EJR students recently got a first-hand account of how graphic novels are made. That’s because they got a visit from Matt Holm, the illustrator of the Babymouse series of children’s books, and others.

 

 

 

Babymouse is a sassy little mouse getting through the adventures of elementary school. There are 20 books in the series.

 

Matt works with his sister, Jennifer Holm. He illustrates the books and Jennifer writes them. They grew up with their three other brothers in Pennsylvania. He and Jennifer loved to read comic books. What they noticed was that most of the comic books they read were about men and boys. Jennifer wanted to see someone more like her. That’s how they created Babymouse

 

 

Jennifer writes historical fiction and Matt was always doodling and drawing. They decided to put their talents together and created the Babymouse character. The character, along with other characters, evolved as time went by. They gave them characteristics, likes and dislikes, some quirks here and there. Babymouse was a hit!

 

 

Matt talked about the process of making a graphic novel. Unlike a regular book, there are lots of pictures and words that have to go together. They have to know how to place them and where. He showed them how they storyboard their work with big areas for the animation and text below telling what is going on and what should be said. Storyboards for graphic novels include narrations, action and dialogue. Then they talk about it all, edit, rewrite and then insert the illustrations. Voila! A graphic novel is born!

 

It’s quite a process. And the students loved hearing about it.