The Panel Pack

A Monthly Graphic Novel Book Club for Kids in Grades 3-5

Graphic novels can be the gateway to enthusiastic readers. Read the book on your own, then join us monthly for discussion, games, and activities based on our book of the month.

October's book is Saving Chupie by Amparo Ortiz. Register in person at the library. Registration opens September 15th. If your student has dietary restrictions that we need to accommodate, please let us know when you register.

About Saving Chupie:

Violeta Rubio only has one goal in mind for her first-ever trip to Puerto Rico: help Abuelita reopen her beloved restaurant, La Casita. After the destruction wrought by Huracán Maria, La Casita needs all the help it can get. The only problem is that Violeta’s whole family thinks they can do it without her.

Now Violeta doesn’t have anyone to hang out with or anything to do. But when best friend duo Diego and Lorena need help capturing the rumored chupacabra, Violeta sees her chance to change all that. What she isn’t expecting is to run straight into the beast! Only…he isn’t as monstrous as everyone assumes. Sure, he’s got some scales and spikes, big red eyes, and pointy fangs—but he’s a total puppy and loyal to a fault.

Violeta must find a way keep Chupie hidden and convince her newfound friends that he isn’t anything to be scared of. And if that isn’t hard enough, a new threat lurks around the corner that is dead set on capturing Chupie for their own nefarious means. Will Violeta be able to save Chupie from the danger that surrounds them without sacrificing everything else in the process?

? Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels for Kids
1. Builds Strong Reading Skills

• Encourages visual literacy
• Helps with sequencing, cause and effect, and plot development
• Offers context clues through illustrations

2. Supports Struggling and Reluctant Readers

• Less text per page feels less intimidating
• Pictures help decode meaning
• Great for kids with dyslexia, ADHD, or language-based learning challenges

3. Expands Vocabulary

• Exposes kids to rich language in a digestible format
• Supports understanding of idioms, slang, and expressive dialogue

4. Develops Critical Thinking

• Requires readers to infer emotions, motivations, and tone
• Encourages comparing text and image for full meaning

5. Boosts Comprehension and Retention

• Engaging visuals support memory
• Helps kids recall and retell stories more easily

6. Encourages a Love of Reading

• Fast-paced, fun, and often humorous
• Builds confidence as kids finish books more quickly

7. Broadens Access to Diverse Stories

• Graphic novels often explore unique cultures, identities, and perspectives
• Gives kids windows into other worlds and mirrors of their own

8. Inspires Creativity and Artistic Expression

• Kids often start drawing or making their own comics
• Introduces storytelling elements like panel layout and dialogue pacing

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