The Importance of Graphic Novels {yet another way in which reading challenged kids are failed in our school systems}

Hey there….it's been a while….and I am bubbling over with all kinds of things I'd like to share, discuss, argue about, etc. and I'm starting with this…

Back in May, the boys and I were at a Scholastic book fair at a public elementary school. We never turn down a chance to find new books to read and call our own. My younger son was looking for a particular Scholastic graphic novel that he'd seen elsewhere, but thought they might have it at the book fair for a cheaper price. I asked my friend, who happened to be working the book fair, if they had the graphic novel. She told me no, they didn't order many graphic novels because they encouraged the kids to choose other {basically, more substantive} books to read. At these book fairs, each student at this school gets a free book to take home, and she told me that they don't allow them to choose a graphic novel for their free book.

It was at this moment that I realized I had a passion for the IMPORTANCE OF GRAPHIC NOVELS! Don't worry, I am about to expand your world with my passion!

Let me remind you that both of my boys are dyslexic. Let me further remind you, or inform you, that it is estimated that 1 in 10 people have dyslexia. Additionally, it is estimated that 40 million adults have dyslexia and only 2 million know it.

So what do these statistics mean and what do they have to do with graphic novels? Well, these stats mean there are a great number of kids and adults who really struggle to read and spell and don't know why. Often, kids {who then grow into adults} start to think they can't read or read well because they are dumb and they lose confidence in themselves.

Let me pause here to clarify that dyslexia has NOTHING to do with IQ. In fact, often people with dyslexia have extremely high IQs and are gifted in a number of areas and are highly creative, innovative thinkers and quite entertaining. Simply put dyslexia is a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain.

And so, when it comes to books and reading, people with dyslexia greatly struggle, especially those who have not yet been or never are diagnosed with dyslexia.

Now, to the graphic novels…

When my sons were struggling to read, both before and in the early days of being diagnosed as dyslexic, they had a hard time finding books they could read that were of interest to them. That is to say, if one is reading at a significantly lower level than others in that child's grade/age level, one will often find that the topics covered in books they can read or kind of read are topics below their maturity/interest level.

BUT graphic novels cover many reading levels and many categories. To illustrate, my older son, who is entering 7^th grade and now reads at a 12^th grade level thanks to Wilson Reading System, reads all kinds of chapter books, but still really loves a good graphic novel. His favorites cover historical periods. He is currently reading one on Alexander Hamilton. There are graphic novels that are specifically for adults, not kids, due to the topic/graphic nature just as there are graphic novels for 3^rd graders, 5^th graders, middle schoolers and high schoolers.

Thus, graphic novels are for everyone. They do have fewer words than chapter books, but still pack the punch of a chapter book and can be quite entertaining, educational and still a lot of work to get through if you are a poor reader. But these types of books enable those poor readers to get through a book (a book with a topic they are interested in), build confidence and not look like the class dummy reading a book about ducks that is meant for 1^st graders when they're in 5^th grade. Or alternatively, these kids who are, for whatever reason, poor readers in order to not be embarrassed pick out a book that they will never be able to get through, but their buddies got this book, it's at their grade level and so they get it and it sits unread in the bottom of a drawer.

I, for one, would rather see a kid reading graphic novels with far fewer words than a chapter book than to just not read at all.

And those parents/teachers who made that decision to not order many graphic novels or let students choose a graphic novel for their free book, CLEARLY have never sat and cried with their child as they struggle to get through a simple sheet of the alphabet or read just a few pages of a VERY simple book. Once again, the public school system has let down these undiagnosed or more than likely just ignored children challenged with dyslexia or other learning challenges that make reading a difficult task for them.

Graphic novels are creative and interesting and artistic, and this household is a great fan of them. However, until my friend made that statement at the book fair, I had no idea how very important graphic novels were to me.

In my opinion, teachers should be using them a great deal with reading challenged kids. It has been the jumping off point for many fascinating historical and literary discussions with my kids. Not only do they really get into these types of books, they also write and create their own too. Graphic novels are full of potential…just as these amazing kids are!

Are graphic novels the answer to dyslexia and other reading challenges? Of course not, but they are an aid for building self-confidence and a boost along the way to {perhaps} an eventual love of reading. The answer for kids who struggle to read is early detection and a massive, across the board, change in how we, in our country, teach kids how to read. It is all quite doable, but are our public school systems willing to make these changes?

Over and out….

Anna