Top 10 Circulated Graphic Novels of 2016

When random jugs of Sunny D and begin to appear in the teacher’s lounge (leftover from one classroom celebration or another)…

…you know the end of the school year is near.

As the sun slowly sets on the 2015-16 campaign, I like to gaze off into the distance with a pile of circ stat printouts, absentmindedly munching a Hydrox cookie (another teacher’s lounge leftover)…

…contemplating the books that were checked out the most. Right now? Graphic Novels. Next? Who knows.

10. The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics edited by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly

When I saw this book made the list again, I was a pleased librarian. I love this book. Kids love the contents of this book. Kids love the largeness of this book. I love that kids love this book (in whichever way they choose).

9. Escape from Lucien (Amulet, Book Six) by Kazu Kibuishi

Yessiree, Amulet is on this list. I would have been shocked if it wasn’t.

8. El Deafo by Cece Bell

I have this board in the library where I put up pictures of books I love in our library (note to self: put up a board of books I hate in our library. I’m joking, but there is actually a good chunk of readers (the contrarians) who would probably snatch up the books on my Do Not Read Board). Where was I? Yes, books I love. El Deafo is on my books I love board. I’d like to say this contributed to the high circs, but I’m kidding myself – it was something way more powerful – reader word of mouth.

7. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm

This book holds a special place for me after deep-diving into it for Season 1 of The Yarn. It’s been great to see the love it’s been getting from students.

6. Stone Rabbit #6: Night of the Living Dust Bunnies by Erik Craddock

A Stone Rabbit book snuck into the #1 slot last year, and I promised myself I would not be surprised again! Promise kept – this book in this place makes perfect sense. The Stone Rabbit series continues to be a circ monster in our library.

5. Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale

Ah-ha! One of the few books on last year’s list that’s on here again. It must have something to do with the fact that these books are completely awesome.

4. Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick

Okay – since Judd Winick isn’t reading this, I want to tell you something: I was a Real World San Francisco fanatic. I watched religiously. When Puck got kicked out – dang. I rewatched that episode at least six times. I even bought Mohammed Bilal’s album, for god sakes. I was a fan. And when Judd Winick was on the show, and he was a struggling cartoonist trying to get his strip picked up, I was rooting for him. And then he goes and makes this book – this great book – and I get to share it with students. I like that.

3. Sidekicks by Dan Santat

A dramatic return to the list! (Although, honestly, I think the only reason it fell off last year is because the copy we had fell apart and it lost valuable circ time as a new copy arrived).

2. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Were’ getting close to the end of the road, so you guessed it…

1. Smile by Raina Telgemeier

My Top 10 Most Circulated Graphic Novels list has ended up looking a bit like the New York Times Bestseller List – with books by Raina Telgemeier taking over.

More Top 10 coming soon.

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