This document discusses how graphic novels are a form of REAL reading and should not be dismissed as shallow or frivolous. It argues that graphic novels require the same comprehension skills as traditional novels, including using prior knowledge, creating mental images, making inferences, asking questions, determining importance, and synthesizing what is read. The document provides examples of how these skills are actively used when reading comics and graphic novels. Additionally, it notes that graphic novels can cover a wide variety of genres and age levels, have vocabulary levels similar to adult novels, and benefit from the pairing of visuals and text. The document advocates that graphic novels are a valuable format for developing reading skills and increasing student motivation to read independently.

1. GraphicNovels:
REALReading
PresentedbyTheOaklandCountyReadingCouncil
EmilyFreeman,VicePresident

2. WhatComicsDo
YouRemember
Readingasa
Child?

3. Whydon’tweconsidercomicsREALReading?
Common perceptions of comics:
● Funny
● Shallow characters/plots
● Short
● Easy
● Frivolous

4. 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

5. Whatdoesthatlooklike inREALlife?
Let’sTryItWithComics!

6. PriorKnowledge
● Theory of Relativity
● Idioms
● Stereotypes of mathematicians

7. MentalImages
● What was going on before this
moment?
● What comes next?

8. MakingInferences
● What is he thinking?

9. AskingQuestions
● What were you wondering
when you first saw the image?
● When you read the words?
● Still wondering now?

10. Determining Importance
● Where is the focal point?
● Which details are necessary for
understanding?
● Which details are less
important?

11. Synthesizing Reading
● What’s the joke?

12. “Writersgive clues,butreadershaveto
amasstheevidence
anddrawconclusions
forthemselves.”
ZimmermanandHutchins,2003
Even if those clues are
given through images
and text together, rather
than text alone.

13. WhatAreGraphicNovels?
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

14. Graphic Novels
According 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!

15. 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!”

16. Visual/TextPairing
● 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.

17. 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

18. KidsandChoice
Kidswhoare internally
motivatedspend
300%moretime
readingindependently than
kidswhoarenot.
McRaeandGuthrie,2008

19. Finding GNs
Here are some things to look for to find one
you’ll LOVE:
➔ Genre
➔ Topic
➔ Age Appropriateness
➔ Art Style

20. PlacestoLearnMore
Readingwithpictures.org
Publisheducationalcomics
forkidsandcomicsreviews
getgraphic.org
Hasanextensivebooklist
byageappropriateness
ComicBookLegal
DefenseFund(cbldf.org)
Downloadtheirpamphlet
“RaisingaReader”forfree!