Lesson One: A Whole New International World

The most well known international graphic novel is manga which is Japanese for....well, graphic novel or comic book. Let's take a peek at some of the others!

​Country	Graphic Novel in native language
Dutch	Stripverhaal or beeldverhaal
Portuguese	Banda desenhada Portuguese
Serbia	Stripovi
Spain	Historietas or cómics
China	Manhua
India	Chitrakatha
Philippine	Komiks
South Korean	Manhwa
Vietnamese	Truyện tranh
France/Belgium	Bande dessinée
Italy	Fumetto
Brazil	Historietas or cómics

One of the reasons it is essential to know how easy graphic novels, manga, or manhwa can be interchanged is that our students are learning online just as much as they are learning in a physical classroom. With the rise in sites dedicated to reading online comics, such as Webtoons and Manta, it's wise to associate these terminologies when discussing book choices within the classroom. Now, let's be honest; it will take time to memorize all of these types. So, how do we get around that?

• Anchor chart with names

• Graphic novel infographic in the classroom

• A poll to learn which ones your kiddos are reading

These are just a few ways to incorporate international reading opportunities into the classroom. Some of your students may not read graphic novels for various reasons, and some may read them and not know where it's from; that's ok! A poll is one way to quickly get feedback at the end of class as a bell closer. Having a QR code, Canvas Quiz, or paper quiz (whichever you feel more comfortable with) is a quick way to get it done if you want to focus solely on your current class interests.

You may be wondering how to create a poll as a new person in this world. How could you possibly know about all the sites and apps for online comic book reading? Here are a few age-appropriate sites for students to read online:

• Webtoons

• MarvelKids

• DCNation

• Kidjutsu

Other resources can be found at:

1. https://bestkidswebsites.com/category/comics/

2. https://www.slj.com/story/webcomics-teens-tweens-free-middle-grade-YA

Manta is a great option, but separating the high school and older content from the all-age-appropriate content isn't easy. It is also an app students can download as well as:

• Webnovel

• Tappytoon

• Tapas

• Pocket Comics

• Shonen Jump

• Manga Plus

• Crunchyroll Manga

• Viz Manga

Most of these apps are appropriate for the general audience as well. If online comics feel too ambitious, you can always rely on your local bookstore, Barnes and Nobel, or even online booksellers to give you insight into the age appropriateness, reading level, and genre of graphic novel you are looking for.

These should get you started in navigating the world of online comics on your own. Don't forget to check out our Reading Recommendations section or go to BeyondColoredPages.com for more recommendations for your next great book!