Graphic novels and comics have enjoyed support from teachers and librarians across the country and around the world for many years. Now as the local and national media increases attention on the medium, we will continue to provide links to these encouraging stories as they come out.

The following article summaries and links are from a variety of sources, all singing the praises of comic books and graphic novels as tools for teaching and for encouraging reading. They range from small local papers to national media outlets — a variety of opinions and insights!

And if you happen across a great article or paper on using graphic novels and comics in libraries and/or classrooms, please let us know!

University of Illinois: "For Improving Early Literacy, Reading Comics is No Childs Play" (November 5, 2009)

Kansas City Star: "Workshop on Graphic Novels sharpens the storytelling skills of young adults" (August 7, 2009)

KATV.com: "Family First: Graphic Novels" (August 6, 2009)

Examiner.com: "Visual Literacy: from picture books to political cartoons" (August 6, 2009)

DePauw University: "Sociology Illustrated"

Examiner.com: "Manga: a Path to Literacy?" (July 19, 2009)

Parenting.com: "Are Graphic Novels Okay?"

Parenting.com says "yes" and offers tips for finding age appropriate material.

Los Angeles Daily News: "Free Comic Book Day highlights why pen, ink and color are indeed mighty" (May 1, 2009)

Graphic novels in the classroom are sparking children's interest in reading.

Traverse City Record-Eagle: "Graphic Novels for Reluctant Readers" (March 30, 2009)

Jodee Taylor talks to teachers, librarians and students about how graphic novels can lead to a love of reading. Includes a list of recommended titles.

Globe and Mail: "Teaching Comics With a Straight Face" (March 12, 2009)

Reporter Sheena Goodyear looks at the recent profileration of graphic novel courses being taught in Canadian universities

Lynwood Enterprise: "Teens Fuel the Rise of the Graphic Novel" (March 6, 2009)

Graphic Novel popularity with teens is looked at through soaring library circulation numbers

San Francisco Examiner: "Comics a 'Gateway' to Reading" (March 2, 2009)

Teachers and librarians address the use of comics as tools to promote literacy at San Francisco's Wonder Con.

Ladysmith Chronicle: "Graphic Novel Class Excites Student Minds" (February 16, 2009)

A profile of the Graphic Narrative course taught at Vancouver Island University, taught by Dr. Marni Stanley.

Education Week: "Scholars See Comics as No Laughing Matter" (February 9, 2009)

A report on Fordham University's Graphica in Education conference, focusing on the growing academic acceptance and interest in comics and graphic novels.

Denver Post: "Beyond Batman: Comics Come of Age as Artform" (February 6, 2009)

Two exhibitions highlight the depth and diversity of today's comics and cartoonists.

Publishers Weekly: "Comics in the Classroom" (December 22, 2008)

Laura Hudson takes a comprehensive look at the growth of the school and library markets for graphic novels, and the initiatives which have paved the way.

Ennis Daily News: "Comics Provide Gateway to Youth Literacy" (December 2, 2008)

Public librarians and literacy specialists weigh in on the role of comics and graphic novels in motivating kids to read.

Wired News: "How Comics Can Save Us From Scientific Ignorance" (November 24, 2008)

An examination of educational comics, specifically those dealing with science.Comics may be a useful tool in overcoming the current crisis in science education.

Vancouver Sun: "Hurray for Pictures" (November 15, 2008)

A look at graphic novels as reading aids for teenagers and 'tweens, with recommended titles for boys under 12.

Ozarks First: "Teacher Inspires Students to Read with Comics" (November 14, 2008)

A profile of Chris Wilson's comic book club at Mark Twain Elementary School in Springfield, MO.

The Signal (Santa Clarita Valley): "Comic Ideas Take Flight for Youth" (October 20, 2008)

Canyon Springs Elementary School after-school students learn to make comics with help from Atom and Portlyn Freeman of Brave New World Comics. The lesson was part of the School District's ongoing focus on reading comprehension.

The Oregonian: "Portland State gets a whole lot of Dark Horse" (October 15, 2008)

Dark Horse founder and Portland State alumnus Mike Richardson donates a collection of every Dark Horse publication to the University.

Science Magazine: Education Innovations Liven Up Undergraduate Science Class" (September 26, 2008)

Cartoonist and biology professor Jay Hosler creates and uses scientific comics as an educational resource

The Age - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: "Graphic Tales Make Novel Teaching Tools" (September 21, 2008)

Liza Power profiles changing attitudes about comics in classrooms, and the use of the medium in teaching how to interpret visual information.

The New York Times: "Archie and Jughead? No, Javascript" (September 7, 2008)

George Gener Gustines reports on Google's choice to use a Scott McCloud-illustrated comic book to introduce its new web browser.

The Oregonian: "Comic Books Go From Villain to Hero in Some Oregon Schools" (August 31, 2008)

Peter Zuckerman reports on encouraging results with The Comic Book Project in Oregon Schools.

The Ithacan Online: "First-Year Reading Assignment Stresses Personal Development" (August 28, 2008)

First-Year students at Ithica College will read and discuss the graphic novel Persepolis as part of its First-Year Reading Intitiative

The Washington Post: "Drawing Power" (August 24, 2008)

Bob Thompson examines recent publishing trends and the rise of the graphic novel as a literary medium.

Milford Daily News: "Graphic Novels Top Kids' Reading Lists" (August 9, 2008)

Krista Perry reports on kids' preference for graphic novels as pleasure reading at the Bellingham Public Library.

Christian Science Monitor: "POW! ZOWIE! Scholars Discover the Comic Book" (July 29, 2008)

Randy Dotinga reports on the growing academic acceptance of graphic novels in conjunction with the academic conference held at Comic-Con International.

NPR: "Librarians Harvest New Manga Titles at Comic-Con" (July 28, 2008)

All Things Considered features an interview with librarians Eva Volin and David Serchay on graphic novels in libraries and the presence of librarians at Comic-Con International.

Baltimore Sun: "Much Ado About Manga" (June 10, 2008)

Victoria Brownsmith and Patricia Singh report on manga style adaptations as a supplement to reading Shakespeare's plays.

icWales: "Novel Course for Graphics" (May 22, 2008)

Catherine Mary Evans reports on a new Graphic Novel Illustration course to be taught at the North Wales School of Art and Design. The first of its kind in the UK, this course reflects a growing trend of graphic novels being embraced by higher education.

Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Getting Kids to Read Starts With Getting Kids to Look" (May 13, 2008)

Norman Draper reports on Champlin Park High School's summer reading project, which involves the entire school community reading the graphic novel American Born Chinese and culminates in a visit from the author, Gene Yang.

Edutopia: "A New Literary Hero: Comics Make for Colorful Learning" (May 8, 2008)

Ed Finkel provides an overview of using comic books as a tool for teaching literacy through group projects.

Time Magazine for Kids: "Comics in Class" (April 25, 2008)

Time Kids covers current educational initiatives involving comics and literacy, including the Maryland Comic Book Initiative.

ADVANCE for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists: "Spider-Man Boosts Literacy" (April 9, 2008)

A piece about a research study using comic books to develop sophisticated literacy skills with English-language learners in Portland, Oregon.

Innisfil Scope: "Teaching the Drawing Techniques" (April 9, 2008)

Chris Simon profiles Freeze DNA, an Ontario-based comic art team that teaches comic art classes to elementary school children. Freese DNA executive director Justin Stanberry discusses how comic books can be used to improve literacy.

NPR: "Three Writers are Drawn by the Allure of Comics" (March 25, 2008)

John Ridley talks to TV writer Joss Whedon, novelist Jodi Picoult and rapper Percy Carey about their stints writing comics and the allure of the medium for different types of writers.

San Diego Union Tribune: "The Plot Thickens...More Colleges are Turning to Graphic Novels and Comics as Legitimate Literary Forms, Teaching Tools" (March 23, 2008)

Reporter Linda Lou talks to several different college professors in California who include graphic novels in the curriculum.

New York Times: "No Laughs, No Thrills, and Villains All Too Real" (February 27, 2008)

Michael Kimmelman reports on the use of "The Search", a text book in comic book form, to teach eighth-graders in Berlin about the Holocaust.

OC Register: "Comics and Video Games Can Help Children Learn" (February 27, 2008)

Sam Miller and Cynthia Rupe list graphic novels that are being used to teach Shakespeare and SAT vocabulary, as well as a new book on the educational potential of video games.

Winchester Star: "Top Circulators: Handley Regional Library Reveals 2007 Checkouts" (February 23, 2008)

F.C. Lowe reports on circulation numbers in Winchester VA, with manga and graphic novels topping the list of most checked-out items!

Toledo Blade: "Class, Open the Comic Books" (December 31, 2007)

An editorial article on the rise of comic books in educational settings, and the potential benefits.

New York Times: "Superman Finds New Fans Among Reading Instructors" (December 26, 2007)

Elissa Gootman reports on a number of educational initiatives to promote literacy using comic books and graphic novels.

CBS News: "Give the Gift of Reading to Kids" (December 15, 2007)

Carol Fitzgerald of The Book Report Network offers a list of recommended books to get kids interested in reading, including graphic novels Owly and Bone.

USA Today: "Schools Add, Expand Comics Art Classes" (December 15, 2007)

An article about the adoption of sequential art classes and programs in a growing number of academic institutions.

USA Today: “Teachers Are Getting Graphic” (May 3, 2005)

Staff writer Greg Toppo chronicles the growing recognition of the educational merits of the graphic novel. The article also includes a sidebar that lists age-appropriate comics and profiles Bone creator Jeff Smith’s involvement as a creator whose own work has been praised by librarians and teachers.

New York Public Radio: “Learning through Comic Book” (December 22, 2004)

A transcript of a piece produced by WNYC’s Beth Fertig featuring an interview with students at Luther King High School in Manhattan about a project called The Comic Book Program, and how comics have helped them to improve their literacy.

The Christian Science Monitor: “Hamlet’ Too Hard? Try a Comic Book” (October 12, 2004)

Another article describing how graphic novels are becoming helpful teaching tools in school classrooms. This time CSM’s Teresa Mendez recounts how an upstate New York English teacher uses comics as a “bridge to other things.”

The Associated Press: “Finance Superhero Rescues Beginners” (August 11, 2004)

Michael J. Martinez reports on California State University Professor Wes Seeger’s use of original comic books to teach derivatives and futures to his students. The comics, which feature the Seeger-created character Kaptain Kelmoore, were inspired by similar titles released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 1994.

The Washington Post: “Thinking Outside the Box, Inside the Panel” (June 15, 2004)

According to Valerie Strauss’s article, the Comic Book Project “allows children to use their storytelling skills — through drawing and writing — to create comic books based on educational themes.” Since its introduction in 2001, the project has been adopted by a number of schools nationwide.

The San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune: “Palomar College Professor Sees Comic Books as Literary Art Form” (March 26, 2004)

Moshay Simpson reports on a class entitled, “Comic Books as Literature,” which covers a wide range of comics titles, offered at San Marcos, CA’s Palomar College.

The Washington Post:“Back to the Drawing Board” (May 17, 2002)

Staff writer Emily Wax explains how many public schools use comics and describes how comics have evolved from in-school contraband to teaching tools.