Why Graphic Novels are Great for Reading!
Graphic novels give the brain more of a workout per sentence than any other type of media, including conventional books.
School Library Journal
I recently discovered graphic novels from my 8-year-old son who loves them. Together, we’ve been haunting the graphic novel section of the library. I had no idea there were so many great graphic novels for young readers, including books for girls! I’m excited to be joining a group of great educational bloggers on an ABC series of posts. Mine will be on graphic novels but everyone has a different topic. Please check out the great posts. I have the list below.
Day 1: ABCs of Graphic Novels, A-E
Day 2: ABCs of Graphic Novels, F-J
Day 3: ABCs of Graphic Novels, K-O
Day 4: ABCs of Graphic Novels: P-T
Day 5: ABCs of Graphic Novels: U-Z
A is for animal graphic novels especially when they have BIG personalities. Sidekicks is by Disney animator Dan XX in which an aging superhero (with a peanut allergy) needs a sidekick to help out and his pets are vying for the position. Bird & Squirrel on the Run by James Burks is the graphic novel version of Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems.
B is for Benny and Penny graphic novels for preschoolers. Benny is the big brother to his little sister Penny. Mice have never been so charming! Winner of the Geisel Award too which recognizes best books for young readers and typically goes to an easy reader! B is also for Binky the Space Cat.
C is for Cameron and His Dinosaurs. Dinosaurs. Boys. Graphic Novel. What’s not to love? For young readers, ages 5 and up.
D is for Diary of Wimpy Kid launched a new genre of hybrid graphic novel/chapter books and convinced reluctant readers everywhere that it’s fun to read.
E is for Graphic Novels are for EVERYONE! They are fun to read and help to build reading comprehension because you have to draw contextual meaning from words and images.
More great posts from the Kid Bloggers Network on THE ABC’S OF…
- Books for Preschoolers from Mommy and Me Book Club
- Building a Home Library from Ready Set Read!
- Early Language Learning from Playing with Words 365
- Early Literacy from Playdough to Plato
- Exploring Books from JDaniel4’s Mom
- Graphic Novels from Pragmatic Mom
- Learning to Read Through Play from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
- Learning to Write from NurtureStore
- Reading Comprehension for Pre K-Grade 1 from The Wise Owl Factory
- Storytelling from A Mom with a Lesson Plan
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
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- Starred review from School Library Journal
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I’m looking for Benny and Penny at the library today! I think my four year old will love it. I’m super excited about this topic because I’m surrounded by ALL boys– all boys at home and tons of nephews. Not that girls can’t read graphic novels too, but it seems like if you pair most boys with a graphic novel, they go crazy for it!!
Hi Jackie,
The Benny and Penny graphic novels series is so cute and sweet for the preschool set. It’s especially great if you are a big brother with a little sister! And you are right, there are very few great graphic novels for girls of any age. I have two girls and a boy and when I find a great one for girls, I get it for them. I also do find that because graphic novels are a fast and visual read, it makes kids read more and want to read (even more important!). At least, it does for my kids!
I’m so glad you selected this type of book, it is so good for developing reading comprehension through the use of thinking skills. The children have to pay close attention to realize the story being told, too, and use their imagination. Great idea! Pinned!
Thanks Carolyn!
I am new to graphic novels as a genre but quickly becoming a huge fan! I’m noticing how all my kids love to read them and it does make them good at inferencing. Plus, the fact that they enjoy it means they will associate reading as pleasure. That’s so important to me. It’s nice too that it’s a fast read! It makes the reader feel like he or she accomplished something to finish the book. I read Bible stories as a child that way and I swear that getting the next issue completely motivated me to go to Sunday School. And those stories like Ruth really stuck to me … all because of a graphic novel format.
I love this ABC series of yours and am sharing it — I have a lot to learn about graphic novels. My husband really likes them and my son is starting to read them, too. I’m never been able to get into them, but I think I need to change that!
Hi Mom and Kiddo,
I’m new to graphic novels too. My 8-year-old son started to read them with more interest this past year. His older sisters really didn’t read many of them but I think there are a lot less geared for girls. There also seems to be a new trend for younger graphic novels appropriate for preschool. The exciting thing about graphic novels, I’m learning, is that they definitely are a tool for inferencing since you have to comprehend the story from images and text. And it’s wonderful that boys especially want to read them, especially boys who don’t like reading.
What a neat series! I totally agree with the first statement about being a brain workout – so true! Going to check out Benny and Penny! We liked Sidekicks and really enjoyed Ook and Gluk (but I guess we will have to wait for “O” for that : )
We loved Sidekicks too Ann!!! I think we are reading the same books! Yay!
I am so excited to see this post! This year, I made a goal to go outside my comfort zone and try a new genre, and so I decided to try a graphic novel. (I think it’s kind of funny that one of the purposes of graphic novels is to encourage reluctant readers, and here I am, an avid reader, and I’m terrified of them!!). Anyway, thank you so much for this list (I’ll be looking at your other lists as you post them as well) because I have no idea how to select a good graphic novel!
Hi Amy,
If you want one to try out, I’d suggest Smile or Drama by Raina Telgemeier. You’ll love it! Promise!!!
We spent a bit of today reading Zita the Spacegirl and both my son and I LOVED it! I love comic books and graphic novels and my son was wowed with Zita. It was so much fun to watch how excited he got. 🙂
This is a great list! What a wonderful idea. 🙂
Hi Tiffa,
How wonderful you and your son read Zita the Spacegirl and enjoyed it together! We got into graphic novels the same way, my son and I. The graphic novel phase was a relatively short phase as well. I think we read piles of them for about 6 to 9 months mixed in with picture books, non-fiction, and easy readers. I think the “excited” part is the most important part — that your son associates book time with excitement and enjoyment. That is sooo powerful! You are giving your son a gift of the love of reading!
My son is 8-years-old now. He decided to try chapter books a few months ago when all his friends were reading Percy Jackson so now we are racing through the first series. I don’t think he’d be reading with such enthusiasm if it hadn’t been for graphic novels and then graphic novel hybrids like Alvin Ho, Dragonbreath, The Strange Tale of Origami Yoda and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Enjoy the graphic novels! You are building such great memories together!
Love this list!
My youngest has ADHD and an issue with her working memory, so learning to read has been a challenge. However, once she found graphic novels, her reading ability shot up several levels, and her self-confidence has soared.
Her current favourite is the Bad Kitty series.
We read regular chapter books together, in addition to her reading alone time with graphic novels, so that she sees that her next step are books without so many illustrations.
This is a great list of books! I have an 8 year old son too and he loves a few of these books. We’ll have to check out some on your list. Thanks for linking up to the After School Party.
This is a great list. It’s not really in my work area anymore, and I don’t have kids, but I have some friends who are looking at homeschool and ways to suppliment public school education, and this is great. I’ll definitely be passing this along.
Hi Debra,
Thanks so much for passing my post along. I am a new but ardent fan of graphic novels after watching how eagerly my kids read them, especially my son and then reading research on how graphic novels help kids with reading comprehension.
Great series Mia! I love all these suggestions. My son is currently devouring books and he really enjoys books that are heavily illustrated. He finds it overwhelming to look at a page that only has words. These might be perfect for him. Do you have age recommendations for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? We just watched both movies recently and my kids really enjoyed them, so I’m wondering if my son would like the books – he’s 6.
Thanks for linking this post into the Kid Lit Blog Hop. 🙂
Hi Renee,
My son read Diary of a Wimpy Kid at age 8, second grade. He’s old for his grade. At age 6, I would try Alvin Ho, Cameron and His Dinosaurs, Bird and Squirrel, Sidekicks rather than Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I think even if he’s able to read it, he’ll appreciate the humor and social situations when he’s just a few years older.
Thanks for the recommendations Mia! I really appreciate it. He’s such an eager reader that I want to make sure that he reads the right books to keep him interested. I love that both my kids are avid readers. Reading has always been such an important part of my life. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Hi Renee,
I wholeheartedly agree with you! Reading with my kids when they are young and not reading independently was so important and we have the best memories of reading books together. It definitely pays off as well! They do learn to love to read books!
Hi Renee,
I think I have some posts of the books my son read in first grade last year if that would help:
http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/11/boy-book-picks/
He loved DragonBreath series last year and Frankie Pickle as well.
http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2012/05/picture-book-reviews-grade-son/
these are awesome children’s book. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Dorothy! I’m so glad you liked the series. It was a lot of fun to create it!
My MA was about a graphic novel, but I only know the novels for older audience. Thank you for helping me introduce my little ones into the world that means so much to me.