If you are like me, you question if reading a graphic novel really checks the box of reading a novel. My daughter loves graphic novels like Smile, Guts and The Babysitter’s Club. I hesitated to let her choose those books because I felt like they were glorified comic books, yet these were the books she was drawn to! I didn’t want her to be turned off to reading because I was not letting her read what she enjoyed. I realized, after digging a little deeper, that there are so many benefits to graphic novels. The images automatically help the reader to understand the story and they provide instant gratification for a non-reader. They are often fast-paced, and action packed which can encourage the reader and non-reader to pay attention. The pictures in the book encourage the reader and do not replace reading, they go hand in hand to enhance the story. The language is not simple. Graphic novels often cover complex topics and must do so with limited space, which only makes word choice that much more difficult and purposeful. The most important thing to me is that she is reading! Reading short stories, comics, graphic novels, and magazines are all good stuff! I learned to focus more on the act of reading, the ability to create enjoyment in reading and hopefully build a healthy habit that will continue to grow more diverse. The graphic novels are a wonderful place to not only start, but return to repeatedly.
