Nov 07 2008
TOON Books: bringing new readers to the pleasures of comics
If you have a reluctant reader at home, you may want to introduce them to comic books. Comic books?! Yes, when they’re quality books for emerging and reluctant readers from the likes of TOON Books.
TOON Books are high-quality comic books designed for children four-years-old and older. Each of their books are designed to offer newly-emerging readers comics they can read themselves. Also, each TOON book has been vetted by educators to ensure that the language and the narratives will nurture young minds.
TOON Books also feature original stories and characters created by veteran children’s book authors, renowned cartoonists and new talents, all applying their skills to help children discover the magic of reading.
Many TOON Books to choose from
Jack and the Box is the perfect book for beginning readers. It’s full of simple sight words and wonderful illustrations. It was written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman, who won a Pulizer Prize in 1992 for his book, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale
. Spiegelman claims he learned how to read from looking at comics and “trying to figure out if Batman was a Good Guy or a Bad Guy.” He even let his children learn to read from his old, very valuable collection of old comic books. Jack and the Box
is recommended for children in grades K-2.
As a parent of a brother and sister, I can relate to Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever. It’s about two siblings who can’t stop fighting. When their favorite super hero pass his costume on to them, the twins fight so much that they rip it in half and only have half the super powers. Will they combine their powers or let the evil forces win? Written by Jay Lynch of Garbage Pail Kids fame and and Dean Haspiel who has drawn superheroes for Marvel and DC comics. For grades K-2.
Then there’s the aptly named Stinky, a monster who loves pickles and possums and is scared of people. When a new kid, Nick, enters his swamp, Stinky tries to scare him away, but ends up making friends with the boy. A nice blend of a sweet story and gross out humor. Pickled onion, anyone? Written by Eleanor Davis for children in grades K-2.
For more information about TOON Books check out their website and their blog.





I hadn’t heard of these. Thanks, Anne-Marie. Another great lead … and an ever-growing TBR pile!
We’ve found these books in the New Book Bin in the children’s section at the public library. My daughters love them. They are especially good for the reluctant reader and for boys. Keep on reading!
[...] TOON Books, "high quality books for emerging and reluctant readers. Read her post about bringing readers to the pleasure of comics for all the [...]