Technolandy

Day 123 (of 2025/26) spring break: read comics thanks @zayn read for joy…

Noting that this blog also includes a reference to a rant by someone else that we ought not encourage “reading for pleasure”… but gonna start with one of my favourite reading medias:

My youngest is a fan of One Direction and shared to me what one of the musicians shared for their reading list: Or hate reading and check out: https://x.com/realgeoffbarton/status/2031638350742851999?s=46&t=1dUfyS3Gs8vfKZM2pkk0pQ  – thoughts on this 🙄 at the bottom

Love it when celebrities share what they’re reading! Now let me out my teacher glasses on and take a look at Zaybs choices

Good reminder that just because comics are colourful does not mean they are “G” rated for all audiences. 

Going clockwise:

Transformers – pretty accessible for most audiences – some violence, but as it tends to be focused on machines, most people are okay with it: has been on my reading list since the mid-80s and though I sold my first run a long time ago, I have gotten back into the series with some of the longer format publications!

Capes – not as familiar with this title, but am aware of its popularity as I’ve heard more collectors talk about it!

2x Batman Gallery Editions – at least one by Frank Miller… must reads! – it was Dark Knight Returns that really dug me into the ‘graphic novel’ evolution of my monthly comic readings!

Martian Manhunter – I’ve always liked MM, but as a side character 

Invincible – probably the entire collection in this share… an excellent choice – nicely paired with the animated series, though both need to be for mature audiences – some brutality in both formats… rich universe and great characters, but definitely for older readers (which means some younger readers will explore it a bit too young… but that’s part of the comic/reading process…)

The bigger handover is a collection of some classic titles – I recognized Tales from the Crypt ( a comic before tv show and movie series) I’m uncertain of the other titles, but you can bet they are a range of wacky, unusual, creepy, sci-fi and horror comics. Theater of the mind is only beaten by some of the artists imagination!

Absolute Batman is not my favourite Batman series, but maybe I should give it a more serious look…the All In series has been enjoyable when I’ve picked up an occasional copy (I try to visit the comic stores in my in-laws neighbourhood as well as my preferred stop: Golden Age Collectibles on Granville Street in Vancouver) as I buy a copy of something at pretty much any comic book store I visit…

SkinBreaker: I’ve had a couple people mention this to me… anybody else recommend this one?

My recommendations continue to be: support the resurrection of the Disney Titles – Uncle Scrooge is off to a great start (Infinite Dime is fabulous) as is Donald Duck, and even the Mickey Mouse #1 brought  back one of the best villains: the Phantom Blot!

PS

I am LOVING the complaints that too many kids are reading graphic novels… that was me as a kid – and then  the love of story helped guide me to an English Literature degree (and teacher librarian…. And and and….) haters always hate the comic books…  

This Spring Break: Go to a comic book store and ask for a recommendation or sign out a graphic novel from a library and check them out….  The retelling of Lord of the Flies is great for a more accessible (the language of the novel is colloquially dated) journey into an otherwise great story; Watership Down will make you cry; Handmaids Tale will chill you; the Giver will make you realize the ‘kids book’ – ain’t just for kids; 1984 will make you want to re-read the Orwellian classic as a followup to Atwood… which will lead you to Animal Farm – and Anne Frank’s Diary – hits different (did not connect with it as a secondary school reader)… Secret Garden is gorgeous… Anne of green gables is a Canadian classic – the or Kathleen Gros version

Or… don’t read for pleasure… as TES.com is promoting: Reading for pleasure has become central to school literacy strategies, but there are increasing calls to ditch it, with research suggesting it has done little to turn pupils into avid readers

Having worked with readers of all types, from avid to reluctant to outright resistant – I will confirm that more reading helps you get tood at reading – but nobody is staying up late at night with either a flashlight and paper tablet or ereader going over fan fiction of Fountas & Pinnell blackline masters, they are reading because it brings them joy – and continuing to read because of the ‘good parts’ – only a rare few are re-analyzing a standardized reading passage to ensure they understand the content area questions (who what where when why). 

The example of provided in the prose that ‘you need to know how to read because it is critical so that you can keep the school therapy dog alive’ actually made me laugh out loud. 

Is reading an ‘essential’ skill? I’m willing to at least have the argument that now, more than ever, is a chance for more to go back to the original form of communication: oral/aural – for story and information… gotta be mindful that moveable type and printing presses became popular because ‘that person’ could not go around the world and share their stories (or preach the same way as the first ‘mass published’ book was the Gutenberg bible…). But with the increase of technology, it is easier than ever thought possible for a person to tell a story and be heard AND seen by everybody (who has access to youtube). 

They even make the statement that englands “year of reading” is because of ‘the belief…that if young people don’t love reading, they won’t read’. Well, according to a check in my family – 2/5 of us love reading – and continue to read both for information and pleasure – whereas 3/5 did not develop a joy of reading, and don’t.  

I love how it tries to differentiate ‘joy/love’ of reading with a report from 2007 only mentioning ‘positive attitudes to reading were beneficial’… yeah… those that hate reading (or find it hard/challenging due to a variety of nerological differences : https://technolandy.com/2026/03/04/day-118-of-2025-26-reading-goals-are-you-factoring-in-the-way-the-brain-processes-text-some-thoughts-for-reading-improvement/

And then it goes on to shockingly mention how reading enjoyment is at its lowest level for 20 years… hmmm – increase in that most popular original format of communication: oral story telling via video shares.  It also links (though not mentioned) to an increase in using key blackline masters for that desired (by those writing the report) skill of reading for comprehension and a decrease in that resource/tool that seems to always be omitted in reading goals: librarian time.

The writers like to focus on the desired goal of DEAR (drop everything and read) but not mention the increased pressure to use specific reading tools to teach the reading – and thus (imo) boring practice. 

When they point out ‘kids who struggle with reading struggle with reading for pleasure’, I agree – but not in the way that they wish… they would like reading to be done whether they like it or not (to build the ‘more reading = better reader’ sentiment)… I agree because there are a lot of ways that varied brains process text that we have not done a good (any?) job addressing except in surface level ways (eg blue lenses for dyslexia!)

I also laughed at the statement that learners will read more when they see a purpose (terminology) and then say ‘reading for value’ is different… value/joy/rebellion/escape —> all kinda the same to me!

Yes, we explicitly teach the reading process (letters to words to sentences) but once we ‘learn to read’ and make the shift to ‘read to learn’ – that will need to be a pleasureable experience lest more eyes drift to oral/video media… 

Reading Wars Part 2: reading for extrinsic gratification (comprehension) vs reading because it brings intrinsic value (comprehension & interest & joy)