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Reading comic books and graphic novels with children creates joyful literacy experiences that build lifelong connections through stories while developing critical visual literacy skills.
• Slow down when reading comics aloud to allow children time to explore illustrations and decode visual information
• Place your finger under characters who are speaking to help kids follow dialogue
• Make sound effects dramatic and fun – children often learn words like "bonk" and "crash" before traditional sight words
• Give silent panels enough time and attention, asking questions about what might be happening
• Invite children to look at facial expressions, scene details, and panel sequences to build comprehension skills
• Toon Books offers excellent leveled readers from simple single-panel stories to chapter-style graphic novels
• Elephant & Piggy books provide simple, funny stories perfect for all ages with clean illustrations
• Series like Zita the Space Girl, The Investigators, and Marvel Superheroes Adventure work well for ages 7+
• South African graphic novels like Kwezi and Shaka Rising offer culturally relevant stories with local flavor
• Consider emotional maturity rather than just reading level when selecting graphic novels for children
If you know of any great South African graphic novelists or comic book artists, please drop me a note in the comments.
Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder.

Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.