Join us at BookExpo America and meet TOON Author GEOFFREY HAYES, the winner of the Geisel Award (Benny & Penny in The Big No-No! 2010) for best early reader.  Hayes will preview and sign copies of his latest heartwarming adventure featuring the adorable and much beloved brother and sister duo, Benny and Penny, set for release on August 5, 2014.

TOON partnered this year with educational wholesaler AKJ Books to showcase our new Comics Curriculum at the International Reading Association (IRA) Conference in New Orleans.

But we weren't the ones talking comics!  Many panelists and literacy experts were touting the benefits of comics, especially for struggling readers and particularly for boys. Teachers shared how their students want to read the "Graphic Novels" but they are just too hard.  TOON Books are easy-to-read and specifically designed for the earliest independent reading levels. 

Overheard at IRA Presentations:

"My basket of TOON books has helped me hook many reluctant readers - - the books are engaging and appeal to my first-grade readers who love humor and action!" –Maria Walther, Illinois Reading Educator of the Year and Speaker on "The Next Step in Guided Reading Assessment"

"Comic books can be the on-ramp to grade level text for many children who struggle in school due to a 'language gap.'" –Quality Quinn, Literacy Expert and Speaker on "Access, Equity, and Urgency: Males of Color and the Common Core"

"If you're looking for comics for beginning readers, you should check out TOON Books" –Gene Yang, Printz Award-winning author of American Born Chinese and Speaker on "A Plethora of Possibilities: Connecting Graphic Novels to the CCSS"

Answers to Your FAQs

• What are the TOON Reading Levels? TOON Books range from Fountas & Pinnell levels E to P.  Click here for Leveling Correlations.
• Where can I get the Lesson Plans? We offer FREE lesson plans and worksheets for every TOON title.  Click here to Download FREE Lesson Plans.
• I'm on a budget, what books do you have in paperback? We now offer 13 titles in paperback at just $4.99 each.  Buy The Complete Paperback Set and SAVE!
• Do you have books for Grades 3-6? TOON Graphics is a new imprint designed for visual readers ages 8+.  Click here for more about TOON Graphics -- including Hansel & Gretel written by Neil Gaiman and Theseus and the Minotaur, a lush rendition of this classic Greek Myth.

TOON Books raffled off the TOON into Comics Genre Study for Reading and Writing, which includes 92 books and a CCSS-Aligned Teacher's Guide with lessons for every TOON title. 

AND THE WINNER IS...
Ailish Johnson, a First-Grade Teacher at Superior Elementary School in Colorado who writes:

"WOW!  I have four TOON Books currently and my students love them.  They are never on the shelf because they are always in kids hands---reading!   I can get the most reluctant independent reader to grab a TOON Book on their own and read.  I am so excited to be able to share with my school the magic of TOON Books. THANK YOU!"

By popular demand TOON Books is expanding its catalog for older readers ages 8 and up. TOON Graphics are comics and visual narratives that bring the text to life in a way that captures young readers’ imaginations and makes them want to read on—and read more. Children also develop their aesthetic sense when they experience the relationship of text to picture in all its communicative power. Vetted by our team of educational experts, TOON Graphics introduce great storytelling traditions from around the world.  

From best-selling author Neil Gaiman and internationally acclaimed artist Lorenzo Mattotti comes Hansel & Gretel, a retelling of the Grimm tale unlike any you’ve ever experienced. For lovers of mythology comes Theseus and the Minotaur, a lush rendition of the classic hero’s showdown with the monstrous Minotaur. And from France comes the first of a beloved series, Philemon, with Cast Away on the Letter A, a fantastical journey to a place that doesn’t exist. 

We are proud to introduce these new books that promote both verbal and visual literacy while also providing children a fun and illuminating experience.

Theseus and the Minotaur
by Yvann Pommaux
Release Date: August 26, 2014

Cast Away on the Letter A: 
A Philemon Adventure by Fred
Release Date: September 9, 2014

Hansel & Gretel
by Neil Gaiman and Lorenzo Mattotti
Release Date: October 28, 2014