Between the Panels
Highlights from the May 20 #TLSkyChat on Manga, Comics, and Graphic Novels
On May 20, educators and librarians gathered for #TLSkyChat to celebrate manga, comics, and graphic novels in school libraries. What followed was equal parts professional learning, passionate advocacy, practical problem-solving, and joyful book talk. Participants shared collection development tips, shelving strategies, literacy research, favorite titles, classroom ideas, and the very real struggle of trying to keep heavily loved graphic novels physically intact.
The evening was moderated by Heather Turner, with questions created by Rain, who summed up the collective exhaustion of May perfectly with, “‘Nuff said.” Ashley Hawkins served as co-moderator and special guest alongside Sara Campbell, with both serving as co-authors of Manga Goes to School. Participants also included Alexa Dumas, Matt, Thomas Maluck, and 🐝aREADER, alongside many other librarians and educators who contributed recommendations, strategies, and reflections throughout the chat.
The discussion centered around the theme “Panels & Pages: Manga-nificent Reads,” exploring the role of visual storytelling in libraries and classrooms. Questions ranged from literacy advocacy and collection development to shelving systems, censorship concerns, weeding practices, and reader engagement.
“Not Real Reading” Continues to Be a Myth Librarians Are Tired of Debunking
One of the strongest threads throughout the evening was the continued need to advocate for manga, comics, and graphic novels as legitimate reading experiences.
Participants shared stories about resistance from teachers, parents, library staff, and community members who still dismiss graphic literature as “not real reading.” Librarians pushed back hard against that misconception with research, classroom experience, and a whole lot of frustration mixed with humor.
Several participants discussed the complexity of visual literacy and the amount of decoding required to read comics effectively. Sequential art asks readers to interpret pacing, facial expressions, symbolism, visual transitions, layout, and text simultaneously. One librarian noted that comics often contain a surprisingly high density of vocabulary words per page. Others highlighted research connected to multimodal literacy, critical literacy, and accessibility for neurodivergent and reluctant readers.
One participant summed it up perfectly:
“Graphic novels are not a genre. They are a format.”
That idea surfaced repeatedly throughout the night. Fantasy exists in graphic novels. Historical fiction exists in graphic novels. Memoir, romance, horror, biography, nonfiction, and literary classics all exist within the format.
Several librarians also noted that resistance often fades once students are actually reading. As one participant pointed out, positive reading experiences matter. If students are excited about books and using their library cards regularly, that is a win.
Students Are Absolutely Driving the Demand
If there was another major takeaway from the evening, it was this: students know exactly what they want to read.
Participants repeatedly described graphic novels and manga “flying off the shelves.” Students alert librarians when new volumes release, notice missing entries in series almost immediately, and frequently drive collection development recommendations.
One librarian shared that they intentionally include students in the collection development process and make sure students can see their recommendations reflected on library shelves. Others talked about using read-alikes, visual booklists, and displays to help readers discover similar titles and branch into new series.
Anime adaptations also came up repeatedly. Librarians discussed how upcoming anime releases can dramatically impact circulation and collection demand. Titles like Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren, and Witch Hat Atelier were all mentioned as series experiencing renewed attention thanks to adaptations and social buzz.
One participant shared a simple but incredibly practical reminder:
“Always buy MULTIPLE copies of #1 in a series.”
Because nobody starts a series with volume three.
The Real Battle? Keeping the Books Alive
Some of the funniest and most relatable parts of the chat focused on the absolute chaos of maintaining graphic novel collections.
Participants discussed:
glue machines for broken spines
books literally falling apart from circulation
rebound editions
manga going out of print
replacing the same popular titles over and over again
shrinking shelf space
missing volumes
“book-napping”
fire marshal concerns about overcrowded shelves
One librarian shared that Demon Slayer and Invincible disappeared within a week of opening checkouts in a newly reopened library space. Another joked that the pristine graphic novels are actually the suspicious ones because untouched books “speak volumes” in a school library.
Several participants emphasized that worn-out books are often evidence of a healthy collection. Graphic novels circulate heavily because students genuinely love them.
Others discussed the challenge of maintaining developmentally appropriate collections, especially when inheriting older materials or adult-oriented manga for middle school spaces. Collection policies, review tools, and strong administrative support were all highlighted as essential.
Shelving Strategies Are Deeply Personal
No two librarians seemed to organize graphic collections exactly the same way, and honestly, that was part of the fun.
Some librarians separate manga entirely from graphic novels. Others genrefy everything. Some maintain separate nonfiction graphic collections while integrating fiction titles by genre. Others rely heavily on signage, bins, or visual accessibility systems to help students browse independently.
Sara Campbell referenced a shelving guide available through The Graphic Library:
https://www.graphiclibrary.org/info--news/how-to-shelve-graphic-novels
One participant admitted they simply follow Sara’s shelving advice because it is “god-tier,” which honestly feels like the highest possible librarian compliment.
The consensus seemed to be that the “best” shelving system is the one that helps students actually find books independently and keeps circulation moving smoothly.
Graphic Novels Are Thriving in Classroom Instruction
One of the most exciting parts of the evening focused on how educators are using manga, comics, and graphic novels in classroom instruction.
Participants discussed:
constructivist media decoding
critical literacy
visual literacy instruction
empathy-building
historical analysis
supporting reluctant readers
comparing adaptations of classic literature
teaching sequencing and inference
One librarian described a lesson where students compared original texts, abridged editions, manga adaptations, graphic novel retellings, and modern English versions of classic literature to determine which formats best supported their own reading experiences.
Another participant shared plans to pair excerpts from Cocoon with Okinawa to discuss lesser-told histories and the horrors of war.
Ashley Hawkins and Sara Campbell also highlighted their collaborative professional resource Manga Goes to School, which focuses on integrating manga into educational spaces and classroom instruction.
Professional Books and Resources
Manga Goes to School
A professional resource focused on integrating manga into schools and classroom instruction: https://alastore.ala.org/mangaschool
The Graphic Library
A blog and resource hub dedicated to comics, manga, and graphic novel librarianship:
https://www.graphiclibrary.org/
School Librarians United Podcast Episode Featuring Alexa Dumas
Episode 75: “The Power of Graphic Novels: Utilizing Comics in Classroom Instruction to Create Culturally Aware Youth” https://www.schoollibrarianlearningnetwork.org/podcast
No Flying No Tights
A longstanding and trusted review source for comics and graphic novels created by Robin B who currently works as the Head of Reference and Programming at the Woburn Public Library after 18 years as a teen librarian at the Brookline Public Library in Brookline, Massachusetts. https://noflyingnotights.com/
Yatta-Tachi
A manga news and review site that publishes monthly manga release roundups:
https://yattatachi.com/
Every Resource Ashley Can Provide Wakelet
This is a big wakelet of all of my resources. To avoid this list from becoming TOO big, when a site has multiple useful things, I defer to listing the parent site, unless there are specific articles/pages that are useful to a librarian. https://wakelet.com/wake/SB2OFsbKzZWSBbPXinX48
Realm of Kid Lit Comics & Website
Ashley Hawkins’ YouTube channel focused on graphic novel and manga recommendations: https://www.youtube.com/@realmofkidlitcomics You can also find additional resources on Ashley’s Website Manga Librarian https://mangalibrarian.com/
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
A foundational text exploring comics literacy and visual storytelling. McCloud’s Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the panels, through the lines, and within the hidden symbols of a powerful but misunderstood art form.
Teaching With Comics and Graphic Novels by Tim Smyth
Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels helps teachers use students’ love of comics and graphic novels to boost critical thinking and classroom engagement. Author Tim Smyth provides practical lessons on close reading, textual evidence, symbolism, sequencing, essay writing, social-emotional learning, and more. It includes adaptable lesson plans and ready-to-use units aligned with Common Core standards for any subject or grade level.
Favorite Books from the Chat
Participants shared an incredible range of recommendations throughout the evening. Some standout titles included:
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham
Akane-banashi by Yūki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue
Living With Viola by Rosena Fung
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Bandette by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover
The Property by Rutu Modan
Brownstone by Samuel Teer & Mar Julia
Fresh Start by Gale Galligan
Visitations by Corey Egbert
How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang
Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
March (Ombibus) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Fall Through: A Punk Music LGBTQ+ Love Story by Nate Powell
Lies My Teacher Told Me: A Graphic Adaptation by Nate Powell
Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Zoom by Istvan Banyai
Dream On by Shannon Hale
Cocoon by Machiko Kyō
Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui
Demon Slayer vol 1 by Koyoharu Gotouge
DnDoggos: Get the Party Started by Scout Underhill and Liana Sposto
Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable
Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe
Girl From the Other Side by Nagabe
Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley
Okinawa by Susumu Higa
Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You by Jinushi
Spacewalking With You by Inuhiko Doronoda
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley
Tamon’s B-Side by Yuki Shiwasu
The Odyssey adapted by Gareth Hinds
The System by Peter Kuper
We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer
Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama
The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Little Sister series by Ann M. Martin and Katy Farina
Graphic adaptations of classic literature by Gareth Hinds also received multiple shout-outs for their beauty and accessibility.
Final Thoughts
What stood out most during this #TLSkyChat was the sheer passion librarians bring to visual storytelling and reader advocacy.
Participants spoke honestly about censorship concerns, damaged materials, shrinking shelf space, aging collections, and the constant challenge of staying current with publishing trends. Yet the conversation consistently circled back to the same reality: students are reading these books enthusiastically and meaningfully.
Graphic novels, manga, and comics are helping students discover reading identities, explore complex themes, and connect with stories in ways that traditional formats sometimes cannot. Honestly, the books falling apart might be the best evidence of all.
If you would like to explore the full #TLSkyChat discussion or future chats, visit: tlskychat.com Bluesky chats are really easy all you have to do is include #TLSkyChat in your answer and everyone will be able to see it. It is like a label on a folder. We want all the information to come together!