We often speak with parents and caregivers concerned that their children only want to read graphic novels (a.k.a. comic books). How can children become better readers when they stick to “easy” books? Won’t they miss out on great literature? In response, we’d like to highlight a few benefits of graphic novels.

• Graphic novels motivate children to read.
  Children learn to love reading by reading what they love. The more fun reading is, the more children want to read, and the better they get. Leave assignments to school, and let free reading time be truly free. If your children gravitate toward graphic novels, encourage them!
• Graphic novel reading is deep reading.
  Graphic novels provide rich visual information about setting, characters, and plot, supporting readers’ understanding of the text and vocabulary. In fact, multimodal storytelling allows readers to establish stronger connections with the material and improve inferencing skills.
• Graphic novels are great literature.
  Or, certainly, they can be, offering complex stories that inform, entertain, and create connections between readers and the world. Graphic novels have been honored with some of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature! Please ask a librarian for suggestions.

For more information, we suggest this Scholastic Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens.