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The Value of Graphic Novels

09/17/2021

Graphic Novels: They’re More Than Just Comic Books!

One of the most popular genres in our catalog for reluctant or beginning readers is graphic novels. While at first glance, they may look like the Sunday comics or the comic books you may remember from childhood, these new books are highly complex unions of imagery and dialogue in both speech and thought bubbles, accented by occasional captions and sound effects.  The format makes it both interesting and motivating for kids to read more and, better yet, comprehend more.  More sophisticated than picture books, graphic novels are a great way to encourage kids to read and broaden their reading horizons.

Studies show that graphic novels can be very helpful for kids with learning differences. “Readers with autism can learn about emotions by observing the images on the page as they read the story. Those with dyslexia can read a page or even a book without feeling too overwhelmed by the number of words on the page.” (Bucks County Free Library, 2019) Although a student’s reading level does not indicate their intelligence, lower-level readers are frequently only offered simpler, less elaborate books, and graphic novels level that playing field. Because the format allows the pictures and words to work together to express more intricate and complicated plots, kids can read above their independent reading level, letting them have more high-level literary conversations with their peers. (Garcia, 2019)

Graphic novels engage children on multiple levels simultaneously, much like other forms of media. The text is augmented by not only the graphics, but the sizes and shapes of the text boxes, the fonts used, and even the size and effects used on the fonts, all play into how the reader takes meaning from the book. It is “multimodal text” (Jacobs, 2007) and encourages kids to see many different levels of text and subtext within the work at once. The very nature of graphic novels makes them excellent learning tools for readers at all levels.

So don’t be put off by the cartoon look of graphic novels, and don’t let your administration be either. The bibliography for this article contains some links to articles with resources that help make the case for graphic novels as excellent tools towards developing and supporting literacy. Add some graphic novels to your collection today and watch your reluctant readers become hooked on reading. Click here to browse our collection.

Bibliography

Bucks County Free Library. (2019, May 22). The Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels. Retrieved from Bucks County Free Library: https://buckslib.org/the-benefits-of-reading-graphic-novels/

Garcia, K. (2019, October 24). 5 reasons your child should read graphic novels. Retrieved from Today: https://www.today.com/parents/5-reasons-your-child-should-read-graphic-novels-t165336

Jacobs, D. (2007, January). More Than Words: Comics as a Means of Teaching Multiple Literacies. English Journal, pp. 19-25.


BONUS CONTENT: Click here for some great free resources from educational consultant Tracy Edmunds on using graphic novels in your library to help reluctant readers AND offer more options for all your kids. 

DID YOU KNOW? COMIC BOOKS USE MORE RARE WORDS!  Comic books average 53.5 rare words per thousand, while children’s books average 30.9, adult books average 52.7, expert witness testimony averages 28.4, and the conversations of college graduates with friends average 17.3. —“Big Ideas in Beginning Reading: Vocabulary.” University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning. (http://reading.uoregon.edu/big_ideas/voc/voc_what.php)


 

 

 

 

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