At Coram Beanstalk we encourage children to choose from all kinds of books and we pride ourselves on helping children find the 'right' book for them.

You'll never hear us use the words 'proper reading' or 'too young/ old for you' because we're on a mission to create readers who choose to read - and that means allowing the to find their own identity as readers.

'Graphic novel' is generally used to describe any book in comic format that resembles a novel in length and narrative development. But really graphic novels simply tell a story in a different way. They're designed in a panelled, sequential format using pictures mixed with text.

The often complex and beautiful illustrations are the main pull - allowing children to develop their visual and verbal literacy by interpreting the images for clues on characters and plot development. Not only do they provide plenty of opportunity for book chat but they can appeal to children who might be daunted or turned off by more traditional looking books. 

About the book

Hilda and the Troll by Luke Pearson

Meet Hilda. She can never sit still for long without setting off on another adventure.  Join her in discovering a magical new universe!

While on an expedition to seek out the magical creatures of the mountains around her home, Hilda spots a mountain troll. As she draws it the blue-haired explorer starts to nod off… when she wakes, she finds herself lost in a snowstorm and her troll has totally disappeared. On her way home, Hilda ventures deep into the woods, befriends a lonely wooden man and narrowly avoids getting squashed by a lost giant.

Interesting resources on graphic novels

Great blog here for Scholastic by Jo Cummins (@BookSuperhero2) - Why you should embrace graphic novels

And a helpful guide to using these books with children and teens which you can download - 

A guide to using graphic novels with children and teens

Equally 'brilliant beanstalk' graphic novels and comic books to try

Purchase any of these books here and Coram Beanstalk receive a 10% donation