AustLit

'Generations of Australian children have been presented with iconic figures and values associated with the events of 1915 at Gallipoli and involved in the ritual practices of remembrance exemplified by Anzac Day ceremonies throughout a corpus of children’s literature which ranges from picture books for pre-schoolers to young adult fiction. This paper aims to broadly identify the narrative strategies at work in a selection of recent stories of brave animals helping the Aussie boys under fire or paeans to the duty of personal and communal remembrance and to examine them in a larger context of national self-representation.'  (Publication abstract)

Graphic novels, also referred to as graphic narratives, sequential art narratives, or substantial comics, are gaining recognition as a valuable format through which to deliver fictional and non-fictional texts. In the process of exciting young readers and cultivating cognitive and creative communication skills for the future, graphic novels offer a format that is compelling, challenging, and rich in the visual and lexical grammars required by 21st century readers and communicators. This chapter considers why and how graphic novels should be integrated into primary classrooms. It will draw upon academic research that acknowledges the significance of this medium of expression.