Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Graphic nonfiction: Common Core resource

Book cover: "The Amazing Story of Space Travel," in the "Max Axiom STEM Adventures" series. The title character is in a space suit, in free-fall, tethered to the exterior of a framework in space
On a library internship discussion board, a classmate responded to my comment about sharing an appreciation for graphic novels with my internship coordinator.

My classmate pointed out that presenting different sides of an event, as was done with Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers and Saints, “seems like a great way to encourage critical thinking skills (that happens to align with the Common Core State Standards).”

My classmate added, “I think that teachers will need extra support over the next few years while they are transitioning to the new curriculum and the school media center plays an important role!”

I agreed and added that I’m interested in the role of informational texts that are printed in graphic format. (The Common Core emphasizes a shift toward increased non-fiction reading.)

I have my eye on a volume in the Max Axiom series that is housed in the Bellview school library. The title character is a “super scientist” who, in each book, explores an aspect of science or technology.

During a Common Core basics webinar with Amy Cox, library marketing manager with Capstone, Cox emphasized that books like those in the Max Axiom series are what she called all-in-ones: informational text, an alternate format and addresses a science standard. “More bang for the buck,” according to Cox, when building a collection of informational or nonfiction resources.

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