If there are words on the page, (or yes- even the screen!) chances are that counts as reading. Did you know that in the 18th and 19th century, there was a widespread misconception that reading was bad for young people? Adults were concerned that it would warp their morals or that youth would become addicted. Now, we know how extraordinary it is for everyone to read, but sometimes differing beliefs on what “counts” as worthwhile reading can hinder people from reading in multiple forms. Good news- literacy is expansive!
Welcome to multimodal reading. Multimodal reading is a family of literacy that involves deriving meaning from a variety of written or spoken words, images, or auditory elements. Words on a page have extensive value; audiobooks, graphic novels, wordless picture books, and text-heavy video games also enhance literacy. When we read graphic novels or engage with image-heavy media, we’re processing (reading) so many context clues as well.
Along with dialogue or word-on-page storytelling, there are facial expressions and body language cues to pick up on, landscape and location details that create a setting, lighting communicating time of day, and colors or other features that are indicating danger, excitement, sadness, serenity. There are so many details that enhance your reading experience, so many details that add layers to the story if you’re paying attention and picking up on them. These pieces of literacy can increase awareness of our surroundings and build communicational and emotional literacy.
Engaging with stories that contain imagery as well as text is also a valuable way to expand appreciation for art and illustration. For readers who struggle to focus on a full-text novel, or have a little less energy that day, or love an immersive experience of seeing the people and places they’re reading about, graphic novels can be such a game changer, opening up access to stories in ways that may otherwise be inaccessible for them. Our ways of accessing stories and creating that access for any and everyone, is endless and beautiful. Any time that a kiddo wants to pick up a novel, a comic, a wordless picture book, or turn on an audiobook, it’s worth celebrating their reading journey! Here's a list of books to help you along your way!
By Allison
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