Manga is a graphic novel from Japan. Manga is usually written for a specific audience. The author (Mangaka) creates a character based on the audience type and forms story lines that would attract the specific audience. Popular storylines include adventure, action, comedy, drama, fantasy, Gender Bender, Historical, Martial Arts, Psychology, Romance, Shonen (Boy's Manga), Shojo (Girl's Manga), Sienen (Men's Manga), Josei (Women's Manga), Slice of Life, Supernatural and Tragedy. Stories are generally published in monthly periodicals by chapter. The stories that gain a large audience become independent and authors have the freedom to publish in book format.

New trends include the manga style art of classical texts such as the Shakespeare series by Paw Prints Press in Paradise, CA. This gives readers the opportunity to read titles that have complex ideas and story structure in a way that is less intimidating. 

Anime is the animated version of manga. An anime show doesn’t have to start as a manga, but this is sometimes the case. Even when there is a connection, the storyline is not always the same. Manga usually has one or two Mangaka who write the story and draw the graphics. Anime uses the manga storyline as a base, and the Mangaka is often involved, but includes a production team.

The Skokie Public Library hosts a monthly Anime night for teens in the Anime-Manga Appreciation Club. The Anime-Manga Appreciation Club meets on the first Thursday of the Month. The club is geared towards teens and tweens in Junior High and High School with a restriction of grades 6-12.