Graphic Novels in K-5 library

[Kate McCarron]

I am wondering how you circulate your graphic novels.  We have created a separate shelving collection as we spend more dollars for this genre that has wide appeal for both genders and all types of readers.  Howver, I have not read them all and have noticed some are certainly for our 4-5th graders but not appropriate for first.  How do libraries handle this?  We are beginning to purchase first graphic novels for our younger students-but now have a shelving issue and also a spine label question-how to code it (graphic novels current have GN as the prefix)-where to put them?  - we have picture books, easy readers and transitional chapter books and non-fiction which is the area our younger students usually check out from.  Thanks for any ideas of what you have done in your library.

[John Wellcome]

Don't bring the books in that are appropriate for some grades in k-6 but not others (that's how I approach it).  A recommendation:  Bring in the Bone series by Jeff Smith.  These appeal to kids from 2nd through 6th grades and are very popular.  Another popular trilogy of graphic novels is the Amulet series.

[Dana Tunick]

There are some books in the library that are clearly for older readers (graphic novels included) and on the spine I have a label that reads 5th grade only.  What you could also do is put a colored sticker on the spine and tell each class at the beginning of the year that if they see a blue star (for example), that book is for older readers only. 

As for another widely appealing GN- try the Geronimo Stilton series.  They are incredibly popular from second grade up to fifth. 

[Kate McCarron]

Thanks-that sounds like an easy solution! 

[Katie Ball]

I keep my K-2 graphic novels next to the K-2 Leveled Readers. That way they know those books are okay for them. I also only let students check out 1 graphic novel per check-out.

[Cristin M. Dillard]

I agree with Katie and Dana set these books apart either by shelving them in a different place or labeling them differently.