An Interview with Capstone Press about their Graphic Library series

One of my favorite non-fiction series' for young readers is the Graphic Library collection, which is published by Capstone Press. The books are presented in a graphic novel format, and they tell the stories of people from history, important historical events, and they explore science and social studies. I have reviewed many of the biographical and historical titles, and decided to ask the publishers about this useful and entertaining series.

Here are the responses that John Rahm, the Senior Product Planning Editor at Capstone Press, had to my questions:

Where did the idea for this series come from?
The popularity of graphic novels was exploding, but they were, and really still are, predominantly fiction. We looked at the trend and thought what a great way to do nonfiction. Kids are reading and loving graphic novels, so why not use that to teach them something.

Quite a few young readers find non-fiction hard to get into and/or boring. These books are particularly good for readers of this kind. Was that your intention?
Absolutely. At Capstone we are committed to reaching struggling and reluctant readers. Not only are these books engaging and fun for readers, but the format is a great vehicle for delivering nonfiction content.

How do you choose which subjects to include in the series?
Many factors go into determining the topics, from meeting with librarians and educators to current pop culture trends. However, there are three major considerations that go into choosing topics: What kids study in school, what kids want to read about, and what makes compelling, exciting books.

How do you decide who should write and illustrate the books?
We work with a large group of experienced and talented author and illustrators. For authors, we look for expertise on the topic as well as the ability to create accessible, engaging narratives. For illustrators, we look for an art style that fits the topic and approach.

How are the books created? Are they written first and then illustrated or do the author and illustrator work in tandem?
Typically, authors and editors create a script and storyboard for each book. Then the storyboard is sent to the illustrator to be drawn.

Do you think more and more houses are going to start publishing this kind of non-fiction book?
Certainly, since we started our line in 2005, many more publishers have jumped on board. Graphic nonfiction is such a great way to bring nonfiction to kids that I expect the trend to continue for a long time.

Do you have any plans to do other kinds of graphic novel style books?
We are always looking to broaden our Graphic Library line. We began with graphic novels depicting historical events and biographies. Next we moved to teaching science with Max Axiom, Super Scientist, and then social studies concepts with Cartoon Nation. In the future we will continue to apply this format to other areas of nonfiction.

Do teachers use these books as teaching tools in their classrooms?
Yes. The format is a great way to bring concepts to life and students love the idea of reading a comic book during class!

If you have a reluctant reader in your home or class these books will be a useful addition to your library.

Thank you John for the interview and a thank you too to Jennifer Glidden for setting it up.

A Chat with Cheryl Harness

For some months now I have been talking to author and illustrator Cheryl Harness via email. She a wonderfully warm, funny, and clever lady. To try to give you sense of what she is like I am going to be having several 'conversations' with her over the next few weeks.

Cheryl have illustrated numerous books that were written by other people, and she has both written and illustrated many titles as well. Her National Geographic biographies are both fascinating to read and a joy to look at. Her books include such titles as The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin, Franklin and and Eleanor, and The Remarkable, Rough-Riding Life of Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Empire America

Here is my first talk with Cheryl:

Marya: Good morning Cheryl. It is a pleasure to have you here on the TTLG
blog with me. I hope you are having a terrific 2009 so far.

Cheryl: I am indeed; so far so good. The December snow & ice has melted, so for today, at least, there's sure footing and the sky is blue.

Marya: We had a sort of white Christmas, but snow has been almost non-existent since then. This is a little disappointing for me because I love to ski.
Recently you told me that you got to look at the cover of the new book
that you are working on. This book is about Harry Truman. I was
wondering what got you interested in writing about this particular
president.

Cheryl: Well, as you and your readers may or may not know, Independence,
Missouri, is my home town. This is true, too, of our 33rd President. Neither of us were born here - he was born south a ways from here in Lamar, MO, 125 years ago; I in Maywood, CA, when he was the president, in 1951.
I actually saw him only once, in person even though we lived in the same neighborhood. I wasn't curious enough, youth being wasted on the young. I was more interested in drawing pictures and reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Anyway, I've been asked more than once, "When are you going to do a book about Harry?" Turned out that the answer was "these past few months."

Marya: When will this book be in bookstores?

Cheryl: The book will be available mid-February, in time for Presidents' Day, but I wouldn't expect to see The Harry Book (The Life of President Truman in Words & Pictures) in bookstores any time soon. I'm self- publishing this. It's something I've never done before and I confess that I am a much better writer and illustrator than I am a businesswoman. I imagine that one who goes to my website will find how he or she can get a copy. Or lots of copies! And I reckon that I'll have a bundle of Harry Books with me when I travel about, school visiting. It's comic book - did I tell you that? NO, I didn't! It's 48 pages' worth of pen & ink detailed pictures & lettering about this truly remarkable fellow. I learned so much about my long-gone neighbor. I wish I hadn't been such a doofus and had met him when I was young and had the chance... ah well.

Marya: You have written about several presidents so far including Teddy
Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Which president interested you the most and why?

Cheryl: Indeed, I should say Mr. Lincoln, this year being the 200th anniversary of the year in which he entered the world - same day, by the way, as Charles Darwin, the naturalist. And truly, I loved learning, writing, and illustrating his inspiring life, but of all the presidents - of all the Americans I've studied Teddy Roosevelt is the most interesting. Not saying I agree with all of his politics, but that TR was a fabulous individual. I love stories of overcoming and considering Abe's poverty- stricken background, FDR's polio, Geo. Washington's steadfastness in the face of truly aweful obstacles, TR's early illness - golly, I could go on and on. These individuals overcame so much. And too, each president represents to me a different chapter in the history of our nation.

Marya: I am also fascinated by Teddy Roosevelt's story. He was smart, funny, very active, and full of energy. And, like FDR, he had to overcome a severe illness. In TR's case it was asthma. In general I love reading biographies and books about history. What is it about history that excites you so much?

Cheryl: It's EVERYTHING! All we've done and hoped and dared. All humankind's accomplishments, our cruel, ridiculous, short-sighted mistakes; our explorations and our digging out of the holes we've dug.
And it's positively thick with role models. Me being such a sissypants, I'm ever drawn to courageous examples down the years. Harriet Quimby totally interests me these days. the first woman to fly across the English Channel, in 1912. Hugely brave & skillful PLUS she was totally beautiful, not that it matters, and she died far too young. a real pioneer. Plus, historical, real-life stories go well with my sort of illustration.

Marya: For those of you who don't know, Cheryl's artwork is full of detail and action, and she is a wizz when it comes to maps. Do you have any plans to branch out into fiction?

Cheryl: I did do that a few years ago in my novel for young readers, Just For You to Know [HarperCollins, 2006] It was set here in Independence, MO, 1963. Harry Truman had a brief, cameo appearance in it. That book was my heart's darling. I've got another book in the works - several really - and one of them might well involve another President. Stay tuned!

Marya: That's right! I remember the book because I reviewed - and loved - it. Here is my review. I look forward to seeing more works of both fiction and non-fiction with your name on them. Thank you for the chat Cheryl.

Cheryl: You are welcome.

I will be talking to Cheryl some more about her life and her work in the weeks to come. In the meantime do please visit Cheryl's website to find out more about this wonderful lady.

Blog Book Tour - Deborah Hopkinson

Welcome to another Blog Book Tour. This time I am going to be talking to Deborah Hopkinson about her new book Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A tall thin tale. You can read my review of this title on the Through The Looking Glass Book Review website.

1. How did you find out about this story from Abraham Lincoln’s childhood?
I was very excited about the idea of writing a book about Lincoln as a boy. I scoured many of the early biographies for ideas, but some of the best ones had already been incorporated into books. Then I came across Austin Gollaher, Abe’s childhood friend who saved him from drowning. The incident is mentioned frequently but so far as I know has never been the subject of a picture book before. And so ABE LINCOLN CROSSES A CREEK was born!

2.Did you have to do a lot of research to get the few details that are known about this event?
While I did a fair amount of research, finding old, rare books and looking at Lincoln research sites online, it soon became clear that there really are few details available.

3.Where did you get the idea to write the story in this wonderfully engaging style?
Well, it became clear that I was actually going to have to do something different and fun to make the story interesting. I think the lack of details of the boyhood incident combined with the story of how Abe and Austin never met again but apparently remembered one another made me think about how frustrating historical research can be.

As I explored that, it seemed to me a perfect way to introduce historical literacy techniques to young readers. I hope ABE prompts children to look at other historical incidents -- and rather than take them for granted, ask questions.

4. The artwork and text in the book are very closely entwined in this book. Did you and the illustrator talk about what you were going to do in advance and/or during the writing process?
As a matter of fact, I had no contact with the illustrator whatsoever – but I love John Hendrix’s art. The text was developed as we envisioned the role John might play, and then editor Anne Schwartz and art director Lee Wade worked with him. Hard to believe this is his first picture book!

5. You specialize in, and are very good at, writing books about historical events and people from history. Have you always been interested in history, and how did this writing focus begin?
Actually, looking back on it, I probably was always interested in history as a child, perhaps without even realizing it. I loved to read historical fiction, for example. As a young woman I became interested in women’s history. When I began writing for children I started with lots of talking animal stories, but somehow I began to gravitate toward historical fiction, even in my first published stories in magazines.

6. Do you think children should learn about the past?
Absolutely! I think it’s important not simply to learn facts about the past, but also to learn the tools of research – to learn how to study and think about history.

We live in a rapidly changing technological society, where historical literacy, scientific literacy, and media literacy are all linked, and will all be important to children. Learning to make sense of the past helps us to learn to think critically about the present and the messages we get from advertisers, the media, politics, and films.

7. Is there a particular time in history that you find especially interesting?
Yes, indeed! I continue to be fascinated by the 19th century and have written about several aspects of it: immigration in the north (Shutting out the Sky), the cotton industry (Up Before Daybreak), the underground railroad and the Civil War (Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, From Slave to Soldier), the emerging role of women in education (Maria’s Comet, A Band of Angels) and the Klondike Gold Rush (The Klondike Kid series). My middle grade novel, Into the Firestorm, takes place during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Keep On!, a new picture book coming out in January, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the North Pole in 1909.

8. Do you write every day or is your schedule more flexible?
I have always had a full time job, so I tend to write on weekends more than daily. I would love to have more time to write!

9.What was your favorite book when you were young?
When I was very young, I loved Make Way for Ducklings, and I still have the copy my grandmother gave. Later on, I’d have to say my favorite book was The Secret Garden. And it’s still a favorite!

You can find out more about Deborah Hopkinson and her books on her website.