Heavy topics in Milan

The IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Milan this year is filled with papers and discussions aimed at children's and school librarians. Lots of good reading if you go to the website www.ifla.org and look at the sessions under the Milan Conference. One paper I heard yesterday at a session on multiple literacies. was about the importance of comics for children and how comics are being used in South Africa to encourage children to read. In a multilingual society like South Africa, it's important that children learn to enjoy reading in English--usually their second or perhaps third language--so it's important to have materials that appeal. One of the references listed in the paper is accessible at
http:// comicsintheclassroom.net/ooedunds2006_08_24.htm
You might want to take a look. It will encourage you to see comics from a child's point of view. They are increasingly important for many of us in this global society where we are all learning new literacies.