Highly Illustrated Chapter Book

PhotoHutch · Jul 26, 2011

Hi all,

I read an interview with a well known kids lit agent who mentioned a relatively new segment called "highly illustrated chapter books". I've heard of "transitional chapter books", but I can't quite get a grasp on this one. Any insights?

Thanks,

Steve

Morrell · Jul 26, 2011

Wonder if they mean true "chapter books" or what most people call chapter books (a.k.a. middle grade). i'm thinking of stuff like Hugo Cabret and The Memory Bank.

MsJudy · Jul 26, 2011

There are some good series starting up that are somewhere between graphic novel and chapter book. Captain Underpants, BabyMouse, stuff like that. Boys are eating them up because it doesn't feel so much like they're "reading."

That may be what she was referring to.

Anacry · Jul 27, 2011

Makes me think of something like the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Series. The books are FULL of doodles.

graywillow · Jul 28, 2011

There have been quite a few sales of books like this. My friends in scouting say that it's a big thing internationally.

It's really what it means: chapter books, written for the chapter book age level, that rely on illustrations for part of the story-telling.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, as Anacry says = great example.

PhotoHutch · Jul 28, 2011

Thanks for the responses. Though she gave no examples, these types of books must be what she was referring to.

Some interesting books mentioned above, my little one's not quite there yet, but eventually I'm sure they will be coming home from the library.

MsJudy · Jul 28, 2011

I'm also seeing them in the Early Reader levels. Books that look more like comics or graphic novels than readers. Mo Willems' Gerald and Piggie series, for example. And there's another about two mice, brother and sister, Benny and Penny I think. My students LOVE the format.

Highly Illustrated Chapter Book

PhotoHutch

Morrell

MsJudy

Anacry

graywillow

Start with a bang.

PhotoHutch

MsJudy