what you've been mising. February 7, 2006
Mouse Guard #1 Sells Out Press Release
Archaia Studios Press (ASP) is amazed and pleased to announce that David Petersen's Mouse Guard, which hit retailers' shelves last Wednesday, Feb 22, has sold out. March3, 2006
Robots and Mice: Two Reviews in One
February has been a pretty good month for all ages comics. Two of the best come from the opposite ends of the spectrum. One is a serious book about rodents and the other is a silly book about a little boy and his robot nanny. I have been looking forward to both of these books, and I was not disappointed.
February 26, 2006
Dark Horse for the Whole Family: Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures and Scarlet Traces Picks for your younger children, for your teenagers and for you.
February 4, 2006