In her recent article in the Journal of the American Association of School Librarians, Karen Gavigan triumphantly announces, "Fortunately the tide [against comics] has turned, thanks to a growing body of research and soaring graphic-novel circulation statistics that cannot be ignored." But while fans of comics know this is the truth, there are those who continue to ignore it. The fight is not yet won.
The drive to convince naysayers into yay-sayers is one that comic fans face both personally and professionally on a day to day basis. Gavigan says the merits of comics as tools to literacy are undeniable, but we all have to acknowledge the importance of visual literacy. Elizabeth E. G. Friese wrote an article entitled "Visual Narratives" in the Journal of the American Association of School Librarians, in which she describes how she came to learn this key point. She says, "I admit it; I used to think this way myself. I thought of graphic novels as a gateway to 'more legitimate' reading - until, of course, I sat down and actually read one." She describes how as she read through Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, she was confused about what was going on, that is, until she realized the way she was reading was what caused her confusion. |
"I honestly didn't understand half of what was going on in the book because I was reading only the words. I wasn't reading the pictures. I realized that I prized the word over the picture as both a reader and a teacher."
—Elizabeth E. G. Friese, educational researcher
The way she was reading, as a reader primarily of traditional books, affected her ability to both understand and appreciate the content of a graphic novel. Once she slowed down to take in the meaning in the images, she was a convert. "Illustrations," Friese continues, "aren't a stage in writing that students should be encouraged to leave behind. Instead, illustrations can add another layer of depth and meaning to a writer's text." Friese sees the merits of books that are both visual and verbal beyond just picture books. | "Fortunately the tide has turned, thanks to a growing body of research and soaring graphic-novel circulation statistics that cannot be ignored." |
"Illustrations can add another layer of depth and meaning to a writer's text."
—Elizabeth E. G. Friese, educational researcher
With so many parents and librarians on our side, it is easy to forget at times that comics and graphic novels are not yet universally accepted. Jess Kipp, a parent of three young readers, exclaims, "I wasn't a big comic book reader as a child, but I have really enjoyed watching my three children (ages 3, 5, and 7) absolutely devour them! I now go to the library expressly searching for graphic novels and comics for them all." Comics are clearly effective in getting kids excited about reading, and so parents like Jess are convinced of their merit. In a recent post on School Library Journal's website, Elizabeth Burns explains this importance giving readers what they want. Librarians, as gatekeepers to literature for young children, use this enthusiasm in building their collections. | "The fact that TOON books are leveled gives automatic 'legitimacy' in the eyes of many educators who might otherwise not consider them." |
Laura Given explains how her comic collection has grown in her time as a librarian. "I've been building my library collection of GNs and comics for over 10 years. A lot has changed in that time as far as reviews and acceptance in the education world. Two great things that sell TOON books to those who are still reluctant about using comics and graphic novels as 'real books' are what you have done with leveling that really works with how schools use books as part of a reading curriculum, and the (well deserved) shiny medals like the Geisel award on the front. My district uses the Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels in our curriculum. The fact that TOON books are leveled gives automatic 'legitimacy' in the eyes of many educators who might otherwise not consider them." |
In our meetings with teachers who are ardent supporters of the form, they talk about how difficult it still is to convince colleagues or school administration of the merits of comics.
While the notion of comics as a gateway to traditional literacy has been extremely useful in introducing wary traditionalists to the benefits of comics, focusing solely on that aspect underplays the importance of visual literacy. Friese saw these benefits firsthand as an adult who learned to look at pictures for information, then applied her findings in her work as an educational researcher. When we can integrate comics starting at an elementary school age and through the grade school system, we nurture the true visual literacy that is needed in the 21st century. If the turn of the tide is recognizing the merits, the result of it will be a new generation of readers who are skilled in "a more sophisticated, multimodal form of reading," as Friese dubbed it. "Graphic novels have the advantage of combining rich, inventive illustrations with simple language in a format that makes for storytelling that is far superior to most ordinary early readers." | "My son has to read a book every week for Accelerated Reader in school - but a lot of the ones he reads aren't accepted in the system." |