Graphic Novels. I don’t know how many times as a librarian I have heard from various adults, “those aren’t real books.” I even heard a teacher tell her student, “No, you can’t check out those books. Go pick out a big boy book.” Eeek. I was just as insulted as her student.
Fortunately, educators are coming around to see the value graphic novels have to offer students, especially our students who are English Language Learners. A good graphic novel is an amazing tool to help a student visualize the text. I personally am a visual learner. So, for me, reading graphic novels adds a whole dimension to the text. What the words don't say, the pictures help elaborate. And, besides being enjoyable and engaging, graphic novels help reduce anxiety some students have about reading. Who wouldn't want that for their students?
One of my favorite graphic novels is Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka. I first "met" Jarrett Krosoczka when I was an elementary school librarian five years ago. I couldn't keep his Lunch Lady graphic novel series on the shelf. So last year, as a junior high librarian, when I found out he had written his autobiography in a graphic novel format, I could not wait to read it and share it with my students. This book is a mirror for many of my students, as some, too, have family members struggling with addiction. The book was a window for me; a way for me to look inside a different home life than mine and empathize with the characters.
The latest graphic novel that I have read and would highly recommend is Lowriders in Space by Raul the Third.
A couple of things make this book an important addition to a collection of Hispanic themed literature. For one thing, the mix of English and Spanish throughout the text and the Hispanic names of the characters make the book attractive to Hispanic readers. The signs and posters on the scenery are in both Spanish and English. Secondly, from reading the author’s notes at the back of the book, I discovered that building and showing lowrider cars was a popular Mexican American thing post WWII. Third, many readers, especially English Language Learners, like the graphic novel format. These three things together make this book an important addition to not only Hispanic themed literature, but the whole library collection.
Last semester, one of our 8th grade history teachers brought one of her students to the library. I greeted them and the teacher proceeded to tell me that she noticed "Mike" had difficulties forming pictures in his head from the text he was reading and thought he might enjoy a graphic novel. I nearly cried. And jumped for joy. Yes, yes, yes! So for all the "Mikes" in the world, embrace those graphic novels. You won't be sorry.
