Anime and Graphic Novels
My kids are binge watching Anime. My summer consists of the battle cry. “It’s my turn to watch..” The only time 4 out 5 kids are happy is when they are watching Anime. It is completely out of my league.
Becoming a Reading Consultant has taught me that I am a good decoder (I can physical read). I have great difficulty envisioning what happens in the text. Making a mental picture and reading fantasy like The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter was out of my wheel house
.As a teacher I have had to stretch the idea of what is reading. I have created an environment rich with magazines, graphic novels, podcasts and everything. At home I still have difficulty accepting my children’s interest in Anime.
I am working on it. I found the aisle in Barnes and Nobles, purchased t-shirts, posters, and now books. Anime and graphic novels bridge the distance between all the skills it takes to enjoy reading.
-Picture me, the kind of reader who couldn’t stretch the words on a page to a vision. The graphics in the novels would help me with this skill.
-Picture the kid, who may struggle decoding, then the visuals paired with the printed word help.
-Picture the kid who has trouble picking out the most important events in written text. A graphic novel draws the reader’s attention to these important parts through illustrations.
-Picture the kid who is bored with reading suggestions and reading within his level.
Finally picture yourself, the parent sharing some of your favorite comic books as a kid. Watching your kid develop a new interest. And if your experience is like mine having the world of Anime erupt in your household.
Let’s redefine the concept of what makes up reading.