Not Just Pooh, Pan, and Potter: Issue 02
A case for comic books, book supplies for little green thumbs, and a book-based watch for family movie night!
This newsletter might seem a little ambitious but I am riding on the fact that I love talking about (and have opinions on), children’s literature and stuff today’s children should read and watch. What makes me an expert? That’s just it, I am not an expert. I am a mom of two boys (9 & 5), and constantly treading the thin line between telling them what they should read and watch and letting them make those choices for themselves.
In a nutshell, Not Just Pooh, Pan, and Potter will deal with children’s books that are beyond the usual suspects, links to interesting book-related articles I’ve read, a glimpse into some children’s shows I would like to recommend for your kids, and tons of helpful tips to raising readers.
Have A Reluctant Reader? Try Comic Books!
Creator: Mike Pawuk
Before you say comic books? Chee! Hear me out! Comic books have long had a bad rep for polluting young minds. Remember when you were a teen and were lost in those Archie comics and your mom would flip through them and yell at you for reading “Utter nonsense!” Yes, we all have memories of our parents dismissing our comic books for being drivel. But we also have fond memories of long train rides with Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha and Uncle Pai sending us letters on our birthdays. Of spending hours at doctor’s waiting rooms reading Champak and Chandamama. Of learning about American teenage life while spending time with Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead while sipping on imaginary malts at Pop Tates. Sigh, those were the days.
Comic books are fundamentally pictures in a grid format with very little text. These pictures, and the few words, tell a story and engage young readers. Now here is why comic books a great tool to have on hand when raising a reader.
With less text and more pictures, comic books do not overwhelm reluctant readers. Oftentimes thick books become text-heavy and overwhelm young, reluctant readers even before they finish a single page. Comic books keep it light and simple and move the story along without making reading seem like a chore.
Pictures with text help visual learners. Children are usually reluctant to read because they are unable to comprehend the meanings of words just by reading the words alone. They need visual help. That’s why comics work wonders! Readers can understand what’s happening with visual cues and words creating longer memory retention.
Gives a child a sense of accomplishment when they finish reading the book. Imagine a child’s mental state when they are unable to finish books because they simply aren’t into it. It can be so frustrating! Reading a graphic novel is easy and when they finish they will get a boost of confidence at having finished an entire book!
Helps young readers build on their Lexile score. Comic books can be a great way of introducing readers to new words, new genres, and even help work on their comprehension skills. All this leads to building their Lexile score and reading more complex books.
Other than classics like Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, Champak, and Chandamama, here are a few comic books I love to recommend:
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea: Could it get any cuter than when a narwhal and a jellyfish become friends? This comic book, featured on many bestseller lists, weaves a tale of friendship, teamwork, and the power of imagination all thrown in with fascinating facts about the underwater world! (For ages 6-9)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Though not your typical comic book, this series has a lot of picture boxes to go with the text. It is an easy read and something kids will actually relate to, especially the parts where Greg Heffley talks about his silly parents. (For ages 8 -12)
Adventures of Tintin: Forget the controversy surrounding this series. For me, Tintin will always be associated with exciting adventures and a fast-paced read as this boy journalist travels all over the world fighting crime. And how can you not love Bianca Castafiore or Thompson & Thomson? This complete works set is a super investment for the whole family! (For ages 9+)
Asterix: This comic book series is pure genius, not just for its plotlines but for all the interesting wordplay and puns the author uses to form names of places and characters. Once you read this series, can you ever forget Getafix or Vitalstatistix? (For ages 9+)
Toon Books: Stop everything. Comic books created for budding readers? Yes! Comic book greats — Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman come together to create Toon Books. These books are made to encourage young children to begin reading all while understanding their nascent reading ability and encouraging them to keep reading! The genius lies in the fact that your child can grow with this comic book series as they have books for different levels and reading abilities as a child grows. Read more about them here. (For ages 3+)
Books You Need On Hand If You Have A ‘Budding’ Gardener
My little Gurgles (5) has always been interested in bugs, butterflies, plants, and flowers but over this past year, he has somehow managed to awaken the dormant gardeners and anthomaniacs in all of us! Having had to give up our nature walks and park visits, we have, as a family, been actively following the developments of plants in our neighbourhood and have also tried to grow a number of things in our balcony garden. Literally, we have a huge tub of soil where he throws seeds and bits of things he eats and then watches eagerly as it sprouts, grows, and flowers!
Pic: A pretty yellow flower on our balcony bitter gourd ‘karela’ plant
Ever walk past a tree with gorgeous flowers and feel the need to know its name? After months of research, I have a list of books that are a huge help when it comes to identifying plants, trees, and flowers or if your child simply wants to thumb through the pages to learn a lot more about the green world. You will find all the books (that are so worth it!) in this Amazon list. Now Gurgles simply brings the books along with him when we go for a walk and flips through the pages until he finds what he is looking for! Can there be a better way to learn? I have reviewed some of the books here, go read!
Watch The Willoughbys For Family Movie Night
Pic credit: Netflix
The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry, is a book I love recommending for mid-level readers. Unlike any traditional ‘family ‘ story this book is about four children who wish their parents die while on a world-tour holiday and will themselves to be orphans. The parents, too want to get rid of their four children, because they aren’t too fond of them. Don’t worry, it doesn’t get darker than this! What follows are hilarious plot twists and visible parodies of classic children’s novels. What’s not to love in this fast-paced book?
But now, The Willoughbys is a movie! On Netflix! With actors like Maya Rudolph and Ricky Gervais! Can you feel the excitement? I can add more exclamation marks!
This hilarious movie is a must-watch on family movie night and will have your family in splits! Can the Willoughby children parent themselves? Will they be better at it than their own parents or will they finally understand what it means to be part of a family? Watch it! With popcorn, of course!
I would love your feedback on this newsletter. If you like what you read, please share it with your family and friends. Help a mom out and tell her about Mother Of Readers, the curated book recommendation service. You will be blessed with good book karma for life!
See you in two weeks!
Rati Girish
Blog: mumofreaders.blogspot.com
Instagram: @Mother_of_readers
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