This is a guest post from Mary Shaddrick, Media Specialist at North Jr. High. Read more about our Extended Mini Grant Program.

If your library is anything like mine, graphic novels – and more specifically Manga novels – do not sit long on the shelf. Every day, some come back and more go out the door. Students wait weeks to get the title they want next. I enjoy seeing students excited about reading, but I want to give them the opportunity to create a graphic novel of their own. 

Thanks to the generosity of CMLE and the extended mini-grant program, students at North Junior High in St. Cloud will be able to create their own graphics novels.  With the grant monies, I purchased 10 copies of “The Master Guide to Drawing Anime,” 24 sketch drawing pads, 24 blank comic book template books, and 24 sets of art supplies for sketching.  When a student checks out the drawing how-to book, they get the chance to also get the chance to receive the free art supplies. Everything they need to create their own graphic novel. 

The second part of the project will take place when students finish their graphic novels.  The finished book will become part of our media center library collection.  Students will have the chance to be an author, and their peers will be able to read and view their creative works. My hope is that we will have a growing student-created graphic novel section. 

Thank you to CMLE for providing this grant, and I will definitely share the student-created artwork as it comes to me.