Have you ever heard someone say that reading comics isn't real reading? Or that graphic novels aren't real books? What if I told you that those types of response to graphic novels actually discourage reading? What if I told you studies suggest reading graphic novels and comics can provide as many literacy benefits as any other book or novel?
Graphic novels and comics are often dismissed as picture books for adults, but below the surface of images and superheroes is a format of literacy that appeals to many different reluctant readers. Readers who enjoy graphic novels are actually reading the same story three different times: once to absorb the images, once to absorb the texts and dialogue, and once to combine the elements that tell the story. With that much reading involved, surely graphic novels are real books with real benefits, right?
According to the Bucks County Library, graphic novels benefit readers by:
-keeping a fast paced story that retains attention of even reluctant readers
-building vocabulary, though the graphic novels may have fewer words, that does not mean they have simpler words, in fact many may have more complicated or unknown words to help describe world building and character actions
-force text interaction, when reading graphic novels and comics, readers must constantly figure out the relationship between the text and dialogue and the images
-develop reading skills like inference, demonstration of punctuation and grammar rules, and figurative language
-aid those with learning differences, for example someone with dyslexia can read the page without feeling intimidated by the number of words on the page
-reinforce harder to read texts, great works of literature like Moby Dick, Treasure Island, and Shakespeare are much easier for young readers to consume in graphic novel format than in their original text
The following are a list of popular graphic novels and their target age audience.
The best graphic novels for kids ages 6-9.
Zoe and Robot, Let's Pretend, by Ryan Sias
Topics: Pretend Play and Friendship
Zoe wants her friend Robot to understand how to pretend and experience dramatic play with her.
Barry's Best Buddy, by Renee French
Topics: Friendship and Communication
Polarhog takes his grumpy friend Barry the Bird for a walk. They walk together and experience surprises and conversation to help Barry the Bird feel better.
The Real Poop on Pigeons, by Kevin McCloskey
Topic: Animals and Nature
Learn fun facts about pigeons, like how fast they can fly and what they eat.
The best graphic novels for ages 9-12.
Zita the Spacegirl, by Ben Hatke
Topics: Science Fiction, Friendship, Communication
Zita saves her friends and the galaxy from aliens as she explores outer space.
Bird and Squirrel on Ice, by James Burks
Topics: Humor, Friendship, Adventure
Bird is over-confident and relaxed, while Squirrel is logical and fearful. Their dynamic friendship helps them survive a crash landing in the Penguin world.
Cat Kid Comic Club, by Dav Pilkey
Topics: Writing, humor, creativity
Catkid loves to write and teaches his class about tadpoles by writing his own comic book. This book features great messages about writing, creativity, and persistence.
The best graphic novels for ages 13+.
Topics: Family Dynamics, Violence, Bravery
An illustrated version of Jason Reynolds’ free verse book about Will, a teenager who witnesses his own brother get shot before his very eyes. He needs to follow The Rules, he needs to take revenge on the killer. But as he travels seven floors in an elevator, each level provides an encounter with a deceased person, their conversations halt Will’s plans and reveal to him the bigger story of what really happened with his brother.
Anne Frank's Diary, by Ari Folman, Illustrated by David Polonsky
Topics: Family, War, The Holocaust, Teen Life
A graphic novel adaptation of the famous novelization of Anne Frank's diary. Anne’s personality really shines through as she sets the historical context and describes her daily life in hiding which isn’t always very exciting but does result in a romance with the boy her age who lives there, too.
Go with the Flow, by Karen Schneemann, illustrated by Lily Williams
Topics: Friendship, Growing Up, Activism
Sasha is a new high school girl who is helped by other girls when she gets her first period— and they all become friends. But one of the friends is outraged that the bathrooms aren’t stocked with female supplies, let alone, they don’t have any free female supplies. She and the friends take action–writing a blog, creating art, and even “vandalizing” the school to make a statement. All the while, we see the ups and downs of high school life, made easier by a supportive group of girlfriends.