Anything you do to make English more comprehensible (understandable) while you read will help you acquire more English. That makes picture books and comics good sources of comprehensible English.
But wait, you say, aren’t picture books and comics for children? Well, yes and no.
A lot of picture books are for children, but there are good picture books for adults – older children! – too. And if our goal is to improve our English, what’s wrong with reading children’s books? Many of my adult students have improved their English by reading children’s books first. When their English improved – often quickly – they moved on to other kinds of reading.
What about picture books for adults? There are two creators of picture books that I think are especially good for adults. Both of them write and illustrate (create the pictures) their own books.
David MacAulay
David MacAulay is best known for his books about how things work or how they were built. They are interesting and full of practical information. You’ll pick up a lot of useful vocabulary about the human body, electricity, construction, and the many other things MacAulay writes about.
My favorite MacAulay book is Motel of the Mysteries. It’s a very funny book about an archaeologist in 4022 who discovers an American motel. Unfortunately, he gets it wrong; the motel isn’t what he thinks it is! You’ll have to read the book to find out how he got it wrong.
Patricia Polacco
Patricia Polacco had trouble in school and wasn’t able to read, until she was 14, because of dyslexia (a learning or reading disorder). As a result, she began drawing. She began writing later and became an award-winning and much loved storyteller.
Her personal experiences, and her family’s, come to life in her books. The story of her trouble in school is told in Thank you, Mr. Falker. Her family is made up of different ethnic backgrounds and traditions and those differences help create many of her stories.
Polacco’s books have always been favorites of my students. And I have enjoyed reading them, too.
Finding and buying books
Let me make three suggestions about finding and buying books. They may not work for everyone, but I know they will for some of you. First, buy paperbacks. Paperback books are always less expensive. Second, you can usually get a better price at Amazon.com if you use the sellers that Amazon links to. You can find the links in the middle of the page, below the title of the book.
Finally, try sharing the cost and the books with friends who are also trying to improve their English. Maybe a group of you could begin a small lending library of English books.
Comics
Comics are a great source of comprehensible English – and hours of fun reading! Marvel Comics now makes most of its comics available for reading online. You’ll have to subscribe – they cost $5 per month – but that’s not much for the benefit you’ll receive.
Warren Ediger
warren [at] successfulenglish [dot] com
