Have you visited our graphic novel section lately? This growing format can be nearly any genre: mystery, science fiction, fantasy, memoir, or even history! You’ll find original comics like Snoopy, Garfield, or Superman…classics like Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Hansel & Gretel… or older series like The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, or The Babysitters’ Club… along with many exciting new titles.
Besides being a different format to read, graphic novels help with reading skills like critical thinking, making inferences, sequencing, imagination, storytelling, and creativity.
An article in the NY Times states: “For years, graphic novels were not considered “real” books. Many parents and educators still hold to this outdated notion. Yet there is definitive research showing that reading books that combine images and text is as cognitively challenging as text-only reading. Every child’s brain is wired differently, and some kids are more “visual readers,” who struggle with large chunks of text but can more easily access information and storytelling through a balance of words and illustration.”
Here is a very handy list of tips for making the most out of reading a graphic novel from Toon Books:
Scholastic also has several interesting articles about how graphic novels are a good choice for all types of readers along with resource lists:
The Today Show offers more good points:
If you’d like a place to start looking for titles, Common Sense Media has a parent and kid’s guide & rating system that is helpful for choosing an appropriate book.
We would be more than happy to show you around our collection and put the right book in your hands. And, remember, you can find them online as well on the library’s website!
So stop in soon and grab a graphic!