Graphic novels for elementary and middle grade children have become enormously popular and widely accepted by parents, teachers, and librarians. In this resource section, learn more about this highly visual form of storytelling and how it can be used in the classroom, meet some writers and illustrators of graphic novels, and browse the “best of” booklists.
Similar to comic books, graphic novels weave rich, lively visuals with a limited amount of text to drive the narrative. They can be especially appealing to young readers who are reluctant to pick up a more traditional book. Graphic novels are a great way to help struggling readers strengthen vocabulary, build reading confidence and stamina, and develop a deeper appreciation of storytelling.
Traditionally, we think of storybooks as a lot of words and only a few pictures. In this collection of books recommended for children ages 3-12, the pictures come first! Using a technique similar to comic books, graphic novels use visuals to guide the story, adding text only to fill in the gaps. More complex than picture books, graphic novels require young readers to have a certain sophistication — as well as strong comprehension skills — to appreciate them. Graphic novels can be read with an adult or independently, and are especially good for struggling or reluctant readers. Discover many more related titles with Book Finder.
Discover four graphic organizers that can help kids organize their ideas in a very visual way. They also help break a writing project into smaller, more manageable steps. Graphic organizers are especially helpful for children with dysgraphia, executive functioning issues, and other issues that can cause trouble with writing.
To have productive text-based discussions, we have to pull apart the texts ourselves — hunting for barriers to comprehension at the word, sentence, paragraph, and passage level.
Whether they call them Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Pop Pop, or Abuelita and Abuelito, kids love their grandparents. By whatever name, grandparents are special to young children, always ready with a hug. You can read about and enjoy all kinds of grandparents in this list of recommended books for kids ages 0-9. After all, sometimes the best part of being a parent is getting to be a grandparent!
It’s fun to read and do lots of different stuff full of silliness and imagination. In these recommended books for kids ages 0-9, you’ll read about silly characters and learn to make green gooey goop and art you can eat. It’s fun to play and goof around with books!
Is there anything more fun than getting mail? Get kids interested in reading with a subscription to one of these magazines recommended for kids up to age 12. Pictures, short stories, and activities open the door for even the most reluctant readers. Magazines can be a way for kids to relax with a good story on their own time — at home, after school, or in the car. And it gives them something to look forward to in the mailbox! To learn how teachers can use magazines for instruction, please see Magazines Make a Big Impact in the Classroom.
It’s never too early to start reading to young children. Young children are building vocabularies long before they can say them or use them in conversation. Try one of these books with your favorite baby or toddler. It doesn’t matter if you don’t read every word, but it is important that you share your enthusiasm. You can even do some of the actions suggested by the words or pictures, or you can make up your own. Maybe you just want to talk about the pictures and point to them as you do. It’s the sharing that’s important!
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
First grade is when many children put it all together and begin to read independently. But reading aloud with first graders remains not only a pleasurable but an important activity. It encourages longer attention spans — children can focus on a page of images and words for longer periods, build their understanding of the connection between speech and print. Their sense of language develops as they are introduced to its use in different types of books ranging from poetry to nonfiction or even in a silly story that uses repeated sounds. And they can see themselves and others more readily as they read about other places and characters.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
It’s a busy life filled with lots of things to do and even more distractions. But there’s one pursuit that can be fun for everyone involved, plus it has benefits that will have a lifelong impact. All that’s needed is a comfy place, an adult, one child or more, and a good book to share.
Kindergarteners — they’re growing up, and so is their taste in books. They’re developing relationships with other children, acquiring empathy. Reading aloud to children lets them see how different characters in different situations behave toward others. It also helps children understand the way language works. They hear how sentences are put together, grasping the meaning of words either in context or when talking with the adult. Often these verbal exchanges extend beyond the book as children begin to relate what happens in books connects to their world. Children at this age can often listen to longer stories or hear chapters from longer books.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
Build on your young listener’s love of words, information, and story with lots of reading aloud. You’re building their experiences while building vocabulary. Remember, young children can understand many more spoken words than they use. And the language in books tends to be greater and more diverse than the words we use everyday when talking with children. Preschoolers enjoy simple books as well as more complex books, the sound of language — even nonsensical words — and a good laugh; after all, they’re developing a sense of humor!
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
The world is a big place and there’s no better to meet it than between the covers of a book shared between parents or caring adult and a child. Most children are emerging readers by now but are still building both receptive language (what they hear) as well as expressive language (what they say). They’re also expanding their interests and putting ideas together in new and different ways. Books – timeworn and new, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose – shared aloud allows both adult and child to explore together.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
Often adults think just because children can read by themselves that reading aloud is no longer important. It is! What better way to tackle tough topics than by sharing a book and talking about it? Questions may include what a child thinks of a character’s behavior or actions (what would you do if…? Or how would it feel to be in…?). Interests and ideas keep on coming but remember, children’s reading levels are usually lower than what they understand when books are shared aloud. Empathy, experience, vocabulary and a love of language continue to grow long after children can read by themselves.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
