MEL STOREY

Graphic Narrative

Children’s Books

Picture Books; Aimed for children 0-5 years old. These illustrated book are

usually printed onto thick card or board so children can easily turn the pages. They are to do with simple things that need to be learnt such as the alphabet, shapes and numbers. They rarely have many words to them, when they do they are usually one bold big word that represents the picture on the page.

Children’s Books

Traditional Literature; Aimed for children 5-7 years old. Myths and legends, folklore

and fairytales are mainly the subjects that follow these children’s books. A lot of magic is used in these typical stories to create a happily ever after ending. There are typical stereotypes that you will see in fairytales such as a motherly figure like a fairy godmother.

Animals with human characteristics (anthropomorphism) are traditionally used in these stories to create more magic for the children and this sometimes makes it funnier depending on what animal it is.

Children's books by Age

0-5 Picture Books These books are read to the child until they are able to say and read

the words in the book which are simple and the text is large. Children’s first books. Large images, one word per page.

5-7 Early Reader Books Teaching children to build on their reading skills with text and images,

usually a 50/50 balance. 7-11 Chapter Books

Short chapters so children of this age don’t loose interest in the story. Longer chapters are appropriate for children of the ages 9-12. These chapter books usually have a page of writing the a illustration of the scene on the other side of the page, but these are not included as often as earlier stage books.

11-13 Young Adults Books These do not have any illustrations by the text or inside the novels. They have an illustrated front cover which is usually detailed and digitally made.

Children’s Books Font

Children’s books use serif fonts for example Times Roman, Goudy, Garamond and Baskerville.

These fonts are suitable of children’s stories as the flicks on the ends of the letters carry on to the next letter which makes it more flowing so children can read along and not get lost in what they’re reading.

Graphic Novels

Artwork and Layout A graphic novel is a narrative work using illustrations

and images. The artwork is experimental as can be the layout. But the traditional six/nine block comic book style is still used a lot.

The artwork is very detailed and the layout is set in a traditional western left to right reading.

Graphic Novels Inspiration

TV and Film Many graphic novels have been made into hit TV

series or film productions. The way they are set out is a very detailed storyboard for a film or TV program so it is easy to convert the novel into a film production.

Also many graphic novels started off as a film or a TV show.

Examples; Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The Walking Dead were both Graphic novels before being a film and a TV series.

Graphic Novels Text

Balloon Tails: The end of the tail should be pointing toward the mouth of the character saying the dialogue so readers know who’s speaking.Joining balloons withconnector: If two characters are having a long conversation back and forth or if one character expresses two ideas one after the other

Burst Balloons:The text inside the balloon is bold and sometimes in capitals to emphasize the shouting or screaming dialoged. Thought Balloons: The tail on the balloon is made up of small bubbles, these are pointed towards the head of the person thinking this thought.