FIND JOY IN READING GRAPHIC NOVELS: Why you

Find Joy in Reading with Graphic Novels

by Toni Green, photos provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

Encouraging children to read during summer break can be an uphill battle for parents and caregivers. No one wants the dreaded “summer slide” of kids losing school year progress, but the reality is that it is going to happen if a child isn’t flexing those brain muscles. Well-meaning adults suggest titles that they loved as a kid or try to help their child get ahead by selecting a book that might be read in class the following year, but who would want to read a book when you could watch TV shows instead? How do we pry their eyes away from screens during the summer? It’s simple: Introduce your reader to graphic novels.

Parents often ask if graphic novels or comics count as “real books.” The answer is, yes, of course! Any time that your child sits down with a book or an e-reader, they are actively reading and practicing their reading abilities. The pictures make them fun and interesting, but they do not negate the educational value of the text within them. Graphic novels are generally longer than your typical comic book or they may consist of a collection of multiple comics published together. They are written for a wide variety of ages and grade levels, ensuring that your student will be able to find a fun and engaging book to read that will still challenge their reading skills and vocabulary comprehension.

Graphic novels, particularly for tweens, also tend to depict situations involving characters in the same age range as your readers. This can help them navigate social situations and friendships, which is especially helpful as so much about children’s interactions with one another have changed in the past year.

Some of the titles that have been popular in recent years include retellings of popular stories, such as “The Baby-Sitters Club,” original stories like

“Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea,” “Cleopatra in Space,” “New Kid”

and, of course favorite author Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man.” Topics range from silly to serious, with stories about crime-solving dogs for elementary-aged readers to memoirs of overcoming the odds geared towards those in middle and high school. Graphic novels exist in a collection where fans of nearly every genre can find something to enjoy or learn.

The wonder of a graphic novel is that a child can pick it up, read it in one or two sittings, and then move on to the next in the series or choose another book. It has the episodic feel of watching a TV show but without the strain that comes from staring at a screen all day and the benefit of sharpening their reading skills. Most kids won’t tell you that reading is “fun,” but graphic novels are helping more kids find joy in reading. If that doesn’t work and your child still needs some incentive to pick up a book this summer, the time spent with graphic novels can be logged for Hillsborough County Public Library’s summer reading program and the ever-popular Reading with the Rays! HCPLC.org/Summer

Graphic novels are available for readers of all ages at all Hillsborough County Public Library locations, as are digital copies that can be accessed in the Libby app with your library card information.

Check out some of the most popular graphic novels for kids from the past few years at http://bit.ly/HCPLCKidsGN. Tell us about the summer reading books you find and enjoy. Tag us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @TampaHillsLib #813Reads #HCPLC21Summer.

Make this the best summer of learning ever with WEDU PBS At-Home Learning - Summer Boost! Each weekday features great educational TV broadcast on WEDU and free digital learning materials for grades PK-12!

Visit wedu.org/edconnect to explore WEDU’s At-Home Learning resources.

WEDU PBS At-Home Learning is presented by Additional support also provided by

Monroe E. and Suzette M. Berkman Family Foundation at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and

LET’S LEARN WEDU PBS features activities created and presented by educators to provide children ages 3-8 with the skills they need to learn and succeed. A weekly activity calendar is available to help make the most of each Let’s Learn episode.

Tune in to LET’S LEARN WEDU PBS weekdays at 1PM on WEDU!

Let’s Learn is produced by WNET in partnership with the NYC Department of Education and is provided to WEDU through the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

Get ready for the Summer Boost

with great educational programming and activities from WEDU PBS, including Camp TV, an exciting new summer broadcast series for kids ages 5-10 that blends day camp and learning into one hour of playful fun. Tune in to WEDU each weekday at 2 PM!

The future begins at Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Choose in-person learning or our award-winning Hillsborough Virtual K-12.

We offer an array of unique programs with hands-on learning from aerospace, biotech, architecture, health, and even video game design! Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) includes middle and high school students taking courses in one of 17 career clusters. From CompTIA A+ Certification to ICT Cyber Security Essentials, and Engineering Core Certification to Certified Veterinary Assistant. HCPS also offers theme-based, technology-rich curricula in medical studies, the arts, environmental studies, Cambridge International, Junior Achievement 3DE, International Baccalaureate, and more!

ENROLL TODAY!

Plus, our award-winning Hillsborough Virtual K-12 offers full-time webbased curriculum with local, certified teachers specially trained on the platform resulting in a high school diploma. The deadline to register for the full-time virtual school option this Fall is July 11, 2021. We prepare students to be successful in the rapidly changing workforce and equip them to make informed decisions about future career or college pathways. 14 TampaBayParenting.com JULY 2021 Learn more about our award-winning school options at https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Future or call 813-272-4796. HillsboroughSchools.org