A to Z Challenge: R is for Reading

This month is FLYING by! We're almost at the end of week three in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Not sure what the challenge is about? Click here for the deets, or here for my theme reveal. And of course, you're welcome to read my past posts—starting with the letter "A" here.

Also, if you haven't read my "C is for canola" post, you should—you could WIN a set of all 15 of the Superman Duffy graphic novels, signed by the author.

R is for Reading

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I don't have any trouble reading—it's one of my most favourite things to do. I have a bunch of go-to authors—like Roald Dahl—and can spend an entire day curled up on the couch exploring new worlds and adventures.

But I get that not everyone likes to read. Enter graphic novels. These are stories told through a mix of both illustration and text, and they're the format of the Superman Duffy books.

Not that there's anything wrong with comics (I have an impressive Superman collection), but graphic novels are not just glorified comics. And here are five reasons you may want to include them in your personal or classroom library.

1. The illustrations—especially when they're great—provide an immediate overview of the story, which encourages you to read the whole thing. By looking at the pictures, you get a sense immediately of what is happening...and that is a fun way to dive into the story.

2. They are fast paced! For those of us with high energy, slowing down can be an issue, but with most graphic novels—and especially the Superman Duffy books—the plots are exciting, and there's plenty of action to keep you focussed on the story.

3. The pictures reenforce, not replace the story. A good graphic novel only works when the text and images go together.

4. The language is high quality! A great graphic novel pairs awesome images with clear dialogue. With so little space for words, the author has to choose the ones she uses very carefully. Plus, graphic novels often deal with a theme—in the case of the Superman Duffy books, that theme is about the importance of agriculture and knowing where your food comes from. Educational and entertaining!

5. They can be read over and over again. Just last week, a Grade 4 student attending Aggie Days in Calgary said he'd read Cut! To The Chase... more than a dozen times! Because they're a quick read, graphic novels are an easy choice when you want to revisit a favourite tale.

Convinced? Perfect! Contact the Alberta Canola Producers Commission to see how to get the full set of books for your classroom—or of course, you can read my past posts for a chance to WIN all 16 books.

Gotta jet! Happy Friday—and see you tomorrow!

~ Chase Superman Duffy