Comic books have graduated from pulp entertainment to literature and even historiography. Their role in literacy development as both medium and message has become uncontested, with both traditional superhero comic books unique graphic novels being included in school libraries (Griffith 181). Whereas comic books were once derided when compared with non-illustrated texts, now educators, librarians, and sociologists recognize the value and importance of comic books as a pedagogical tool. Schwarz notes that graphic novels can "introduce students to literature they might never otherwise encounter," stimulate interest in reading in general while also providing substantive content for literary analysis (" Graphic Novels for Multiple Literacies," 282). In " 'He's Gotta Be Strong, and He's Gotta Be Fast, and He's Gotta Be Larger than Life,': Investigating the Engendered Superhero Body," Taylor uses a gender studies perspective to demonstrate the value and importance of superhero comics in understanding processes related to the social construction of gender. Taylor claims that superhero bodies, even when they seem to pander to prevailing gender norms and stereotypes, actually expose the "artificiality of enforced male/female differentiations," because "super bodies continually transform, continually surprise, and are ever vigilant against the threat of normalizing tyrannies," (358). Both in terms of their role in literacy development and their role in social and psychological development, comic books can be tremendously beneficial tools.One of the ways comic books can benefit child development is their accessibility. Graphic novels are widely available, visually and thematically appealing to young learners. As school librarians are increasingly adding comic books and graphic novels to their shelves, the accessibility of graphic media is increasing with each successive school year. Even graphic novels, which have been described as the "longer and more artful version of the comic book bound as a 'real' book," are "popular, available, and meaningful," (Schwarz "Expanding Literacies," 58). Although useful for all ages, comic books may be particularly important for including in high school curricula because as children get older, their recreational reading decreases (Snowball 43). Teenagers tend to be more interested in graphic novels and comics partly because of the multimedia world in which young people grow up with and are immersed in (Snowball 43-44). Thus, another...

Moeller confirms that graphic novels resemble film more than traditional text-only literature, making them especially relevant to younger generations.
Because graphic novels appear in different cultures around the world, the medium is also more accessible and meaningful to a diverse audience. Japan is the most obvious producer of graphic novels in languages other than English but the production of comic books in other languages means that all students can relate to and respond to graphic novels. Therefore, graphic novels and comic books should be incorporated into classroom environments in order to appeal to a wide range of students. Graphic novels can "increase and diversify the voices that our students experience in the classroom," which is why graphic novels can be critical for helping students develop cross-cultural awareness and social skills (Schwarz, "Expanding Literacies," 58). Because of their diverse appeal and ability to transcend stereotyped domains, comic books can aid personal psychological and social development. For example, Taylor argues in favor of superhero comic books because of their portrayal of empowering gender norms and aesthetics. Comic books can likewise be used to help students develop self-awareness and communicate with a diverse group of their peers.

In fact, comic books can help distill complex, controversial, or difficult subjects so that they are more easily digestible, age-appropriate, and easily understood by young readers. Graphic novels like Maus show how difficult subjects like the Holocaust can be communicated through the medium of graphic novel. Using the graphic novel may help teachers or parents to broach difficult subjects, encouraging critical and creative thought and inquiry. Similarly, the graphic novel can help enhance the emotional, ethical, and social learning elements of childhood development. Comic books and graphic novels can achieve what traditional verbal media and especially textbooks cannot. As Griffith points out, "The graphic novel format also enables some students to read materials that were previously too difficult in length or in use of language," (184).

Furthermore, their visual dimension means that comic books can be used as second language instructional materials to help with language acquisition. For example, Moeller notes that graphic novels can be used to "help improve reading skills among…