Cast Your Vote for the 2016 KCR! Awards!

The Kids’ Comics Revolution podcast is pleased to announce the nominees for the fourth annual KCR! Awards, and we’re asking kids everywhere to vote for the winners!

KCR! hosts Dave Roman and Jerzy Drozd have teamed up with Chris Duffy (Nickelodeon Magazine) and the Ann Arbor District Library to honor some of the best kids’ comics to come out in 2015.

Here’s how you can vote (only kids, please!):

• Pick up a ballot at the information table at the Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival, June 18, 2015
• Use the handy online ballot below

Winners will be announced June 19 at a special ceremony at the conclusion of Kids Read Comics in Ann Arbor, Michigan!

The Kids’ Comics Revolution Awards 2014 Ceremony, held during the Kids Read Comics Celebration.

2013 KCR! Award Winner George O’Connor expresses his excitement over his trophy.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney with his awards for Favorite Cartoonist/Author and Favorite Comic/Novel Hybrid.

NOMINEES AND WINNERS FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL KCR! KIDS’ COMICS AWARDS!

The KCR! Kids’ Comics Awards were announced on June 21st at the Ann Arbor District library during their Kids Read Comics festival. Hosted by former Nickelodeon Magazine editors, Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy) and Chris Duffy (Fairy Tale Comics) the fun-filled ceremony featured live music by The Shakeups in Ponyville, appearances by acclaimed cartoonists, comic shop retailers, cosplayers, puppets, and even a ghost!

Over 400 kids voted for their favorite comics and characters across twelve categories, both serious and silly, including “best graphic novel” in humor, adventure, and non-fiction categories, “best webcomic for kids,” as well as “favorite hero,” “cutest character,” “grossest thing in comics,” and “most tricked-out ride.”

The 2015 KCR! Kids’ Comics Award Nominees & Winners Are…

Favorite Comic Book Hero:

• El Deafo from El Deafo
• Knight from Adventures in Cartooning
• Princess Adrienne from Princeless

And the kids chose…

El Deafo from El Deafo

Most Tricked-Out Ride in a Comic:

• Colossus from Amulet: Escape from Lucien
• Lowrider from Lowriders in Space
• Sphinx Bike from Cleopatra in Space

And the kids chose…

Colossus from Amulet: Escape from Lucien

Best Hair in Comics:

• Cleopatra from Cleopatra in Space
• Hilda from Hilda and the Black Hound
• Lupe Impala from Lowriders in Space

And the kids chose…

Cleopatra from Cleopatra in Space

Grossest Thing in Comics:

• Misa scarfs down her food & burps from “Two-Person Door” by Faith Erin Hicks in Explorer: The Hidden Doors
• Sophia gets barfed on in “300 Words” by Dan Santat in Comics Squad: Recess
• Raina steps on a dead snake in Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

And the kids chose…

Sophia gets barfed on in “300 Words” by Dan Santat in Comics Squad: Recess

Cutest Comic Character:

• Warren from Extraordinary Warren
• Piggie from Elephant & Piggie
• Ripley from Lumberjanes

And the kids chose…

Piggie from Elephant & Piggie

Favorite Comic/Novel Hybrid:

• Big Nate in the Zone by Lincoln Peirce
• Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown
• Life of Zarf: The Trouble with Weasels by Rob Harrell
• Send for a Superhero! by Michael Rosen and Katherine McEwen
• The Yeti Files by Kevin Sherry

And the kids chose…

Big Nate in the Zone by Lincoln Peirce

Favorite Comic Book Series (Licensed Franchise, aka, Based on a TV Show, Movie or Video Game):

• Adventure Time by Ryan North, Braden Lamb, Shelli Paroline (Boom!)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift by Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru (Dark Horse)
• Bravest Warriors by Joey Comeau, Mike Holmes (Boom!)
• The Ultimate Minecraft Comic Book: The Curse of Herobrine (The Minecraft Guys)
• SpongeBob Comics by Various (Bongo)

And the kids chose…

SpongeBob Comics by Various (Bongo)

Favorite Comic Book Series (Original, aka, Actually by the Creator):

• Capture Creatures by Frank Gibson & Becky Dreistadt (KaBoom!)
• Abigail and the Snowman by Roger Langridge (KaBoom!)
• Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, & Brooke Allen (Boom! Box)
• Bodie Troll byJay P. Fosgitt (Red 5)
• Terrible Lizard by Cullen Bunn, Drew Moss & Ryan Hill (Oni)

And the kids chose…

Abigail and the Snowman by Roger Langridge (KaBoom!)

Favorite Webcomic:

• Camp Weedonwantcha by Katie Rice
• Fox & Duck by Eric Orchard
• Gronk by Katie Cook
• Last of the Polar Bears by Lindsay Cibos
• Princess at Midnight by Andi Watson

And the kids chose…

Last of the Polar Bears by Lindsay Cibos

Favorite Graphic Novel (Adventure):

• Amulet #6: Escape From Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi
• Cleopatra in Space #1: Target Practice by Mike Maihack
• Hilda and the Black Hound by Luke Pearson
• Maddy Kettle & the Adventures of the Thimblewitch by Eric Orchard
• Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

And the kids chose…

Amulet #6: Escape From Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi

Favorite Graphic Novel (Humor):

• Comics Squad: Recess! by Various
• The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka
• Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
• Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler & Zack Giallongo
• The Zoo Box by Ariel Cohn & Aron Nels Steinke

And the kids chose…

Comics Squad: Recess! by Various

Favorite Graphic Novel (Non-Fiction/Myth/Memoir):

• The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley
• El Deafo by Cece Bell
• I Remember Beirut by Zeina Abirached
• Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale by Nathan Hale
• Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

And the kids chose…

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Favorite Cartoonist/Author:

• Dav Pilkey
• Faith Erin Hicks
• Kazu Kibuishi
• Nathan Hale
• Raina Telgemeier

And the kids chose…

Raina Telgemeier

Nominees for the 2015 KCR Kids’ Comics Awards were selected by a council of educators and retailers including Rebecca Oxley, Betsy Bird, Eti Berland, Jess Stork Glicoes, Alyson Beecher, Susan Vincent Molinaro, Krystle Tabujara, Matthew Winner, and Colby Sharp.

The winners were selected by votes placed by kids and tabulated from a combination of paper and online ballots. Previous years winners and videos of the award ceremonies are archived here.

Cast your vote for the 2015 KCR! Awards!

The Kids’ Comics Revolution podcast is pleased to announce the nominees for the third annual KCR! Awards, and we’re asking kids everywhere to vote for the winners!

KCR! hosts Dave Roman and Jerzy Drozd have teamed up with Chris Duffy (Nickelodeon Magazine) and the Ann Arbor District Library to honor some of the best kids’ comics to come out in 2014.

Here’s how you can vote (only kids, please!):

• Pick up a ballot in the kids’ exhibitors area (tables 100-111) at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival, May 9-10, 2015
• Pick up a ballot at the information table at Kids Read Comics, June 20, 2015
• Download a printable PDF ballot and submit your votes via mail
• Use the handy online ballot below

Winners will be announced June 21st at a special ceremony at the conclusion of Kids Read Comics in Ann Arbor, Michigan!

And here’s a printable PDF ballot for distributing at your school or library! Just be sure to send them in before June 10, 2015!
(click the image to download the PDF)

The Kids’ Comics Revolution Awards 2014 Ceremony, held during the Kids Read Comics Celebration.

2013 KCR! Award Winner George O’Connor expresses his excitement over his trophy.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney with his awards for Favorite Cartoonist/Author and Favorite Comic/Novel Hybrid.

KCR! 14 – Video Games & Comics – Kids’ Eye View

El Deafo! Yotsuba!Super Smash Brothers, and more!

We’ve had some terrific book talks on this show from kids on the comics they love. Some of you have even suggested that they’re the best part of the show. And why not? The enthusiasm of kids talking about the stuff they love is way infectious.

So let’s turn it over to the kids, shall we? We’ve got kid creator and former Kids Read Comics guest Natalia on the show to give us a better understanding of what comics and games kids love, why they love them, and how they think about making their own.

Links mentioned:

• El Deafo
• Kids Read Comics
• Ryan Estrada meets Natalia for the first time
• The Castle of Cagliostro
• Super Smash Bros.
• Matthew Winner’s The Busy Librarian blog
• Pixel Press game creator for iPad
• RPG Maker
• Yotsuba&!
• Kirby’s Return to Dreamland
• Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Saturday Supercast 38 – The Care Bears Movie, with Raina Telgemeier
• Cowa!
• G-Man
• nemu*nemu
• Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry
• Laddertop
• Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series
• Missile Mouse
• Battling Boy
• Daybreak
• Meanwhile
• Spera
• Bad Island
• Saga of Rex
• The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza
• The Long Journey
• Bibarel

Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library.

Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

KCR! 13 – Cartoons to Comics, with Rafael Rosado

Giants Beware! Mermin! Rafael Rosado, and more!

Comics and animation may share a lot of DNA. After all, the artists are clarifying their worlds through use of shape, size, line, and color.

But unlike comics, animated cartoons have sound and motion! Surely switching from animation to comics puts an artist at a disadvantage, or does it?

We talk with Rafael Rosado, storyboard artist on shows such as Scooby Doo and Transformers: Prime, who shares his experience and observations on switching from working in animation to co-creating the popular graphic novel, Giants Beware!

Rafael shows us how to draw Claudette, the heroine of Giants Beware!

Links mentioned:

• Dragons Beware!
• Billy Ireland Cartoon Library at Ohio State University
• March: Book One by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
• The Saturday Supercast, where you can hear Dave and Jerzy talk about cartoon shows
• Dan Mishkin and Jerzy talk about The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination

Books recommended in this episode:

• Mermin, Book One: Out of the Water, by Joey Weiser

This episode features songs by Superchunk, The Pixies, and Maury Law & Glenn Yarbrough. Theme music by Harry and the Potters.

Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library.

Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

Kids Comics Awards 2014 Winners

The KCR! Kids’ Comics Awards offers kids the opportunity to share their enthusiasm for comics of various styles and formats. Kids cast a vote for their favorite comics and characters across twelve categories, both serious and silly. The ceremony was held at the Kids Read Comics celebration at the Ann Arbor District Library.

*Full length video of the 2014 ceremony coming soon!

The 2014 nominees & winners are:

Favorite Graphic Novel (Adventure):
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff (First Second)
G-Man: Coming Home by Chris Giarrusso (Image)
The Silver Six by AJ Lieberman & Darren Rawlings (Graphix)
Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrel (Top Shelf)
Mouse Guard: The Black Axe by David Petersen (Archaia)

And the kids chose…
G-Man: Coming Home by Chris Giarrusso (Image)

Favorite Graphic Novel (Humor):
Extreme Babymouse by Jennifer and Matthew Holm (Random House)
Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf)
Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso (Amulet Books)
Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci and Sara Varon (First Second)
Stone Rabbit #8 Robot Frenzy by Erik Craddock (Random House)

And the kids chose…
Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf)

Favorite Graphic Novel (Non-Fiction/Myth):
Bluffton by Matt Phelan (Candlewick)
Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale (Abrams)
Fairy Tale Comics by Various (First Second)
Poseidon: Earth Shaker by George O’Connor (First Second)
Primates by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks (First Second)

And the kids chose…
Poseidon: Earth Shaker by George O’Connor (First Second)

Favorite Comic/Novel Hybrid:
Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo Boxers by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic)
Dork Diaries: Tales of a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renee Russell (Aladdin)
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo and K.G. Campbell (Candlewick)
Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffery Brown (Scholastic)
Vordak the Incomprehensible: Time Travel Trouble by Scott Seegert and John Martin (Egmont)

And the kids chose…
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo and K.G. Campbell (Candlewick)

Favorite Comic Book Series (Licensed/Franchise):
Adventure Time (Boom)
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search (Dark Horse)
Batman ‘66 (DC Comics)
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (IDW)
Sonic Universe (Archie)

And the kids chose…
Adventure Time (Boom)

Favorite Comic Book Series (Original/Creator Owned):
Aw, Yeah Comics! By Art Balthazar and Fraco (Aw, Yeah)
Bodie Troll by Jay Fosgitt (Red 5)
Herobear and the Kid by Mike Kunkel (Boom)
Skyward by Jeremy Dale (Action Lab)
Super Dinosaur by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard (Image)

And the kids chose…
Herobear and the Kid by Mike Kunkel (Boom)

Favorite Cartoonist/Author:
Faith Erin Hicks
Jennifer and Matthew Holm
Jeff Kinney
Jeff Smith
Kazu Kibuishi

And the kids chose…
Jeff Kinney

Favorite Webcomic:
Cucumber Quest by Gigi D.G. (cucumber.gigidigi.com)
Gronk by Katie Cook (gronkcomic.com)
Princess at Midnight by Andi Watson (pmmidnight.blogspot.com)
Saturday Morning Webcartoons by Various (saturdaymorningwebcartoons.com)
Yeti 4 Hire by Jeff Crowther (yeti4hire.com)

And the kids chose…
Saturday Morning Webtoons by Various (http://saturdaymorningwebtoons.com/)

Cutest Comic Character:
Babymouse (Babymouse)
Beandog & Nugget (Beandog & Nugget)
Chi (Chi’s Sweet Home)
Little Sister (The Big Wet Balloon)
Ulysses the Squirrel (Flora & Ulysses)

And the kids chose…
Ulysses the Squirrel (Flora & Ulysses)

Best Hair in Comics:
Aphrodite (Olympians series)
Bodie Troll
Delilah Dirk
Johnny Boo
Salem Hyde

And the kids chose…
Johnny Boo by James Kochalka

Grossest thing in Comics:
Cannibalism (Hazardous Tale: Donner Dinner Party)
Fregley chewing him with his belly button (Diary of Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck)
Pool full of fish (Mermin: Out of Water)

And the kids chose…
Fregley chewing him with his belly button (Diary of Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck)

Congratulations to all the winners!

See List of 2013 Award Winners.

Cast your vote for the 2014 KCR! Awards!

The Kids’ Comics Revolution podcast is pleased to announce the nominees for the second annual KCR! Awards, and we’re asking kids everywhere to vote for the winners!

KCR! hosts Dave Roman and Jerzy Drozd have teamed up with Chris Duffy (Nickelodeon Magazine) and the Ann Arbor District Library to honor some of the best kids’ comics to come out in 2013.

Here’s how you can vote (only kids, please!):

• Pick up a ballot in the Novella Room (2nd floor, Toronto Reference Library) at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival, May 10-11, 2014
• Pick up a ballot at the information table at Kids Read Comics, June 21, 2014
• Download a printable PDF ballot and submit your votes via mail
• Use the handy online ballot below

Winners will be announced June 22nd at a special ceremony at the conclusion of Kids Read Comics in Ann Arbor, Michigan!

And here’s a printable PDF ballot for distributing at your school or library! Just be sure to send them in before June 10, 2014!
(click the image to download the PDF)

The Kids’ Comics Revolution Awards 2013 Ceremony, held during the Kids Read Comics Celebration.

2013 KCR! Award Winner George O’Connor expresses his excitement over his trophy.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney with his awards for Favorite Cartoonist/Author and Favorite Comic/Novel Hybrid.

KCR! 12 – ALA Annual with Chris Giarrusso and Matt Phelan

Artist Alley! Storm in the Barn! G-Man! Secret Science Alliance! And More!

Tabling at conventions is an integral part of how cartoonists promote their work.

But now that the American Library Association has opened up an artist alley for graphic novelists at their Annual Conference, we’ve got a brand new venue with an entirely different set of expectations. How do things change when selling your work to librarians instead of the general public?

We’re joined by cartoonists Chris Giarrusso and Matt Phelan, who help us bridge that gap and reveal how librarians are our best allies in connecting our books with the readers we’re looking for.

We’ve also got a book talk from teen contributors Shelby and Sara!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Chris Giarrusso’s G-Man series
• Matt Phelan’s new book, Bluffton
• Gregg Schigiel
• Paul Pope
• Jacob Chabot
• nemu*nemu

Books recommended in this episode:

• Secret Science Alliance

Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library.

This episode features songs by The Phenomonauts and Morrissey. Theme music by Harry and the Potters.

Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

KCR! 11 – Aaron Renier & KCR! Award Winners LIVE at ALA Annual

Kids Comics Awards, Unsinkable Walker Bean, ALA GN Stage & more!

We’re on the red carpet getting ready for a special awards edition of the Kids’ Comics Revolution!

There are many awards for cartoonists and authors. The Harveys, The Eisners, The Ignatz, and even more in the world of children’s book publishing.

And while every one of these awards are terrific honors and vehicles to introduce audiences to worthy works, might not there be room for one more award to specifically honor the authors of kids’ comics?

We have a special panel discussion about the Kids’ Comics Revolution! Awards recorded live at the 2013 American Library Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois. We’re we are joined by Aaron Renier, author of The Unsinkable Walker Bean.

We’re also joined by librarians Laura Given and Jess Stork Glicoes, who pick up the banners and sound the charge for the Kids’ Comics Revolution!

Check out the KCR! Awards Ceremony held at Kids Read Comics 2013!

Photo of Jeff Kinney winner of Best Cartoonist and Best Comic/Novel Hybrid in the 2013 KCR Comics Awards!

Additional Photos & Complete List of Winners in the KCR! Kids Comics Awards.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• List of kid-friendly comics in 2012
• Kids Read Comics
• Toronto Comics Arts Festival
• Article about Nickelodeon Magazine Comics Awards
• Videos by Kevin Coppa
• ALA Graphic Novel Stage
• CBLDF: Raising a Reader initiative

Books recommended in this episode:

• Meanwhile by Jason Shiga
• Beanworld by Larry Marder
• Big Bad Ironclad! by Nathan Hale

This episode features a song by Moxy Früvous. Theme music by Harry and the Potters.

Follow KCR! on Twitter




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KCR! 10 – Comics Make Readers, with The Nerdy Book Club

August 8, 2013 by Jerzy Drozd  
Filed under Kids' Comics Revolution!, News, Podcasts

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Nerdy Book Club! Kid Cartoonists! Comics in the classroom! & lots more!

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We’ve all heard someone say “well at least they’re reading,” as a defense of kids’ love of comics. And it’s true–comics can be a great inroad to developing a love of reading.

But is that all comics offer? Or can we celebrate them for what they are?

We’re joined by librarian Scott Robins, the author of A Parent’s Guide to the Best Kids’ Comics, and educators Colby Sharp and Brian Wyzlic of the Nerdy book Club and nErD Camp Battle Creek, who help us get past the apologies and celebrate comics for what makes them so great.
We’re also joined by Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor District Library for some closing thoughts. And we have more book talks from Olivia and Natalia!



Links mentioned in this episode:

• Kids Read Comics
• Toronto Comics Arts Festival
• “Libraries are Screwed” by Eli Neiburger
• Minecraft as an educational tool
• #nerdybookclub
• #bookaday
• Ann Arbor District Library comics site
• Instagram pic Colby Sharp posted of his kids sharing the mini-comics they made at KRC.
• Scott Robins interview on KCR! Episode 4

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Flight Volume 4 edited by Kazu Kibuishi
• Igloo Head and Tree Head by Scott C.
• Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
• Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
• Adventures in Graphica by Terry Thompson

Audio hosting and production provided by the Ann Arbor District Library.

This episode features music by The Aquabats. Theme music by Harry and the Potters.

Follow Jerzy, Dave, and KCRpodcast on Twitter!

“It’s not that we make reading fun. It’s that we allow reading to be the fun that it is.”
-Brian Wyzlic





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Tags: aadl, ann arbor district library, brian wyzlic, colby sharp, dave roman, kidlit, kids read comics, scott robins

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