LAE3414:Literature for Children

C. Walters, M.Ed.

Graphic Novels

•The term is generally used to describe any book in a comic format that resembles a novel in length and narrative development. •This basic way of storytelling has been used in various forms for centuries—early cave drawings, hieroglyphics, and medieval tapestries. •Many comics and graphic novels emphasize drama, adventure, character development, striking visuals, politics, or romance over laugh-out-loud comedy.

What is a graphic novel?

•The popularity of graphic novels is growing in part because people enjoy their appealing and diverse format. •Readers have a wide variety to choose from, so readership is no longer limited to fans of superheroes or slapstick humor. •Greater access to graphic novels—such as graphic novel collections in public and school libraries—certainly contributes to their current popularity.

But, why so popular with children????

Why are graphic novels so popular?

Motivation

Graphic novels attract and motivate kids to read. Many librarians have built up graphic novel collections and have seen circulation figures soar. School librarians and educators have reported their popularity with reluctant readers, especially boys—a

group traditionally difficult to reach. At the same time, graphic novels with rich, complex plots and narrative structures can also be satisfying to advanced readers.

Reluctant readers

Graphic novels can be a way in for students who are difficult to reach through traditional text. Even “poor readers” enthusiastically gravitate towards these books.

Benefits to struggling readers, ESE, and ELL

Graphic novels can dramatically help improve reading development for students struggling with language acquisition as the illustrations provide contextual clues to

the meaning of the text.

How do graphic novels promote literacy?

Visual parodies, satires, political cartoons, and funny drawings have been around for centuries, but it took the rise of the newspaper industry in the late 19th century to bring comics into everyday American households.

Order:•newspaper funny pages

•magazines devoted entirely to comics and superhero stories

•book-length collections of previously published comics.

Most agree that the first real graphic novel was Will Eisner’s A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories published in 1978 with adult images, themes, and language. It was for the generation that had first grown up with superhero comics in the 1940s and 1950s.

How long have these novels been around?

•Graphic novels offer appealing stories and engaging visuals that reach out to reluctant readers, visual learners, and others who may shy away from traditional, print-heavy books. •Many argue that graphic novels offer the same benefits of “regular” books: introducing young people to new vocabulary, “book language,” and stories and information to teach them about their world and spark their imaginations.•Some researchers state that the average graphic novel introduced readers to twice as many words as the average children’s book”.

Graphic novels in schools and libraries…

Allyson and Barry Lyga’s, Graphic Novels in your Media Center:

A DEFINITIVE GUIDEhas numerous recommendations for age-

appropriate titles.

http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Novels-Your-Media-Center/dp/1591581427#reader_1591581427

How do you start your collection of graphic novels?

Note: These are not all meant for childrenhttp://www.garfield.com/http://www.dilbert.com/http://www.snoopy.com/ http://www.comics.com/comics/marmaduke/ http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/ http://www.scholastic.com/graphix/ http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/ :: links to over 4300 webcomics http://www.unitedmedia.com/categories/index.html :: comics by category; includes some editorial cartoons http://www2.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/g/Scholastic_GraphixPages01.pdf

•Are graphic novels "real book"? -Are they "literature"? -Do they count as "reading"? •Do they have a place in the curriculum?•What are the benefits of studying graphic novels as a format?•Will you use them in your classroom? -Any conditions?

Final Questions for you: