We hear this all the time: “My kid hates to read! What can I do?”
There are many ways to encourage reading–being an avid reader yourself, having family story time, and our favorite (of course) is through comic books. How can comics help encourage a reluctant reader?
Comics are ENTICING.
Think about it this way. If you’re a beginning reader, which of these pages is less intimidating?
Kids are visual learners, and comic books are perfect for them. Comics use short bursts of text, fun sound effects, and vivid images to help the reader decode and comprehend the text. The reader can actively follow the story as their eyes move from panel to panel, processing the text and images. This creative and interactive process makes reading comics engaging and fun.
Comics are DIVERSE.
There’s much more to comics than superheroes. We love a good Captain America story, but we also love the adventures of Usagi Yojimbo, a rabbit samurai in ancient Japan. My Little Pony has a huge comic book following, as well as Star Wars, Scooby Doo, and Lumberjanes (a fun, all-ages, female-led and female-authored title).
Comics improve CRITICAL THINKING.
Concepts like inference, metaphor, and social context are demonstrated through visual and verbal cues. Rather than describe a situation, a character will make a face or sigh. The reader will have to infer the meaning and fill in the gap in the story. In this page from Daredevil, Foggy Nelson (on the left) learns that he has cancer. A world of emotions are expressed through Daredevil’s hand on his shoulder and the look on everyone’s faces.
We look forward to introducing your favorite reader to a world of fun and imagination with their Comic Crate.