Comics and manga (Japanese comics) have become mainstays of youth literature in out-of-school time (OST) programs. These books, which combine [Page 99]visual imagery and narrative text, enable young readers to get excited about reading and writing because of the dynamic pictures, intriguing story lines, and opportunities for creative expression. OST programs have also found that comics and manga are drastically different from the literature that youths typically read in school. Therefore, in the effort to engage youths in reading and writing outside the school classroom, OST practitioners use comics as a pathway to authentic engagement in the development of literacy skills. Furthermore, comics and manga have been demonstrated to improve the literacy skills of struggling readers and writers. OST programs aid the literacy development of ...