SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

May 8, 2019 by Johanna

Review: ‘Share Your Smile’

May 8, 2019 by Johanna   1 comments

Share Your Smile header

Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story
by Raina Telgemeier
Graphix, $12.99
Ages 8-12

Raina Telgemeier’s latest book puts a workshop course between covers. Her many devout fans will find this journal, full of prompts and activities, a friendly guide to making their own comics.

After a welcoming introduction, there are four chapters, each focusing on one of Telgemeier’s books: Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts. The first, covering Smile, is the longest, with the most detail about Telgemeier’s creative process and short lessons on drawing characters and expressions.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Share Your Smile: Raina's Guide to Telling Your Own Story

The chapters each include a three- or-four page excerpt from the graphic novel, information on what inspired the book (illustrated by selected panels), brainstorming questions to spur thoughts on the subject, photos from Raina’s childhood, and blanks to draw or write according to the prompts. The book ends with a list of creativity tips and a couple of preview pages from Telgemeier’s next book, Guts.

A library might consider that much of the book encourages readers to write and draw in its pages, making it difficult to lend without caution. Even those uninterested in creating may find the short sections about background and influences informative about favorite reads, although they are generally light and breezy, aimed at the younger audience. The emphasis here is firmly on showing kids how to start making comics about things that interest them.

Telgemeier makes the process look attractive and fun, with plenty of inspiration and a general feeling that anyone can do this. As Telgemeier says in her introduction, “most of what it takes is time, dedication, and a desire to tell a story! (And, you know, lots and lots and lots of practice.)”

Filed under: All Ages

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
DramaghostsgraphixRaina TelgemeierSisterssmile

About Johanna

Johanna Draper Carlson has been reviewing comics for over 20 years. She manages ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent review site online that covers all genres of comic books, graphic novels, and manga. She has an MA in popular culture, studying online fandom, and was previously, among many other things, webmaster for DC Comics. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

10 Books I Loved (But Didn’t Actually Review) In 2023

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2023 Caldenotts

by Betsy Bird

Heavy Medal

The Narrow-It-Down Poll: Help us finalize our Heavy Medal Book List

by Steven Engelfried

Politics in Practice

November 2023 Election Hot Take: It was a good night for libraries, a bad night for censorship

by Peter Bromberg

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Cindy Crushes Programming: Hunger Games Escape Room

by Cindy Shutts

The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Picturing Historical Japan: Shonen and shoujo manga bring the country’s past eras to life

Summer Camp and Beyond: 24 Middle Grade Graphic Novels | Summer Reading 2021

Shoujo Manga: Let's Hear It for the Girls | Mondo Manga

10 YA Graphic Novels About the LGBTQIA+ experience | Stellar Panels

Best Graphic Novels 2019 | SLJ Best Books

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story – Comics Worth Reading says:
    December 4, 2019 at 9:46 am

    […] As Telgemeier says in her introduction, “most of what it takes is time, dedication, and a desire to tell a story! (And, you know, lots and lots and lots of practice.)” (Review originally posted at Good Comics for Kids.) […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
  • Read Free Poster
  • 2023 Youth Media Awards
  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023