Comics ─ Investigate the History and Technology of American Cartooning

Comics have a rich and varied history, beginning on the walls of caves and evolving to the sophisticated medium found on websites today. For a kid, comics can be more than entertainment. Comics can be a lifeline to another world, one in which everyone has the potential to become a superhero and children are welcome to all the power adults have overlooked.

Comics: Investigate the History and Technology of American Cartooning follows the trajectory of comics from their early incarnations to their current form, while leading young readers through activities that teach the techniques used by real cartoonists. Kids learn how to sketch comic faces and bodies, invent a superhero, draw manga characters, and create their own graphic novel or webcomic. Short biographies of famous cartoonists, including Charles Schulz, Bill Watterson, and Linda Barry, provide inspiration and introduce specific comic styles. Comics introduces the technology available to budding young cartoonists, while they channel their creative powers and develop their storytelling skills.

Part history, part instruction, pure fun, Comics entertains and informs young readers while challenging them to join the cartooning conversation.

Sam Carbaugh is a freelance cartoonist and illustrator. He has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation and Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future. He works with many colleges and companies to create informational comics and illustrations. Sam lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.