Read Comic Books Online

From LoveToKnow Childrens Books

Why should kids read comic books online? The reputation of comic books has definitely changed in the past few years, so keep reading to see how comic books can be used in the classroom and at home to improve literacy skills and foster a love of reading.

Why Read Comic Books Online

Kids who read comic books online are actually combining a love of reading with a fascination for technology. Let's face it…in order to gain and keep kids' attention, teachers and parents have to be willing to use technology in a variety of areas, particularly in regards to literacy. While comic books can be traced back several decades, this particular genre only attracted a select group of readers in the past. In many cases, educators and parents viewed comic books with a bit of disdain, dismissing the format and content as a waste of time.

Today, that attitude has changed, as teachers and parents embrace anything that encourages reading, writing and creativity. The concept of comic books can be used in a variety of ways, and they are extremely useful in piquing children's interest in reading because they are so visual. For slow readers, visual stimulation is particularly important, and when you place a child in front of a computer to view these comics, you've automatically caught his or her interest.

Motivating Kids

How can you use comic books to motivate kids? Whether you're in the classroom or in your own home, there are numerous ways you can encourage kids to read, especially with comic books. First, consider what you want your kids to gain by reading comics.

Inspiration-If you plan to have kids create their own visual stories, let them look at comic books to gain inspiration and ideas.
Analysis-While many people might believe that comics are shallow and basically empty of meaningful content, today's comic strips often tackle moral and ethical issues. For older kids, reading comics could be a great way to stimulate intellectual debates and conversations. Analytical and critical thinking skills can be taught using comic book themes and plots as well.
Creativity-Whether your kids are reading for fun or reading for inspiration, comic books often prompt creativity. In fact, many kids are fascinated by the format and design of comic book stories and characters.
Interest-Longer comic books, often referred to as "graphic novels," are often read because their visual images appeal to readers who might not want to read a typical novel. Even younger readers are sometimes attracted to the comic book format simply because of the pictures, and beginning readers can practice reading skills by associating pictures with words.

What educators and library media specialists are beginning to discover is that comic books can encourage kids to read because they are reading something they love. Once they begin reading, they'll want to continue reading, and thus reading skills are much more likely to improve.

Comic Book Ideas

Kids who read comic books online often want to try their own hand at creating a comic strip. Whether they copy the popular comic book heroes of today, or create their own character, they can find lots of inspiration and ideas on the computer. Popular comic book characters include the following:

Teen Titans
Hulk
Iron Man
Spider-Man
The Avengers
Silver Surfer
Superman
Batman

One of the best places to access comics online is Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited-The site allows you to choose a monthly or yearly plan to get immediate online access to thousands of Marvel digital comics.

Finally, a great comic book resource is the Comic Book Project, which is an arts-based literacy and learning website that encourages kids to write, design, and publish original comic books online.

Retrieved from "http://childrens-books.lovetoknow.com/Read_Comic_Books_Online"