Reviewers' Roundtable- Graphic Novels

The Reviewers' Roundtable is a weekly discussion feature hosted by me and Emily from Read Your Bookcase.  Each week we discuss a different bookish/blogging topic and hope you guys will share your thoughts too! 

Go HERE to find a list of past/future topics.

The Hosts:

Emily at Read Your Bookcase

Michelle at Pink Polka Dot Book Blog

Thoughts on Graphic Novels

So I've never read a graphic novel.  But when I go to the library I see that section becoming more and more packed with books.  From my understanding "The Graphic Novel" is really just a fancy way of saying comic book and more and more bestselling novels are being made into these graphic novels.

I can totally see how these books can be a really good thing.  There are a lot of reluctant child/tween/teen readers out there... add in with that that we live in a very visual society.  So I can see how these graphic novels would appeal to educators and parents to get kids interested in books.  I think it's a fabulous idea.

My son actually came home with a Lego Star Wars graphic novel recently and I read it to him.  He loved it and I found it just as good as reading a regular picture book to him.  I can see him getting into the GN's that they have out for elementary kids when he learns how to read.

I'm not really sure what purpose some of the older YA books being made into GN's is.  I guess maybe it's the same principle.  I don't think it's something I'm going to be interested in... although contemporary books wouldn't really make awesome Graphic Novels, so I don't think I'm the right audience.  I wouldn't mind reading the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel.

Here are some YA books that have been made into graphic novels:

• The House of Night series
• Hush, Hush
• Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children
• The Twilight series
• The Vampire Academy series
• The Infernal Devices series
• Blue Bloods
• Millennium series (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
• Maximum Ride series

These were ones I thought looked cute for MG and younger:

• Smile by Raina Telgemeier
• The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
• Bone by Jeff Smith

So now I want to know: what do you think of the graphic novel trend?  Do you read them or know someone who does? Do you have any you would recommend to me or for my son (he's 5)?