Kids' Comics Revolution!

El Deafo! Yotsuba!Super Smash Brothers, and more! We’ve had some terrific book talks on this show from kids on the comics they love. Some of you have even suggested that they’re the best part of the show. And why not? The enthusiasm of kids talking about the stuff they love is way infectious. So let’s turn it over to the kids, shall we? We’ve got kid creator and former Kids Read Comics guest Natalia on the show to give us a better understanding of what comics and games kids love, why they love them, and how they think about making their own. Links mentioned: El Deafo Kids Read Comics Ryan Estrada meets Natalia for the first time The Castle of Cagliostro Super Smash Bros. Matthew Winner’s The Busy Librarian blog Pixel Press game creator for iPad RPG Maker Yotsuba&! Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Avatar: The Last Airbender Saturday Supercast 38 – The Care Bears Movie, with Raina Telgemeier Cowa! G-Man nemu*nemu Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry Laddertop Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series Missile Mouse Battling Boy Daybreak Meanwhile Spera Bad Island Saga of Rex The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza The Long Journey Bibarel Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

El Deafo! Yotsuba!Super Smash Brothers, and more! We’ve had some terrific book talks on this show from kids on the comics they love. Some of you have even suggested that they’re the best part of the show. And why not? The enthusiasm of kids talking about the stuff they love is way infectious. So let’s turn it over to the kids, shall we? We’ve got kid creator and former Kids Read Comics guest Natalia on the show to give us a better understanding of what comics and games kids love, why they love them, and how they think about making their own. Links mentioned: El Deafo Kids Read Comics Ryan Estrada meets Natalia for the first time The Castle of Cagliostro Super Smash Bros. Matthew Winner’s The Busy Librarian blog Pixel Press game creator for iPad RPG Maker Yotsuba&! Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Avatar: The Last Airbender Saturday Supercast 38 – The Care Bears Movie, with Raina Telgemeier Cowa! G-Man nemu*nemu Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry Laddertop Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series Missile Mouse Battling Boy Daybreak Meanwhile Spera Bad Island Saga of Rex The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza The Long Journey Bibarel Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

Giants Beware! Mermin! Rafael Rosado, and more! Comics and animation may share a lot of DNA. After all, the artists are clarifying their worlds through use of shape, size, line, and color. But unlike comics, animated cartoons have sound and motion! Surely switching from animation to comics puts an artist at a disadvantage, or does it? We talk with Rafael Rosado, storyboard artist on shows such as Scooby Doo and Transformers: Prime, who shares his experience and observations on switching from working in animation to co-creating the popular graphic novel, Giants Beware! Rafael shows us how to draw Claudette, the heroine of Giants Beware! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Sk_eICRhg Links mentioned: Dragons Beware! Billy Ireland Cartoon Library at Ohio State University March: Book One by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell The Saturday Supercast, where you can hear Dave and Jerzy talk about cartoon shows Dan Mishkin and Jerzy talk about The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination Books recommended in this episode: Mermin, Book One: Out of the Water, by Joey Weiser This episode features songs by Superchunk, The Pixies, and Maury Law & Glenn Yarbrough. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

Artist Alley! Storm in the Barn! G-Man! Secret Science Alliance! And More! Tabling at conventions is an integral part of how cartoonists promote their work. But now that the American Library Association has opened up an artist alley for graphic novelists at their Annual Conference, we’ve got a brand new venue with an entirely different set of expectations. How do things change when selling your work to librarians instead of the general public? We’re joined by cartoonists Chris Giarrusso and Matt Phelan, who help us bridge that gap and reveal how librarians are our best allies in connecting our books with the readers we’re looking for. We’ve also got a book talk from teen contributors Shelby and Sara! Links mentioned in this episode: Chris Giarrusso’s G-Man series Matt Phelan’s new book, Bluffton Gregg Schigiel Paul Pope Jacob Chabot nemu*nemu Books recommended in this episode: Secret Science Alliance Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. This episode features songs by The Phenomonauts and Morrissey. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

Kids Comics Awards, Unsinkable Walker Bean, ALA GN Stage & more! We’re on the red carpet getting ready for a special awards edition of the Kids’ Comics Revolution! There are many awards for cartoonists and authors. The Harveys, The Eisners, The Ignatz, and even more in the world of children’s book publishing. And while every one of these awards are terrific honors and vehicles to introduce audiences to worthy works, might not there be room for one more award to specifically honor the authors of kids’ comics? We have a special panel discussion about the Kids’ Comics Revolution! Awards recorded live at the 2013 American Library Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois. We’re we are joined by Aaron Renier, author of The Unsinkable Walker Bean. We’re also joined by librarians Laura Given and Jess Stork Glicoes, who pick up the banners and sound the charge for the Kids’ Comics Revolution! Check out the KCR! Awards Ceremony held at Kids Read Comics 2013! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuMzT-UZxWg Photo of Jeff Kinney winner of Best Cartoonist and Best Comic/Novel Hybrid in the 2013 KCR Comics Awards! Additional Photos & Complete List of Winners in the KCR! Kids Comics Awards. Links mentioned in this episode: List of kid-friendly comics in 2012 Kids Read Comics Toronto Comics Arts Festival Article about Nickelodeon Magazine Comics Awards Videos by Kevin Coppa ALA Graphic Novel Stage CBLDF: Raising a Reader initiative Books recommended in this episode: Meanwhile by Jason Shiga Beanworld by Larry Marder Big Bad Ironclad! by Nathan Hale This episode features a song by Moxy Früvous. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow KCR! on Twitter

Nerdy Book Club! Kid Cartoonists! Comics in the classroom! & lots more! We’ve all heard someone say “well at least they’re reading,” as a defense of kids’ love of comics. And it’s true–comics can be a great inroad to developing a love of reading. But is that all comics offer? Or can we celebrate them for what they are? We’re joined by librarian Scott Robins, the author of A Parent’s Guide to the Best Kids’ Comics, and educators Colby Sharp and Brian Wyzlic of the Nerdy book Club and nErD Camp Battle Creek, who help us get past the apologies and celebrate comics for what makes them so great. We’re also joined by Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor District Library for some closing thoughts. And we have more book talks from Olivia and Natalia! Links mentioned in this episode: Kids Read Comics Toronto Comics Arts Festival “Libraries are Screwed” by Eli Neiburger Minecraft as an educational tool #nerdybookclub #bookaday Ann Arbor District Library comics site Instagram pic Colby Sharp posted of his kids sharing the mini-comics they made at KRC. Scott Robins interview on KCR! Episode 4 Books mentioned in this episode: Flight Volume 4 edited by Kazu Kibuishi Igloo Head and Tree Head by Scott C. Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan Adventures in Graphica by Terry Thompson Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. This episode features music by The Aquabats. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter! “It’s not that we make reading fun. It’s that we allow reading to be the fun that it is.” -Brian Wyzlic

Kickstarter! Crowdfunding! Alexis Fajardo, and more! The internet has opened the doors wide, to both published and unpublished authors. And crowdfunding services like Kickstarter have made things even more exciting. But is it really as simple as posting a video and reward tiers to Kickstart a project? What unforeseen challenges come with these new platforms? We’re joined by Alexis Fajardo, author of the recently funded Kid Beowulf graphic novel series. Lex shares his experiences in running a Kickstarter campaign as well as the research he did leading up to the campaign’s launch. Book Recommendations: +Anima, by Natsumi Mukai Links mentioned: The Sullivan’s Sluggers Kickstarter campaign The Aw Yeah Comics! Kickstarter campaign Jake Parker’s Antler Boy and Other Stories Kickstarter campaign (also check out his DRAWINGS campaign!) Kicktraq – Kickstarter stats tracker Funding the Dream Podcast Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. This episode features music by Let’s Audio. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Alexis on Twitter!

Kickstarter! Crowdfunding! Alexis Fajardo, and more! The internet has opened the doors wide, to both published and unpublished authors. And crowdfunding services like Kickstarter have made things even more exciting. But is it really as simple as posting a video and reward tiers to Kickstart a project? What unforeseen challenges come with these new platforms? We’re joined by Alexis Fajardo, author of the recently funded Kid Beowulf graphic novel series. Lex shares his experiences in running a Kickstarter campaign as well as the research he did leading up to the campaign’s launch. Book Recommendations: +Anima, by Natsumi Mukai Links mentioned: The Sullivan’s Sluggers Kickstarter campaign The Aw Yeah Comics! Kickstarter campaign Jake Parker’s Antler Boy and Other Stories Kickstarter campaign (also check out his DRAWINGS campaign!) Kicktraq – Kickstarter stats tracker Funding the Dream Podcast Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. This episode features music by Let’s Audio. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Alexis on Twitter!

Peanuts! Snoopy! Charlie Brown! Alexis Fajardo, and more! Happiness is…a new episode of the Kids’ Comics Revolution! Many of us have daydreamed about working on a book featuring characters we grew up with. It’s a dream job, right? Be careful what you wish for, because now you’re now the caretaker of a creator’s legacy that’s loved by millions. How do you create new works that respect the legacy without falling into an endless reiteration of old ideas? We talk with Alexis Fajardo about the new Peanuts comic books published by Boom Studios. He explains how he and his team combine creative sweat and exhaustive research to live up to the responsibility of making new stories featuring Charlie Brown and all of Charles Schultz’s iconic characters. Book Recommendations: The Far Side Too Short for the Court Comics and Artists mentioned: “Molly and the Bear” by Bob Scott “Jane’s World” by Paige Braddock “It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown” by Vicki Scott and Paige Braddock Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Alexis on Twitter!

Spider-Man! Avengers! Hulk Smash! Stuff Said, and more! For a long time superheroes were synonymous with kids’ comics. Many of us fell in love with the medium through the genre. But why are superheroes so compelling? Is it wish fulfillment? Do they operate as modern mythology? Or is it as simple as the joy of watching big muscley characters punch and blast each other? We sort it out with the help of Gregg Shigiel of the Stuff Said podcast, as well as some other kids who lend their thoughts with more book talks on their favorite superheros old and new. Book Recommendations: Avengers vs X-Men Maximum Ride X-Babies: Stars Reborn The Mighty Skullboy The Intrepid Escapegoat Defenders Tiny Titans Superman Family Adventures The Olympians Superman and Human Torch I’m With Stupid Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library. Theme music by Harry and the Potters. This episode also featured the songs We Are Superheroes by Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine , (We Wear) Capes by Uncle Monsterface, and Super Hero Me by Let’s Audio. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Gregg on Twitter!

Fullmetal Alchemist, Giants Beware!, Lunch Lady Comics, and more! We’ve talked about the importance of book launch parties in the past, but what about taking your show on the road? But how do you break into doing school and library visits? And how do you condense a lifetime of skill-building into an hour of presentation and performance? We’ve got Jarrett Krosoczka of Lunch Lady Comics, who shares his experience in leading author visits. Together we explore the narrative of an author’s presentation, how the author visit promotes one’s work, and also helps get more kids excited about comics. We’ve also got more book talks from teen contributors Randall and Kaprice, who demonstrate that it’s already here. It’s happening. It’s the Kids’ Comics Revolution! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRE8Zb_yRo Links mentioned in this episode: Dan Santat Tomie dePaola Jeff Kinney Jack Gantos Lawrence Lessig The Star Wars Episode IV “pointer scene” in Powerpoint Mummenschanz Book Recommendations (affiliate links): Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 Giants Beware! Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing and IndyPlanet Digital. Theme music for this episode is by Harry and the Potters. Special thanks to Recess Monkey for the Lunch Lady Comics theme song. And extra-special thanks to Alyson Beecher for arranging one of the book talks for this episode. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Jarrett on Twitter!

Fullmetal Alchemist, Giants Beware!, Lunch Lady Comics, and more! We’ve talked about the importance of book launch parties in the past, but what about taking your show on the road? But how do you break into doing school and library visits? And how do you condense a lifetime of skill-building into an hour of presentation and performance? We’ve got Jarrett Krosoczka of Lunch Lady Comics, who shares his experience in leading author visits. Together we explore the narrative of an author’s presentation, how the author visit promotes one’s work, and also helps get more kids excited about comics. We’ve also got more book talks from teen contributors Randall and Kaprice, who demonstrate that it’s already here. It’s happening. It’s the Kids’ Comics Revolution! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRE8Zb_yRo Links mentioned in this episode: Dan Santat Tomie dePaola Jeff Kinney Jack Gantos Lawrence Lessig The Star Wars Episode IV “pointer scene” in Powerpoint Mummenschanz Book Recommendations (affiliate links): Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 Giants Beware! Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing and IndyPlanet Digital. Theme music for this episode is by Harry and the Potters. Special thanks to Recess Monkey for the Lunch Lady Comics theme song. And extra-special thanks to Alyson Beecher for arranging one of the book talks for this episode. Follow Jerzy, Dave, and Jarrett on Twitter!

Zita the Spacegirl! Ben Hatke! Book Reviews! Welcome to a special BOOK CLUB edition of Kids Comics Revolution! This episode is dedicated entirely to the graphic novel Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, published by First Second Books. We hear from kids, teachers, cartoonists, librarians, and maybe even a few aliens to find out what they thought of Zita and her out of this world adventures. Also included with this episode is a lesson plan (PDF) with activities to participate in the world of Zita. Use it in the classroom or in the home! We even have an exclusive reading of a chapter from Zita the Spacegirl by the book’s author and his family! Our thanks to everyone who sent in clips and comments for this episode, including: Eti Berland Alison Beecher Jackie & Lily LibLaura 5 Rodney Karen & Nancy of Kidsmomo.com Olivia Kaprice Jason Viola Kelly Farrow Maria Check out Maria’s Space Camp photos here: We cannot display this gallery Music for this episode is by Field Mouse. If you liked Zita The Space Girl be sure to check out: Flight Explorer for a short Zita tale that predates her own graphic novel The Akiko series by Mark Crilley Sardine in Outer Space series by Emmanuel Gilbert and Joann Sfar Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing and IndyPlanet Digital. Follow Jerzy and Dave on Twitter!

Zita the Spacegirl! Ben Hatke! Book Reviews! Welcome to a special BOOK CLUB edition of Kids Comics Revolution! This episode is dedicated entirely to the graphic novel Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, published by First Second Books. We hear from kids, teachers, cartoonists, librarians, and maybe even a few aliens to find out what they thought of Zita and her out of this world adventures. Also included with this episode is a lesson plan (PDF) with activities to participate in the world of Zita. Use it in the classroom or in the home! We even have an exclusive reading of a chapter from Zita the Spacegirl by the book’s author and his family! Our thanks to everyone who sent in clips and comments for this episode, including: Eti Berland Alison Beecher Jackie & Lily LibLaura 5 Rodney Karen & Nancy of Kidsmomo.com Olivia Kaprice Jason Viola Kelly Farrow Maria Check out Maria’s Space Camp photos here: We cannot display this gallery Music for this episode is by Field Mouse. If you liked Zita The Space Girl be sure to check out: Flight Explorer for a short Zita tale that predates her own graphic novel The Akiko series by Mark Crilley Sardine in Outer Space series by Emmanuel Gilbert and Joann Sfar Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing and IndyPlanet Digital. Follow Jerzy and Dave on Twitter!