School kids used to hide comics behind pages of text books or scribblers and read them as their teachers went through their lessons.

How times have changed.

While the content is different — new titles feature history, science and literature — the books are now commonplace, and even encouraged, in homes and schools.

What is new, though, is Little Island Comics. The recently opened shop, which is holding its grand opening the weekend of Oct. 1, specializes in all sort of comics for kids under 12, including the thick versions called graphic novels (sturdy covered books featuring the familiar comic panel art) as well as Japanese manga, a comic with a quirky artistic style and following all its own.