The purpose of this project is to provide a toolkit of resources on social justice graphic novels that school, public, and academic librarians, other library staff, classroom teachers, and parents can use with young adults. The project includes annotated bibliographies of graphic novels on a variety of social justice topics, as well as lesson plans and instructional activities that librarians and teachers can use as both recreational and educational resources.
Using the broad definition of diversity supported by We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), the graphic novels in this bibliography address “diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities,” as well as the social justice issues related to these experiences.
To compile this list, the project team examined graphic novels and resources in special youth collections in the following libraries in the US and Australia:
- Baldwin Library of Historical Literature – University of Florida – Gainesville, FL;
- Children’s Literature Center- Library of Congress – Washington, DC;
- Reinberger Children’s Library Center- Kent State University – Kent, OH,
- South Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literacy – University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC;
- National Centre for Children’s Literature at the University of Canberra- Canberra, ACT;
- National Library of Australia- Canberra, ACT;
- State Library of New South Wales- Sydney, NSW; and
- State Library of Victoria- Melbourne, VIC.”
The team also used book reviews, award lists, and visit vendors’ exhibits at conferences to help compile the lists.
This project is aligned with professional standards of the following associations:
- American Association of School Librarians;
- Common Core State Standards Initiative;
- Young Adult Library Services Association;
- International Association of School Librarians; and
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions- School Library Guidelines.
Along with the Carnegie Whitney Grant, this project was funded through the following grants:
- Albers Guest Scholar in Children’s Literature Fellowship from the I School at Kent State University
- Southeastern Conference (SEC) Visiting Faculty Travel Grant
