Laughing is good for you. Everybody knows that. But comic writing does more than make us laugh. It possesses the ability to lower our barriers – to ‘break the ice’, so to speak. For reluctant readers, this is key. Their apathy and trepidation towards reading can be dispelled by the ease and informality of comic fiction, making them feel comfortable and reinforcing the idea that reading can be a pain-free experience – even a fun one!

One important way to engage reluctant readers is to create characters that are both authentic and relatable. Our Gigglers series, Plunkett Street School, is set in a familiar environment – a school. In addition, characters from the same class appear in each story, so readers can really get to know them. There is a helpful ‘class picture’ at the beginning of each book to remind readers of their faces, and to draw them into the story from the outset

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These zany stories are complemented by colourful, imaginative pictures, an easy-to-read layout, an illustrated glossary, questions on the narrative and extra activities. They are aimed at those with an interest age of 9-13 and a reading age of just 8-9.

These stories can also be used to support PSHE, so are informative as well as humorous. Humour is a great basis for imparting knowledge, as the late, great Terry Pratchett said when he won the 2001 Carnegie Medal:

“Laughter can get through the keyhole while seriousness is still hammering on the door. New ideas can ride in on the back of a joke, old ideas can be given an added edge.”

Our Plunkett Street School series uses humour to relate to PSHE and even grammar and spelling, and does so using the perspective of some really unique characters, who will hopefully draw reluctant readers into their world with ease.

Another Badger Learning comedy series is the brilliant Alien Detective Agency. The wit and charm of the main characters combined with the other-worldly settings will enthral and amuse any reader.

We are sure you will agree that nothing seems as difficult if it makes you laugh, and we hope our comical publications will be a step on the road to discovering the joys of reading.

Written by Claire Morgan, Publishing Assistant