Jules Feiffer must be shaking his head at all the hype today over "graphic novels". He was using his formidable graphic talent to create comic style books years ago. Unfortunately, he might have been ahead of his time and some of his early books are not as appreciated as his latest such as Bark, George.
Meanwhile... is a book that I feel really delivers on the promise of graphic novels. The pictures are wonderful and use the graphic techniques of panels, close ups and word balloons to full advantage. Unlike many graphic novels the words are simple enough that they can actually be read by children. This really is a book that can be "read" by all ages.
It is also hysterical! Only Feiffer would write a book that pokes fun at the melodrama of comics and is so funny. What if the word "meanwhile", which comics use to change scenes, was really a verb? What if we could "meanwhile" somewhere else when we need to? It is a wonderful premise and Feiffer plays with it in true comic-book style. His character zips from one disaster to another with always one last chance to escape by writing "meanwhile". Its a simple story without a lot of depth, but really fun.
Teacher Notes: Just read this once at any grade and let the class yell out "Meanwhile" and they will never forget the word works as a transition. (You may have a problem, though, with the three dots after the word...)
- Meanwhile... by Jules Feiffer
- HarperCollins (March 7, 1998)
- ISBN-10: 0062059262
- ISBN-13: 978-0062059260
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