Graphic Novels:REAL Reading

Presented by The Oakland County Reading CouncilEmily Freeman, Vice President

What Comics Do You Remember Reading as a Child?

Why don’t we consider comics REAL Reading?Common perceptions of comics:

● Funny● Shallow characters/plots● Short● Easy● Frivolous

Comprehension Based on reading research: What do proficient readers do mentally as they read?

➔ Use Prior Knowledge

➔ Create Mental Images

➔ Make Inferences

➔ Ask Questions

➔ Determine Importance

➔ Synthesize What They Read

What does that look like in REAL life?

Let’s Try It With Comics!

Prior Knowledge● Theory of Relativity● Idioms● Stereotypes of mathematicians

Mental Images● What was going on before this

moment?● What comes next?

Making Inferences● What is he thinking?

Asking Questions● What were you wondering

when you first saw the image? ● When you read the words?● Still wondering now?

Determining Importance● Where is the focal point?● Which details are necessary for

understanding?● Which details are less

important?

Synthesizing Reading● What’s the joke?

“Writers give clues, but readers have to

amass the evidence

and draw conclusions for themselves.”

Zimmerman and Hutchins, 2003

Even if those clues are given through images and text together, rather than text alone.

What Are Graphic Novels?Are they really any different from comics?

● Format, not genre● Panels● Left-to-right reading● Can be any genre or age level● Usually longer, stand-alone story

Graphic NovelsAccording to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund graphic novels have important features that develop reading skills:

➔ Rich vocabulary, simple text

➔ Visual/text pairing benefits comprehension

➔ Content is wide, deep, and varied

➔ Kids like them!

Vocabulary ● Comic books do NOT reduce vocabulary

demand.● Comics have 53 “rare words” per 1,000,

compared with 52 per 1,000 in adult-level novels.

● They DO provide picture support, quick and appealing storylines, and less text.

● Make vocabulary more accessible.

Hayes and Athens, 1988

Stan Lee

“I determined never to talk down to the reader. I insisted on using college-level vocabulary. If a kid didn’t know what a word meant, he’d get it by osmosis. If he had to go to a dictionary, that’s not the worst thing in the world!”

Visual/Text Pairing ● Learning is maximized when pictures are

combined with text.● Visuals make abstract concepts,

metaphors, and temporal/spatial relationships more clear.

● Sequenced panels aid comprehension of plot development.

● Story gaps between panels require active problem solving.

Content/Genre ● “Graphic novel” is a format, not a genre.● Any story can be told in GN format,

including nonfiction.● Many have fantasy elements.● Lots of new realistic fiction and memoir.

getgraphic.org

Kids and ChoiceKids who are internally

motivated spend

300% more time reading independently than

kids who are not.McRae and Guthrie, 2008

Finding GNs Here are some things to look for to find one you’ll LOVE:

➔ Genre

➔ Topic

➔ Age Appropriateness

➔ Art Style

Places to Learn MoreReadingwithpictures.orgPublish educational comics for kids and comics reviews

getgraphic.orgHas an extensive book list by age appropriateness

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (cbldf.org)Download their pamphlet “Raising a Reader” for free!