Website Review: The Professor Garfield Toon Book Reader

THE PROFESSOR GARFIELD TOON BOOK READER website contains eleven amazing graphic books for beginning readers along with matching toon creator tools.

Readers begin by choosing on a book of their choice. Clicking on the right or left side of the screen moves the reader through the pages. Arrow buttons are also available. An option is provided that reads the story aloud to the child.

The Cartoon Maker section for each book provides easy-to-use tools for creating cartoon blocks that incorporate objects and props from the story. The youth projects can be saved and printed.

A teacher section includes lots of ideas for using comics in the classroom. The books also contain optional music and are available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

Librarians will find this free website an excellent way to introduce primary-aged children to the graphic book format.

To access the website, go tohttp://www.professorgarfield.org/toon_book_reader/index.html.

Tech Review: MakeBeliefsComix

The MAKEBELIEFSCOMIX website (and app) provides an easy-to-use tool for creating comic strips.

Two, three, or four panel comics can be created. Users begin by naming their comic and providing their name. Next, youth add characters, words, objects, backgrounds, and talk/thought balloons to the panels. Users can change the background color too. Sidebar tools allow creators to scale, bring to font, and flip elements. Comics can be printed or emailed.

In addition to the tool itself, other resources are provided including materials for teachers, special needs, and ESOL/literacy. Writing prompts and tools are also available. Free e-books provide lots of classroom ideas.

Librarians will find endless uses for this easy-to-use comic strip generator.

The comic creator is now available as an App through iTunes.

To create a comic, go to http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/…/make-beliefs-comix/id795026580….