A Graphic Gateway to Novels
By April Harden, MLIS, Youth Librarian, Brookside Library
We love graphic novels! Your kids love graphic novels! The pairing of story and art appeal to readers of all tastes and ages, strong and struggling alike. From Pokémon Adventures to Smile to Dog-Man, graphic novels find fans amongst a generation accustomed to the dynamic visuals and comic-style dialog of video games and TV.
But do these comics hold the same value for kids as traditional chapter books? Some parents may be concerned when their children choose to read nothing but comics.
The good news is that graphics novels do get kids both motivated to read and produce tangible improvements in a child’s reading abilities. A 2020 study demonstrated the positive benefits of graphic novels on reading comprehension, vocabulary, and reading motivation for learners of English[1]. Other studies show how illustrations that communicate setting, sequence, and complex details rapidly and dramatically develop skills of discernment and inference, paving the road to comprehension of longer texts[2]. Due to their high entertainment value, these book help children fall in love with reading[3], and studies show that the reading of graphic novels is likely to turn one into a lifelong reader of prose[4].
So how can we use graphics to entice kids to pick up a traditional novel, with its intimidating pages of solid text?
One idea is to first hook a child on a book’s graphic adaptation. If they like it, they may come back for more. Thankfully, such adaptations are trending and nearly as popular as live action remakes. You have a lot of great literature to pick from, based on your child’s interests (drama? horror? dragons?). Here are a few to get you started:
- Babysitter’s Club
- Wings of Fire
- I Survived
- Magic Treehouse
- Aru Shah and the End of Time
- Rick Riordan Presents: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
- Keeper of Lost Cities
- Goddess Girls
See the full list here or visit your local library!
[1] Aldahash, R., Altalhab, S. (2020). The Effect of Graphic Novels on EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 9 (5), 19-26.
[2]Wordpress, 2U. (2024, February 16). Comics in the classroom: Why comics?. CORP-MAT1 (TEACH). https://teach.com/resources/why-comics/
[3] Ila’s Blog. International Literacy Association. (n.d.). https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-now/2015/08/12/comic-books-as-models-for-literacy-instruction
[4] Graphic novels are booming in popularity. it’s changing ... (n.d.). https://www.fastcompany.com/91268554/graphic-novels-youth-reading-books
Image credit: “Real Books: The Case for Graphic Novels” by Erin P. from the Harris County Public Library