A great book which has been perfect for my students! A lot of them prefer graphic novels over regular books and have had lots of fun using this book to help them create their own

I love this book - i would have devoured this as a teenager, i will devour it now. Really fun, accessible and inspirational way of presenting a lot of information and ideas, i can see this being used again and again in the library.

4 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌕

🎯 Target Audience
- People who want to craft and create their comics/graphic novels from start to end
- Comics/Graphic novels enthusiasts, who want to know how these are created

🧠 My thoughts
I was impressed with how much information was packed into this book. The artwork was awesome, and I learned a lot from it. The author led us through multiple steps to create a comic/graphic novel with detailed and practical information. I felt confident to create my own work now if I ever wanted to.

However, since the book was very informative, some parts were too packed with words that it made me feel overwhelmed. For me, it felt a bit redundant to create different characters as well in the book. I understood the author's intention but since the characters didn't have so much space to show their personalities, it would still be fine if that part was left out in my opinions.

Thanks NetGalley, Collins Reference publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

What a lovely entertaining read this book was. It is full of practical advice and tons of tips on how to produce a first rate graphic booklet. I adored the silly characters with their superb decriptions and apt ,but funny, names. It helped the progress as each chapter began a new project creating different plots. This was an easy read and would suit the younger generation especially. I did feel that some basic drwing eperience would have helped me in the work I tried, but above all this is a fun book.

My 13 year old son is very interested in graphic novels and anime just now. I asked him to read this book as thought it would be helpful to him in developing his own graphic novels.
He really liked the style and layout of the book. There were lots of engaging and colourful graphics. He thought there was a lot of good information in the book to give ideas on how to get started, howler ti develop characters and storyline ideas. However, he thought it was probably aimed at slightly younger children than teenagers..
Overall a great book to help people get started in writing their own graphic novels.

This book blew me away. I picked it up as graphic novels are something that are exploding across teens reading lists and something my thirteen yr old sister adores whilst traditional books she finds challenging. What a book. From crafting the story element, to discussing use of color, styles of character and how to even format the page this book covers everything in a super accessible format that is inviting and warm to all ages. This is not just a children's book. This is a children's book stressing how vital it is to us all to widen our horizons and consider the other methods of storytelling. There’s a reason so many tweens and teens and even those in 5-8 are loving the cartoonised tales of Bunny vs monkey, Heartstopper and more- this book celebrates the many ways you can use art to tell a story. This is my go to rec for christmas this year!

A Non-fiction book that blows all others out of the water! Super accessible and easily engaging GNB is an incredible guide to Graphic Novels and how diverse, creative and entertaining they can be. This takes a kid (or adult who will also gain a lot from this!) from step one of an idea all the way through character creation, location, script making, formatting and beyond! Truly a book that shows kids can do anything. By creating it with a distinctive voice shown through a superb cast of characters going on their own journey, Edward Ross makes each page wonderfully useful but also interesting. I thought this book was a wonder to behold and cannot wait to see what gems this inspires.

This is a really good guide for budding artists and story tellers. I shared this with my daughters and they will most liekyl use the tips to create their own mini novels.

Thanks to net galley and the published for an ARC copy.

Created for graphic novels, i think this has loads of tips useful for any kindof storytelling. It's a really fun and engaging read with loads of practical, helpful advice on creating a plot, building worlds and developing characters. It is very easy and quick to read so perfect for kids to capture their attention and so many good hints and tips for character design and settings that work across all formats.

This book is cleverly put together... it's presented as a graphic story with a set of characters talking you through the stages of creating your own story. It starts heavy on the characters and gradually gets more stuck into the nitty gritty. The advice is sound, from filling the well of creativity to character and plot creation to layout, text style and bleed areas. As a writer, the writing and story building advice was familiar and sensible, and I personally loved getting the same level of insight into how the art style affects things. It is really, really thorough; a great workbook covering every possible aspect of creating a graphic novel. If you worked through the whole book chapter by chapter you'd have a project to be proud of at the end. I started this book thinking it would be a nice gift for my daughters - we're a huge fan of graphic novels in our house and my daughters are always drawing - but by the end I felt like I might have to borrow it myself.

A fun and helpful guide to storytelling, covering plot creation, world building, and character development, all laid out in a clever comic book format that makes it really interesting. It's a quick and easy to read, perfect for younger audiences and the practical tips it offers for character design, setting details, and visual storytelling could also apply beyond just graphic novels and comics which is awesome

A bible for graphic novel writers yes, but I would say it is also perhaps relevant to anyone who wants to write a story. I have been taking short courses in writing novels, including graphic novels and this book has already got me thinking of how I can improve my work; it is great to have a working book with visual stimulators.
The book covers all aspects of writing a great story, great characters and world-building to comic layout and drawing style to publishing and target audiences, to inspiring you to keep making more.
Each subject isnt in huge detail but it does give you all the key points you do need to consider and any more information could potentially overwhelm younger audiences. The illustrations are great fun and I like how the artist has used a bunch of multicultural characters as a team working together, as it makes it easier to learn, more inclusive and fun.
And I would say it isnt just for children or teens, this is an ALL age people pleaser. I will definitely go out and purchase this book for myself and for children and adults I know would appreciate it.

This was an incredibly piece of work. I'm not someone who can draw very well, so making comics is hard for me, and I know that it's a lot of practice, but I read comics and novels, and I want to write novels.
This book isn't just for making graphic novels, it's for anything you want to create, so don't let the title put you off.
It's extremely helpful in terms of storytelling, creating worlds, characters, and ideas. There's so much in this book and I think it's helpful for anyone who wants to create something!

“Figuring it out as you go along is a key part of comic making. You have to try different things to discover what works for you. There are no right answers and no bad choices –if you’re enjoying it, then you’re doing a great job.” Alice Oseman, excerpt of the foreword

Even though Graphic Novel Builder is intended as a book for children and teenagers, I totally enjoyed my reading. Using the Comic form was an evidence and a great idea all at once. It makes it easy –and quick– to read, pleasurable for the eye and more interactive. And… it makes a point, giving an example to the reader of an original –non fiction– graphic novel.
As the title hints, you won’t really find any advice on how to draw. The book is about creating a story, characters, plot and universe, and delivering keys to how to make choices about it. In this regard, it is a useful tool for any storyteller, even if you decide to use only words. It can make a great memento with key points, with all the indispensable basics, for anyone who would like to tell a story (but if you want to draw it, then it will be even more useful!).

Rate 4.5/5

Thank you NetGalley, Edward Ross and Collins for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I think this could easily be used in a classroom to develop creative writing. Though it is meant to be used to develop graphic book style writing, it breaks down all the stages and key concepts of story creation in such an imaginative and engaging way that I think it would inspire many reluctant readers. Bright colours, excellent instructions and illustrations. I really liked this book and can’t wait to get a copy in my library. I am sure it will be successful and popular amongst the boys!

Graphic Novel Builder is a delightful and informative resource for young artists eager to dive into the world of comics. The engaging narrative, coupled with bright illustrations, creates a vibrant learning experience. The book’s format, blending comic storytelling with practical exercises, makes it both enjoyable and educational. Readers will appreciate the encouragement to explore their unique creative paths, reminding them that there is no one right way to make comics.

The book moves in order through creating your characters and their background, your settings and their details, the appearance of your story and designing your characters visually. A lot of the ideas are applicable to writing prose as well as comics, so writers might enjoy this as well. The fun illustrations keep things really interesting.

Throughout the journey with the Graphic Novel Builders, readers not only learn about the various elements that make up a comic but also gain the confidence to experiment with their own styles. The emphasis on finding what works for them is a fantastic message for aspiring creators. This book will inspire a new generation of artists to unleash their imaginations and bring their stories to life!

I really liked that this book about creating a graphic novel was written as a graphic novel! This was a clever concept and also a great way to transfer a lot of information in a quick and easily readable way. Plus it was written in a very entertaining way with each of the characters having a distinct interest which applied to creating a graphic novel.

This book would also work well to give prompts and tips for storytelling other than graphic novels. I liked all the building blocks given in each section such as picking from two lists to create characters/plot/setting.

I was looking at this for a 10 year old who enjoys reading and creating graphic novels. I found some of the concepts were more suited to a slightly older age group but there were still lots of good things which would be useful now to all age groups.

I am rating this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher, Collins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Most of us have drawn comic strips at school as a different way of telling a story. It is now also recognised that graphic novels are a great way to encourage reluctant readers. This book shows anyone how to take a blank piece of paper or computer screen and begin their own creative journey with examples of the artistic and literary skills needed.

There are plenty of books about this very subject, of course, but this is a graphic novel about the process of producing your own graphic novel! There are five main characters and five building blocks to help the reader learn the important elements of this process. From choosing the right type of comic, through the ideas for the storyline, to how to market your novel, this book sets it all out in colourful, easily understood comic strips and explanations meaning anyone can improve their skills and finish what is sure to be a satisfying project.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Collins/Collins Reference, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in undertaking this creative process no matter their age. Recommended.

This is a fantastic book that any aspiring creative can find useful

A fun s d creative read! Thanks to netgalley for an ARC!!!

This wasn't quite what I was expecting which was more of a how to guide, but this was sweet, funny and informative and I enjoyed it anyway. Highly recommend.

Very fun and sweet graphic novel that not only inspired, but makes you smiles.

The characters are discovered and very lovable. Every one of them is important and represent a different aspect, all crucial to the story.

The story educates the reader about origins of comics, teaches how to build your characters and world. Shares important details and helps to find inspiration.

What I loved the most was the fact that it's not necessarily just for graphic novel creators. I believe that want to be writers would find this story helpful as well, as it does explain really well how to make your main character, how to make it believable and relatable.

Great little book!