But of all the photos the gals shared, this one made me squeal the most:
The best part of @greggrunberg‘s night! Thanks @Scholastic @GraphixBooks! #SDCC pic.twitter.com/gEtjPy82ob
— That’s Normal (@Thats_Normal) July 21, 2017
Greg Grunberg? I mean, he seems very sweet but….
Scholastic/Graphix Books threw a party at #SDCC! And the TN team got to be there. #jelly. Who wouldn’t want to be at a party fêting the hottest trends in books today, aka the graphic novel for kids.
Read What You Want As Long As You Read
I have an eight-year-old who not only loves graphic novels, but also pretty much refuses to read anything else. Sometimes I wish she were into chapter books like I was. I want her to love Judy Blume’s Superfudge or Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, but part of being a mom is accepting your kid and what they like. Unless what they like is deviled eggs. I would nip that in the bud ASAP.
Ruby was what Scholastic calls a “reluctant reader.” She can read—her teachers say she is reading above grade level—, and she loves when you read anything to her, unless it’s Harry Potter, which she calls “boring.” But it was rare she would snuggle up next to me and read a book to herself. Graphic novels have totally changed that.
Why did my kid with green hair fall in love with the graphic novel? I decided to interview Ruby so she could tell you in her own words why she prefers Raina Telgemeier’s Smile to a chapter book like Little House in the Big Woods.
Tell them who you are.
(in a whisper) That was terrible.
I’m just going to write this stuff down after we record it. It’s okay if it’s terrible. Who are you?
You already said my name. (Stern look from me)
Fine. I’m Ruby.
How old are you?
Nine. I’m practically nine, Mommy! I’m eight and a half.
Describe yourself in three words.
Extreme. Gamer. YouTuber.
Do you like reading?
Pretty much.
What are your favorite kind of books to read?
Books made by Raina Telgemeier.
And how did you find her books?
Well, I had this book thing at school and they were selling Ghosts, and my mom got that book for me.
(The book thing was a Scholastic book fair.)
And what made you want to get that book?
My mom just got it for me.
Now you have every single Raina book, including her versions of The Babysitter’s Club. What is your favorite thing about Raina books?
I really like the art style. And I actually starting drawing like that. Plus her stories are really good. A lot of them are about herself, like Sisters and Smile.
Why do you like graphic novels?
I like how they show pictures on absolutely every page, unlike chapter books.
A sample of Ruby’s art
You said you started drawing like Raina. Can you tell me about your drawing?
So sometimes I draw random stuff that I want to draw. A lot of them are of shows I like, kind of like The Loud House. Or like Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Why do you like to draw?
It helps me relax and I just really enjoy doing it for some reason.
Do you think you enjoy doing it because you’re really good at it?
Probably.
Do people give you compliments about your drawing?
Yes, a lot.
You seem to be a perfectionist when you draw.
What does that mean?
(I explain how I find paper scattered all over the floor of the house, with her many attempts to get a sketch just right.)
Do you like to draw girls or boys?
Probably girls actually, because I’m the best at drawing them.
Are Raina’s books mostly about girls?
Yes, mostly about girls, expect some of them have to do about girls and boys. Here I’ll show you a page that proves that.
(I keep asking questions, while Ruby looks through a book.)
Where is your favorite place to read?
In your bedroom, in the bed with you.
Which Raina book is your favorite?
It’s Sisters. I just really like the story to it and how it’s about Raina. It’s about Raina and her little sister Amara and her little brother Will.
Do her books make you laugh? Are they funny?
Not all them time.
Here’s the picture that shows it has to do with boys sometimes.
Oh what’s happening on that page?
She has a crush on this guy named Sean. But she’s kind of afraid to talk to him. But whenever she imagines herself, she imagines herself being perfect.
Is she kissing him?
(Ruby is laughing.) But you see her teeth falling out! Like she is always worried about Sean.
Can you relate to that? Do you feel like you have to be perfect all the time?
No. Can we end the interview?
