Sequential Narratives to Inspire Reluctant Readers

Introduction

Courtesy of WhyNotRead

 With the emergence of the digital age and subsequent changing of cultural interests and values, children face even more barriers to reading for pleasure than they ever have before.  Sequential narratives, or graphic novels, have the ability to serve as a stepping stone to help inspire those who for whatever reason choose not to read into transitioning from being considered as a reluctant reader, into reading for enjoyment.  It was extremely difficult to narrow down the great selection of graphic novels available.  The following bibliography is, and always will be, a work in progress as new titles are published and old titles are added.

Rationale

Amidst 21^st century tools and technologies, it has become increasingly difficult to captivate young readers.  The inability of strictly text based novels to reach the diverse needs of many readers has seen the subsequent emergence and rise of sequential narratives used not only for personal

enjoyment, but also for educational purposes. For reluctant readers, those who for whatever reason choose not to read, the graphic nature of a sequential narrative offers a less intimidating and more entertaining form of reading that also seeks to bridge the gap between instant gratification and a lifelong enjoyment of reading. The visual representation and pace of these multimodal art forms increases reader comprehension by improving language and literacy development through contextual clues located within the entertaining illustrations themselves.  Readers are drawn to graphic novels because of their illustrations and become consumed by their sharp dialogue, character development, and entertaining plot lines that provide multiple perspectives and focus on an emotional connection to the reader.  The high ratio of picture to

Courtesy of The Guardian

text and speed of sequential narratives are what speaks to reluctant readers who are not inclined, do not have the desire, or are too preoccupied with various other activities to read for pleasure.  While the following bibliography is by no means complete, the selected graphic novels feel subversive and exciting to those readers who are deterred by a large amount of text to decode.  In addition, there has been an increase in graphic novels to support all areas of curriculum development including many adaptations of Shakespeare’s work that have the potential to connect with students struggling with the language and style of his traditional plays.

Courtesy of The Odyssey Online

Medium

Using the power of information technology to extend my educational reach, I have chosen to present my bibliography in the form of a Pinterest board.  Pinterest is a highly effective tool for educators and librarians seeking to collaborate, inspire, curate, and research a variety of topics.  Each user has the ability to follow many boards, organize their information, create boards, and add 'pins' to their personal account choosing whether or not to make the information public or private.  The board I've created for my bibliography is titled 'Sequential Narratives to Inspire Reluctant Readers' and is a publicly shared resource for anyone to 'pin'.  In addition, each pin includes a small synopsis and a recommended grade level.