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)