| Genre | Children's Literature-Graphic Novel |
|---|---|
| Suggested Age Range | 8-12 |
| Suggested Grade | 3rd grade- 7th grade |
| Lexile Level | 310L |
| Bibliographic Information | Kibuishi, K. (2008). Amulet: Book one, The stonekeeper. Graphix. |
Summary
In Amulet: Book 1, siblings Emily and Navin move with their mother to an old family home after the tragic death of their father. While exploring the house, Emily discovers a powerful amulet that awakens an ancient force. When their mother is kidnapped by a monstrous creature and taken into a dangerous underground world, Emily and Navin must follow her into a realm filled with robots, talking animals, and mysterious magic. Guided by the amulet, that has a power Emily must learn to control, the siblings begin a perilous journey to save their mother and uncover the secrets of their family’s past.
Predictions for the next book
Based on the events of Book 1, readers can predict that Emily’s connection to the amulet will grow even more important, possibly giving her both new powers and new responsibilities. There will likely be deeper exploration of the underground world and the forces battling for control of it. Emily may encounter allies who help her understand the amulet’s history, while also facing new villains who want to use its power for their own purposes. The story may also continue to reveal more about Emily and Navin’s family, suggesting that their father’s death and their grandfather’s disappearance are connected to the amulet’s legacy.
Discussing Death in a Children's Graphic Novel
Graphic novels like Amulet can offer a meaningful way for young readers to process difficult themes such as death by presenting them through both words and visuals, which makes the emotions more accessible and less overwhelming. The artwork helps clarify characters’ feelings like grief, fear, and courage this allows children to empathize and understand complex emotions in a safe, engaging format. Stories that acknowledge loss also open opportunities for discussions about healing, resilience, and how families support one another through hard times. By seeing characters their age face challenges and grow, young readers may feel more supported in their own emotional journeys.
Information
Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet: Book 1 delivers a fast-paced and visually driven plot that immediately pulls readers into its mysterious and emotionally charged world. The story wastes no time establishing stakes, from the grief of losing a parent to the sudden danger of their mother’s kidnapping this story creates strong narrative momentum. The setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths: the shift from an old, creaky house to a vividly imagined underground world full of mechanical creatures and fantastical landscapes adds layers of interest. Thematically, the book intertwines loss, bravery, and responsibility, using the amulet as a symbol of both empowerment and burden. These themes resonate well with young readers who are beginning to navigate more complex emotions and moral choices.
Kibuishi’s style blends cinematic artwork with short dialogue, allowing the illustrations to carry much of the emotional and narrative weight. This visual storytelling creates a strong atmosphere and helps readers understand character motivations through expressions and action rather than extended text. The point of view, centered on Emily, offers a clear emotional anchor for readers, her vulnerability, determination, and confusion are authentically portrayed. However, the rapid pacing at times leaves limited room for deeper character development or reflection, relying on later volumes to expand the world and its motivations. Overall, the book’s strong visual style and compelling adventure make it an engaging entry into the series, even if some elements feel intentionally reserved for future installments.
Lesson Sketch
Objective:
After reading and examining panels from the graphic novel, 5th grade students will analyze how visual elements contribute to the meaning and the tone of the story by accurately identifying and explaining three examples of how illustrations support the plot or character development in a written or verbal response.
Discussion Questions
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How do the illustrations help you understand Emily’s emotions throughout the story? Identify a panel where you think the art is especially important.
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What does the underground world reveal about the new challenges Emily and Navin will face? How does the artwork enhance that setting?
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Why do you think the author chose to show the moment of their father’s death visually rather than describe it in text? How does this affect your experience as a reader?
Standards-Based Lesson/Activity
Standard (Common Core ELA):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 – Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation).
Activity: “Panel Analysis Gallery Walk”
Students will examine selected panels or short page sequences from Amulet and analyze how the artwork supports story elements.
Steps:
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Print or project 6–8 key panels (e.g., the father’s accident, discovering the amulet, the mother being taken, entering the underground world).
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Place the panels around the room as stations.
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Students rotate in pairs, spending 2–3 minutes at each station to answer guiding questions:
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What emotion is shown here? How do you know?
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What visual elements (color, angle, shadows, expressions) help tell the story?
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How does this artwork advance the plot or reveal character traits?
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Students choose one panel from the walk and complete a short written analysis.
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End with a whole-class discussion comparing interpretations.
Purpose:
This lesson supports students in understanding how graphic novels use visuals to communicate plot, tone, and character which are essential literacy skills for multimodal texts.
Outside Resources
Below are three links to continue the discussion for graphic novels.
Author's Website
Kazu Kibuishi’s Official Website (Author Insights & Art Process)
https://www.boltcityproductions.com
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