2. As a group, boys especially struggle with reading.

3. and boys ages 8-13 are an average of 1 ½ grades behind girls in reading.

4. But we want everyone to be successful in school and in life…

5. …and reading is key to that.

6. Comic books are a great way to get boys interested in reading. They are NOT junk reading. They do NOT rot your brain in the same way that candy rots your teeth.

7. But as it turns out, reading comics was a healthy choice! When we really look at comics, we discover some interesting things:

8. Comics contain the same story elements and devices as text-only stories.

9. CHARACTERS Archie Comics AND Little Women both have… THEME SETTING POINT OF VIEW SYMBOLISM CONFLICT RESOLUTION CHARACTERS THEME SETTING POINT OF VIEW SYMBOLISM CONFLICT RESOLUTION

10. A March 2009 study in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy found that children who read comics show a larger vocabulary than children who do not. Vocabulary also improves for comic book readers. A March 2009 study in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy found that children who read comics show a larger vocabulary than children who do not.

11. INFERENCE : Drawing a conclusion about something unknown from known facts or evidence INFERENCE : Drawing a conclusion about something unknown from known facts or evidence The skill of inference is another complex reading strategy that the child is developing.

12. PICTUR ES + WORDS + WORDS + COLORS + COLORS = MEANIN G = MEANIN G PICTUR ES + WORDS + WORDS + COLORS + COLORS = MEANIN G = MEANIN G Comics

13. We live in a highly visual culture. Kids play video games that require them interact with storylines, made decisions and problem solve directing the actions of their virtual selves. Adults are constantly plugged into electronic devices where images provide more information than text.

14. Families Skype and Facetime rather than talking on the phone.

15. We are surrounded by visual cues that require our ability to read images.

16. Comics also use bright colors, exciting visuals and smart story lines to engage reluctant readers and encourage them to keep reading.

17. Comics and graphic novels are effective teaching tools. We have 23 school teachers participating in this grant because they want to incorporate comics into their curriculum.

18. = longe r comic book = longe r comic book Is it fiction? GRAP HIC NOVE L What is a graphic novel? Maybe, maybe not.

19. COMICS ( an art form ) MUSIC ( an art form ) CDs & digital sound files comic books & graphic novels both are formats to deliver the art

20. Where can you find graphic novels and comic?

21. SCHOOL LIBRARY PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCAL BOOKSTORE AND COMIC BOOK SHOP

22. CHECK THESE OUT

40. Comics Connect, a collaborative project of the Mohawk Valley Library System and Upper Hudson Library System, is supported by funds from the New York State Library s Family Literacy Library Services grant program.