There are still parents and teachers who think "comics aren't real reading". They're wrong. And not just in a soft sense — they're scientifically wrong. Reading a comic activates the same reading regions of the brain as reading a novel, plus visual processing, plus inference analysis (what happened between the panels?), plus character and tone recognition through facial expression. Many reading researchers argue that comics better train reading comprehension than traditional books precisely because they force the reader to fill in the gaps.
And yet many "reluctant" or "struggling" readers get a negative comment when they choose a comic over a chapter book. This article gathers comics that actually work to motivate reading at 7–9 — and argues that comics should get the same status as "regular" books at home. At Kluriko we think any reading the child wants to do is worth it. Our learning-games are pure practice; comics are reading.
Why comics work
1. Picture support at hard words. They see what a "ferocious nightmare" is through the illustration. They don't need to understand the word perfectly — context fills in.
2. Short text bits. Speech bubbles are 2–10 words. Manageable chunks for a hand-reading brain. Long paragraphs knock motivation down; short bits build it up.
3. Character recognition. They learn that Tintin always has the same hair. That builds a visual schema that later helps in novels.
4. Strong reward per page. Turn the page → new scene → new laugh or surprise. A gameplay loop the brain loves.
5. Re-readability. They read the same comic three times. Good. The brain refines comprehension each time.
Classics that work
Tintin — slightly older feel, but many 8-year-olds love them. Longer stories with maps.
Asterix — for 8–9. Smarter humour than many remember. Latin, Roman empire, puns. Good vocabulary training.
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson — perhaps the best children's comic ever made. Philosophical, hilarious, perfect for the age.
Peanuts by Charles Schulz — short strips that hold up across decades.
The Smurfs — the illustrations are so full they can sit a long time on a single page.
Modern comics that work in 2025
Smile, Sisters, Drama, Guts by Raina Telgemeier. Bestsellers for a reason — warm stories about everyday problems.
Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart. Anarchically funny.
El Deafo by Cece Bell. About being deaf. Deeper than they think.
New Kid by Jerry Craft. About being new at school. Timely and powerful.
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi. Fantasy series in chapter-comic format. Many 8-year-olds get hooked.
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey. Often the bridge book that turns a reluctant reader into one.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney — technically not a comic but close. Pictures + text alternating.
For the 7-year-old just starting
- Dog Man — almost always a safe entry.
- Bone (the early volumes).
- Bunny vs Monkey.
- Press Start! by Thomas Flintham.
For the 9-year-old wanting more
- Bone by Jeff Smith — fantasy epic in comic form. Huge.
- Maus by Art Spiegelman — for the mature 9-year-old. Holocaust. Not trivial.
- Persepolis — if the child is interested in the world. Iran in the 80s.
- The Amulet series in full.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender comics — for fans of the show.
What to say (and not say)
Say:
- "What happened in Dog Man today? Tell me!"
- "That comic looks fun. Can I borrow it after you?"
- "My favourite as a child was Asterix. Want to try?"
Don't say:
- "When are you going to read real books?"
- "That's mostly pictures, isn't it?"
- "That doesn't count as reading."
The first builds a reading identity. The second crushes it.
How to integrate comics into the week's reading
- Mon–Wed: novel/chapter book they read themselves.
- Thu–Fri: comic as a break from decoding.
- Weekend: mix.
Not a requirement. An idea. Variety keeps motivation alive.
When comics are especially important
- Reluctant readers (those who "don't like to read") — start with comics, always.
- Dyslexic children — visual support drastically lowers the decoding load.
- Bilingual children — images help when vocabulary is uncertain.
- Sick children — comics need less energy than novels.
How Kluriko helps
Lärspel is no substitute for comics — it's daily practice for spelling and words. They should read comics instead of not reading, not instead of playing.