Just chose our first book for a schoolwide book club and ALL of the selections we voted on were graphic novels (our ultimate pick was the graphic novel version of Jason Reynolds' 'Long Way Down').
Well said!! It’s downright horrifying that a parent would throw out books. This reminded me of something from years ago when I was babysitting a friend’s kids. He said if they wanted to read something, I could not read them a comic because they were too “visual.” The only approved books turned out to be children’s books with fewer words on each page than my comics. :/ Everything you’ve written is so true! Kids need graphic novels. Thank you for another great newsletter!
Agree! When I was a librarian in a small school graphic novels were books that all levels of ability could access. I saw pride in the face of a child because he was borrowing a novel for the first time ...and I am sure that confidence flowed onto more books !
I wasn’t into graphic novels as a kid, but I Definitely relates. Having adults being condescending to you that don’t want too read. For my was because I was dyslexic and most teachers don’t know how too deal with a dyslexic student.
Nidhi, I learned to read from comics. School couldn't do it. But that was in the early 50s. Comics taught good behavior, good values and good English back then. I don't know that comics are the same today. The only graphic novel I've seen is Maus. Parents must always be vigilant. True both then and now.
I teach two comics/graphic novel electives at a middle school, I'm going to give this to my students to read. All of this is so true! I will say that each day we spend 15-20 minutes at the start of every class period reading comics and graphic novels. For most of the students, it's the only dedicated reading time they have all day.
Quite a few of my students come into my classes identifying as "not really readers," but nearly all of them become enthusiastic readers within the 12-week term that we spend together. Graphic novels do that for them. Not chapter books, not easy readers. Comics and graphic novels.
I also really love having discussions about the intersections of high and low art within the context of comics and graphic novels—the students are fully aware of these distinctions, and adults don't always give them that credit. They're building their artistic taste, so exposure to a lot of different types of books and art will help them distinguish what makes something truly exceptional.
Of course, I also make sure to validate my students when they choose to read something just because it's fun. Reading for fun is just as important as reading to learn or reading to expand your mind. It's all beneficial in the end.
I could talk all day about how transformative and important graphic novels are, so I'll just leave it at that!
I got thrashed by every teacher in my school one after the other in their staff-room, for cartooning them. They were so irked by the resemblance! Graphic novels are amazing and hopefully, I’m going to create many of them.
I’m a bookseller AND professional cartoonist and I’ve overheard or have been straight up told by adults that they can’t stand that their kid/grandkid only wants to read graphic novels. If I feel like I can, I’ll try to show them graphic novels I think they and their kid might both appreciate, telling them about the complex stories and virtues of the medium. I always feel sorry for these kids. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they blow me off. I never feel like it’s my place to say “hey, I make graphic novels. They’re hard work and a labor of love,” that some of my favorite books are graphic novels, that they also don’t stop you from reading prose— I read both, that my own mother practiced learning English by reading comics in the funny pages. Anyway, wonderful comic about something so very frustrating.
I agree completely, and I’m wondering if anyone here can direct me to specific research on graphic novels and literacy. (My 4th grader told me tonight that their assistant teacher said they had to read chapter books, not graphic novels, during independent reading today, and I’m feeling cranky about that.)
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy is a modern retelling of little women IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL FORM! Also, and I can't recommend this enough, the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith (I DO recommend looking up the content of it bc I could be too overwhelming for some kids), I read it when I was a kid and still have the books to this day
I have a doctorate in education, and I was working with 3rd graders when I did an MA research project on composing children's comics. There is some educational research on it now, and I think David E. Low has done some of it.
agree with you so much , get them to read and choose there own books and you have set them on the road to success.
THAT is what success looks like - a kid choosing a book over ipad, video game, phone... !!
I'm a teacher and I always tell this to parents. Let your kids read graphic novels! They're a good thing!
Just chose our first book for a schoolwide book club and ALL of the selections we voted on were graphic novels (our ultimate pick was the graphic novel version of Jason Reynolds' 'Long Way Down').
I'm not surprised by this at all.
We wanted to be sure that our first pick was a graphic novel -- by far one of the most popular genres in our HS library!
Well said!! It’s downright horrifying that a parent would throw out books. This reminded me of something from years ago when I was babysitting a friend’s kids. He said if they wanted to read something, I could not read them a comic because they were too “visual.” The only approved books turned out to be children’s books with fewer words on each page than my comics. :/ Everything you’ve written is so true! Kids need graphic novels. Thank you for another great newsletter!
Kids needs graphic novels! And they need less barriers to joy and education.
What if Scott McCloud had a heart... loved this. Angered by it.
I wanted to scream when she said her dad threw out BOOKS.
Excellent comic. Comics are one of the best teaching mediums and just fun. Who doesnt love art?
Agree! When I was a librarian in a small school graphic novels were books that all levels of ability could access. I saw pride in the face of a child because he was borrowing a novel for the first time ...and I am sure that confidence flowed onto more books !
I wasn’t into graphic novels as a kid, but I Definitely relates. Having adults being condescending to you that don’t want too read. For my was because I was dyslexic and most teachers don’t know how too deal with a dyslexic student.
Nidhi, I learned to read from comics. School couldn't do it. But that was in the early 50s. Comics taught good behavior, good values and good English back then. I don't know that comics are the same today. The only graphic novel I've seen is Maus. Parents must always be vigilant. True both then and now.
Love the message and 100% agree! I’m appalled by what that little girl’s father did!
I couldn't stop thinking about it... which is what lead me to make this comic.
This is a wonderful post, thank you! Just sitting here nodding really!
I teach two comics/graphic novel electives at a middle school, I'm going to give this to my students to read. All of this is so true! I will say that each day we spend 15-20 minutes at the start of every class period reading comics and graphic novels. For most of the students, it's the only dedicated reading time they have all day.
Quite a few of my students come into my classes identifying as "not really readers," but nearly all of them become enthusiastic readers within the 12-week term that we spend together. Graphic novels do that for them. Not chapter books, not easy readers. Comics and graphic novels.
I also really love having discussions about the intersections of high and low art within the context of comics and graphic novels—the students are fully aware of these distinctions, and adults don't always give them that credit. They're building their artistic taste, so exposure to a lot of different types of books and art will help them distinguish what makes something truly exceptional.
Of course, I also make sure to validate my students when they choose to read something just because it's fun. Reading for fun is just as important as reading to learn or reading to expand your mind. It's all beneficial in the end.
I could talk all day about how transformative and important graphic novels are, so I'll just leave it at that!
I got thrashed by every teacher in my school one after the other in their staff-room, for cartooning them. They were so irked by the resemblance! Graphic novels are amazing and hopefully, I’m going to create many of them.
Oh dear sounds like a room full of unfun people! I hope you don't let their energy kill your drive to draw :)
I’m a bookseller AND professional cartoonist and I’ve overheard or have been straight up told by adults that they can’t stand that their kid/grandkid only wants to read graphic novels. If I feel like I can, I’ll try to show them graphic novels I think they and their kid might both appreciate, telling them about the complex stories and virtues of the medium. I always feel sorry for these kids. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they blow me off. I never feel like it’s my place to say “hey, I make graphic novels. They’re hard work and a labor of love,” that some of my favorite books are graphic novels, that they also don’t stop you from reading prose— I read both, that my own mother practiced learning English by reading comics in the funny pages. Anyway, wonderful comic about something so very frustrating.
I agree completely, and I’m wondering if anyone here can direct me to specific research on graphic novels and literacy. (My 4th grader told me tonight that their assistant teacher said they had to read chapter books, not graphic novels, during independent reading today, and I’m feeling cranky about that.)
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy is a modern retelling of little women IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL FORM! Also, and I can't recommend this enough, the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith (I DO recommend looking up the content of it bc I could be too overwhelming for some kids), I read it when I was a kid and still have the books to this day
I have a doctorate in education, and I was working with 3rd graders when I did an MA research project on composing children's comics. There is some educational research on it now, and I think David E. Low has done some of it.
I learned to read two languages from comic books and graphic novels.