Why You Should Teach Your Kids to Read With Comic Books

Reading is fundamental! You should encourage your children to read all sorts of things whether it is magazines, cereal boxes, books, billboards, or comic books. Yes, even comic books! Studies have recently shown that reading comic books hold children’s attention longer than traditional books do. Corey Blake's article titled, "The benefits and risks of comic books in education" states the brain processes images sixty times faster than text". In conjunction with words, images give kids a better understanding of what they are reading and expands their vocabulary.

It has also been said that reading comic books helps children make better decisions. The Reading Teacher journal discusses how comic books and graphic novels use its characters to introduce development, cultural and personal issues, morals and ethics, and how the bad guy never wins. It also stimulates emotion and provokes an effortless response. This is significant because students will be able to connect to the text and remember details of characters.

Dr. Lynell Burmark, Ph.D. Associate at the Thornburg Center for Professional Development, affirmed, "...unless our words, concepts, ideas are hooked onto an image, they will go in one ear, sail through the brain, and go out the other ear". She notes how the brain is only able to preserve words in small fragments and images are an excellent way to remember information. Hence, teaching kids the alphabet is a way of showing them something they formerly did not have knowledge of and they will be able to make reference to the letters with pictures and their memories.

It is also easier to get kids to read something they will be interested in. Pick a character they appreciate and let the reading begin. You may also create your own comic books by using their favorite cartoon characters to teach them how to read small words or how to count. Get your kids involved by letting them help you create comic books about topics of their choosing. The act of writing also helps them to remember lesson plans.

Keep in mind that comic books and graphic novels may also be utilized as learning tools for adolescents and adults. "Maus" Volumes 1 & 2 was illustrated by American cartoonist, Art Spiegelman. His graphic novels depict his father's experiences as a Holocaust survivor in a series of interviews. It was also named  "the first masterpiece in comic book history" by The New Yorker.

I truly believe that learning with comic books and graphic novels are in the near future or ought to be. Comic books have the undeniable ability to engulf its readers making it so they devour single every page with curiosity and fascination. Pictures are not a cop out! It immerses us into the world that is being presented and makes it easier for an emotional response. The use of pictures also helps readers to understand the context leaving no room for misinterpretation. I encourage you to give comic book reading a try for yourself and children. See what a difference it is compared to traditional readings. You will notice how easy it is to remember factional information that was fluently portrayed through illustrations.

Time to Make Our Own  Educational Comic Books!

What You'll Need: 

2 pieces of Card Stock Paper

Pencil

Colored Pencils & Markers

Topic You'd Like to Write About

Step #1: 

Select a topic you would like to write about

Step #2: 

Use the first sheet of cardstock paper as a cover. Fold it in half horizontally.

Step #3:

Take the second sheet of paper and fold it in half as well. Then stick the second sheet of paper inside the first

Step #4: 

Select a template you would like to use

Step #4: 

Draw templates for pages.

Step #5:

Fill in templates by drawing in pictures and words. Make sure to color them!

Step #6: 

Don't forget to make a cover page. Jazz it up!

Step #7: 

Read on!