I am an avid comic book reader, and it got me thinking that it may be a great way to introduce my 5 year old son to books. Any thoughts on this?
It's a great idea, as long as there's balance, and he isn't just reading comic books.
There is nothing wrong with comic books at all. I love them. In his situation though, I'd try and be as mindful of the future as possible. Comic books are going to teach him to associate books with pictures. It may make it more difficult for him to read novels, textbooks, etc. In the future. So if you were to throw in some short stories here and there, and I think it's excellent.
That's just my two-cents. Of course, in the end, it's up to you. :)
I think introducing your son to the world of literature through comic books makes a lot of sense.
I'm not a huge comic book buff, but as a recovering Goth - I can admit to having read things like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, The Sandman, Lenore and even the odd issue of Arkham Asylum.
I think comic books are visually stunning (which will help keep your son engaged) and they're fun for you to read. This last point is important because the enthusiasm you feel for the story will translate across to your son at story time.
Comic books also have characters with a lot of depth, and intricate story lines - and I personally believe your son will benefit from being exposed to these literary devices at a young age.
The only thing I'd throw in as a warning is that comic books often have underlying subtext and subject matter that you might not want to expose your son to at a young age - that's why picking the right series is pretty important.
I remember being left in front of the TV to watch anime and manga at a very young age - and although the animated characters looked cute and child-friendly, I can assure you that some of the content certainly wasn't!
But, seeing as you're an avid comic book reader, I'm pretty sure your son is in good hands.
I have always found Roald Dahl's books to tick all the boxes necessary for encouraging children to read. I believe the short staccato language in comics might not make for the most natural flow whilst learning to read, and probably have a low reading age score based on the Flesh-Kincaid reading score which is widely used by schools to measure reading age.
Some of my favorite books as a child were George's Marvellous
As an idea, why not have the comics as a treat for when your child has read a few pages of something else, that way you win both times! Comics often become a habit and a hobby and I think that's great as they are so colourful and imaginative.