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| Amulet Book One By Kazu Kibuishi |
Comics and graphic novels are stories told in a visual format. Sequential art narrative is the fancy name for them. They range from typical superhero action, to stories, characters, and content of great depth and meaning.
The primary difference between comics and graphic novels is that comics are sold as individual issues, usually right around 35 pages. Graphic novels are either collections of several individual comics (usually a complete story arc) or they are original pieces that were never sold in individual comic format. They can vary in length and can drastically vary in content.
The primary difference between comics and graphic novels is that comics are sold as individual issues, usually right around 35 pages. Graphic novels are either collections of several individual comics (usually a complete story arc) or they are original pieces that were never sold in individual comic format. They can vary in length and can drastically vary in content.
A host of different reading skills are employed in reading this format, compared to those utilized in the reading of traditional books. Am emphasis is placed on making inferences and monitoring for meaning while reading these books, aided in no small part by the visual format. For the child who is still emerging as a confident reader, the visual format also provides context clues that can assist in comprehension as well as an overall enjoyment of the story. Emotions can be captured in single frame, in a way that can be even more powerful than those in a written text. The story is often very quick to get started and engages the reader at a pace that some traditional books can’t.
Graphic novels are a great way to keep kids in the 8-16 age range interested in reading for enjoyment. If you are thinking that these books are nothing more than glorified tales of men in tights, I would encourage you to try one of the titles mentioned in the list on the left. The characters are often people that your kids can relate to, the story lines are deep and rich, and the art is first rate. This is a legitimate form of reading and has a place in anyone's reading library.
Graphic novels are a great way to keep kids in the 8-16 age range interested in reading for enjoyment. If you are thinking that these books are nothing more than glorified tales of men in tights, I would encourage you to try one of the titles mentioned in the list on the left. The characters are often people that your kids can relate to, the story lines are deep and rich, and the art is first rate. This is a legitimate form of reading and has a place in anyone's reading library.
