Read Across America with JY: Introducing Joe Pascullo

JY is celebrating Read Across America and the importance of books for kids by highlighting some of our partners and the tremendous work they do! We’re excited to introduce Joe Pascullo, a librarian at New York Public Library.

Check out what they have to say about graphic novels and reading the Q&A below!

Why are graphic novels/comics good for kids?

Graphic novels are essential for kids! Visual learning is a fantastic way for younger readers to conceptualize, learn about, and retain information, and graphic novels are a fun and entertaining way to do so!

Why do you love most about being the children’s books/middle-grade space?

I think it would be watching kids flock to certain sections of the library and plucking certain titles off the shelves to read them in our space. Watching young kids find so much enjoyment in the act of reading is one of the best things about our jobs as library workers!

What are your tips to make reading more fun?

I think making sure kids are reading things they actually have an interest in and want to read is paramount to make the act of reading a fun one for kids.

What are some myths you hear about graphic novels/comics and how would you respond to them?

I’ve definitely heard all of the myths! “Reading graphic novels doesn’t count as ‘real’ reading.”, also all the ones about what demographics should be reading comic books, and what ones shouldn't. I would say to ignore all that noise! Reading is reading, regardless of the medium, and comics and graphic novels are for EVERYONE!!

How would you encourage celebrating reading all year long?

I think there are various ways to do this. One would be to participate in a regularly scheduled book discussion club, another could be to create personal goals for oneself when it comes to their annual reading output. Of course, supporting your local library is something I’ll never discourage people to do!