It's a Golden Age for the Graphic Novel, with titles like Captain Underpants, Pizza and Taco, Diary of a Pug, Narwhal and Jelly igniting young readers' imaginations. Even video games like Minecraft and classic series like The Baby-Sitters Club have soared in popularity again thanks to the graphic novel format. We'll take a closer look at how these beloved stories come to life, seeing how writers and illustrators work together to turn zany ideas to captivating panels on the page. We'll hone basic drawing skills like proportion, shading, and perspective as we create our own long-format graphic novel throughout the session, picking up some bookbinding know-how along the way. We'll also create distinctive mixed media pieces inspired by illustrators in the field, learning to convey emotion, mood, and narrative through color, shape, and line. Our explorations of frame layout and sequential storytelling will empower kids to communicate complex ideas with a creative emphasis.