Reading the Visual: An Introduction to Teaching Multimodal Literacy

(Book Review)

Abstract

This is a book review of the book, Reading the Visual: An Introduction to Teaching Multimodal Literacy by Frank Serafini. It is a 189-page book published in 2014 by Teachers College Press. It discusses the evolving concept of literacy in the age of multimodality. Organized into three parts and framed by a prologue and an epilogue, the book begins with an introduction that sets the stage for understanding the multimodal world and its relevance to educators. The first part lays a theoretical foundation for multimodality, guiding educators in their instructional approaches. The second part presents a practical framework for engaging with multimodal texts, highlighting the significance of picture books in literacy education and exploring how students can interact with various multimodal formats both as consumers and producers. The final part examines ten distinct types of multimodal ensembles, including diverse formats like picture books (postmodern, wordless, historical fiction, informational), illustrated novels, graphic novels, cartoons, comics, advertisements, news reports, films, and digital media. In the closure, a helpful glossary provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of multimodal configurations and visual meaning-making systems.