How to Use Graphic Novels to Reach Reluctant Readers By: Adah Hirschfeld & Esther Lewenstein Queens College Librarian Professional Development Day November 17, 2005

The Vocabulary of Graphic Novels Graphic Novel – A longer version of the comic book that tells a full story. Manga – The Japanese word for comic book. In the U.S. we use it for Japanese style graphic novels or comics. Manga is often based on anime. Trade – An edition that collects and reprints series. Digest – A collected edition that is reprinted at smaller scale.

Graphic Novel – A longer version of the comic book that tells a full story.

Manga – The Japanese word for comic book. In the U.S. we use it for Japanese style graphic novels or comics. Manga is often based on anime.

Trade – An edition that collects and reprints series.

Digest – A collected edition that is reprinted at smaller scale.

How to Read a Graphic Novel Panel – This is the basic unit that tells the story in a graphic novel. It’s usually a square or rectangle. Word Balloon – The text-filled bubble that contains the story’s dialogue. Captions – Text-filled boxes that narrate a comic’s story. Splash Page – A page where the artwork takes up the whole page, and it is not broken up into panels. Manga usually reads from right to left top to bottom

Panel – This is the basic unit that tells the story in a graphic novel. It’s usually a square or rectangle.

Word Balloon – The text-filled bubble that contains the story’s dialogue.

Captions – Text-filled boxes that narrate a comic’s story.

Splash Page – A page where the artwork takes up the whole page, and it is not broken up into panels.

Manga usually reads from right to left top to bottom

Who are Reluctant Readers? Students who have the skills to read, but don’t want to read or who don’t think reading is important. Students who have difficulty decoding text or comprehending stories. They may be unable to visualize with their minds.

Students who have the skills to read, but don’t want to read or who don’t think reading is important.

Students who have difficulty decoding text or comprehending stories. They may be unable to visualize with their minds.

Why Do Graphic Novels Reach Reluctant Readers? “ They don’t look as intimidating as textbooks. High interest, short text passages, visual clues. Short text, lots of pictures, a book they can actually understand and finish! Fast action, little description – mostly conversation (Lyga, P. 82) Lyga, Allyson A.W., Lyga, Barry. Graphic Novels in your Media Center: A Definitive Guide . Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004.

“ They don’t look as intimidating as textbooks.

High interest, short text passages, visual clues.

Short text, lots of pictures, a book they can actually understand and finish! Fast action, little description – mostly conversation (Lyga, P. 82)

Lyga, Allyson A.W., Lyga, Barry. Graphic Novels in your Media Center: A Definitive Guide . Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004.

Bridging Graphic Novels to the ‘Regular’ Novel Use ordinary reader’s advisory techniques Novelization of superhero books and movies, such as the books by Michael Teitelbaum or Mary Jane by O’Brien or Manga Novels. Crossover formats, such as Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series. But…. Some feel that GN are a genre of itself and just like you wouldn’t force a reader to read another genre, so too you should not force GN readers to choose ‘regular’ books .

Use ordinary reader’s advisory techniques

Novelization of superhero books and movies, such as the books by Michael Teitelbaum or Mary Jane by O’Brien or Manga Novels.

Crossover formats, such as Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series.

But…. Some feel that GN are a genre of itself and just like you wouldn’t force a reader to read another genre, so too you should not force GN readers to choose ‘regular’ books .

7 Habits of an Effective Reader Visualizes Asks Questions Makes Inferences Retells and summarizes Monitors for Meaning Activates Prior Knowledge Determines Importance

Visualizes

Asks Questions

Makes Inferences

Retells and summarizes

Monitors for Meaning

Activates Prior Knowledge

Determines Importance

Convincing Teachers That Graphic Novels are Okay Read an excerpt from the graphic novel we have provided. See if you can apply any or all of the seven habits of an effective reader to the selection you’re reading. There’s your answer

Read an excerpt from the graphic novel we have provided.

See if you can apply any or all of the seven habits of an effective reader to the selection you’re reading.

There’s your answer