The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel - by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud Hardcover

About the Book

"Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club!

Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!

Review Quotes

Praise for The Cartoonists Club:

Harvey Award Winner

Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award Winner

Instant New York Times Bestseller

Instant USA Today Bestseller

Instant #1 National Indie Bestseller

Amazon Best Book of the Year

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Booklist Best Book of the Year

Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Best Book of the Year

The Strategist Best Book of the Year

Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year So Far

Five starred reviews

★ "A powerhouse team-up from two of comics' very best creators." -- School Library Journal, starred review

★ "By hewing closely to what made [Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud] luminaries to begin with, they have created something warmly comfortable in its presentation, quietly fascinating in its information, deeply accessible in its humanity, and excitingly perfect in its execution... A real showpiece of what happens when two masters find a way to combine their mastery." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Telgemeier and McCloud simultaneously explore making new friends, overcoming self-doubt, and embracing a growth mindset to practice and improve... Highly imaginative and cleverly conceived." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "The cheerful saturated colors, clear paneling, and casual, easy-to-read lettering style all make for an accessible read, and expansive backmatter allows readers to connect the dots between that reading experience and each step of the graphic novel design process." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

★ "Creative prompts, tips, instructions, and definitions feature throughout, delivered in a cheeky tone that seamlessly integrates heartfelt narrative with approachable how-to guides." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Clever... Cartoon-style illustrations in cool, pale hues with occasional splashes of canary yellow effectively portray the characters' quirks as well as the nuts and bolts of comics-making." -- The Horn Book

"If you like comics, you'll like The Cartoonists Club. And if you're a young person interested in making comics, it's an inspiring work from a team of successful cartoonists and one that makes a pretty compelling case for starting your own cartoonists club." -- School Library Journal, Good Comics for Kids Blog

"Capture(s) the intensity of friendships forged through shared creative passions and pursuits...Telgemeier has earned legions of fans with her heartfelt, relatable portrayals of adolescence, and that talent is on full display here as well... McCloud has helped generations understand the power and potential of comics -- and the inventive ways in which he and Telgemeier unpack the genre's formal elements are impressive." -- The New York Times

"The Cartoonists Club is both a story and a manual -- it has both practical, fun exercises for kids... and a lovable band of characters who form a deep friendship around comics." -- USA Today

"Extraordinary... To call The Cartoonist Club one of the defining comics of our time is no overstatement." -- The Beat

"A historic collaboration between comic superstars lives up to hype... a timeless graphic novel that will greatly serve many generations of young comic book fans for years to come."-- CBR

"10/10, I recommend." -- Popverse

"This is a great book for someone who wants to learn how to make comics or connect with others who share their interest." -- TIME for Kids

"This masterclass in comics, friendship, and creative expression has wide appeal, but will especially inspire budding graphic novelists." -- Common Sense Media

Praise for Raina Telgemeier:

"Raina Telgemeier is the reigning queen of comics." -- The A.V. Club

Praise for Smile:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winner

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the 21st Century (So Far)

"Irresistible, funny, and touching." -- Kirkus Reviews

"One of the most widely loved kids' graphic novels in recent history." -- Booklist

"It hits home partly because there is nothing else out there like it." -- The New York Times

Praise for Sisters:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winner

★ "A wonderfully charming tale of family and sisters that anyone can bond with." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Poignant and laugh-out-loud funny." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Utterly relatable for anyone with siblings." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Guts:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

★ "The story both normalizes therapy and shows a child developing useful coping mechanisms for anxiety in a way that will reassure, even inspire, readers." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A must." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"A compassionate and accessible look at one girl's struggles with anxiety." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for Drama:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

An ALA Stonewall Honor Book

★ "Telgemeier is prodigiously talented at telling cheerful stories with realistic portrayals of middle-school characters." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Pitch-perfect." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Another dead-on look at the confusing world of middle school." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "An entertaining and enlightening read." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Ghosts:

★ "Telgemeier has her finger on the pulse of middle-grade readers, and this might be her best yet." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Superior visual storytelling and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A can't-miss addition to middle grade graphic novel shelves; hand to fans of the author and newcomers alike." -- School Library Journal, starred review

★ "The story is consistently engaging, the plot is tightly built." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] gem of a graphic novel" -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Raina Telgemeier's characters fizz with visual energy." -- The New York Times

Praise for Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud:

"Reading Understanding Comics blew my teenage mind, and gave me a toolbox full of ideas that I still use today." -- Raina Telgemeier

"McCloud's masterwork is not just an indispensable treatise on comics, it's also the best primer around on visual literacy and the mechanics of storytelling. A must-read for anyone interested in narrative of any kind." -- Alison Bechdel

About the Author

Raina Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning creator of Smile, Sisters, and Guts, which are all graphic memoirs based on her childhood. She is also the creator of Drama and Ghosts, the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, and, with Scott McCloud, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier is based on an exhibition that was held at The Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Raina lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn more, visit her online at goraina.com.
Scott McCloud is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art;Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels;Zot!; and The Sculptor. He is also, with Raina Telgemeier, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Scott is a frequent lecturer on the power of visual communication and creator of the international 24-Hour Comics Day. In 2021, he was inducted into the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame. Scott lives with his family in Oregon. His art and stories are available in more than thirty languages and on the web at scottmccloud.com.