How to Choose Comic Books for your Six-Year-Old

Comic books or graphic novels are rapidly gaining popularity with the elementary, middle and high school sets--reluctant and avid readers alike. For beginning readers, they have the advantage of a visual matched to each portion of the dialog; this keeps early readers engaged and encourages them to follow along with the byte-sized portions of text. But what of your first grader? What is appropriate out there for him? These tips may help guide you to a more educated choice.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Library access

1. Familiarize yourself with your library's graphic novel sections. Graphic novels will probably be divided into two areas: Juvenile (J) and Young Adult (YA). Books appropriate for your six-year-old are most likely to be found in the Juvenile Section.

2. Get to know the range of comics and graphic novels available. These days there is a wide array, from Disney characters to superheroes (most appropriate in reprints from the 1940s to 1970s). Internationally-known series such as Belgium's Tintin can work well as a read-aloud choice for first graders, and Asterix may also be available.

3. Be open to new characters and series, providing you scan the pages for inappropriate situations, language or violence first. New characters that have sprung from recently issued graphic novels for juveniles include Bumperboy and Fashion Kitty--both fun choices with contemporary designs.

4. Don't discount the classics. Tom Sawyer, Moby Dick and the Hunchback of Notre Dame can all be fascinating and understandable when presented in simple graphic novel form, especially with riveting illustrations. Again, these may be read-aloud choices.

Tips & Warnings

• Archie Double Digests still exist out there and can provide a relatively innocent alternative for early readers.
• Newer superhero editions from the 1980s through the present are most likely to be inappropriate for your young child.
• Always flip through the pages of a graphic novel or comic book to check for inappropriate content before presenting it to your six-year-old.