An Illinois teacher awarded a $500 grant to stock his school library with comic books and graphic novels said they improve reading skills.

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R.J. Casey, a fifth-grade teacher at Adolph Link Elementary School in Elk Grove, said the size of the comic book club he heads after school led him to seek the grant as a way to augment the school's supply of 70 graphic novels to bolster interest in reading, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

Casey said the club has proven especially beneficial to "reluctant readers."

"In doing research, I found what an up and coming thing (comic books) are in education. They're getting someone excited to read," he said.

The teacher said club members have also made their own comic books and he has brought in local artists to speak to the group.

"It's my passion to get graphic novels into education," he said. "It's my passion because I'm a comic book nerd."

Principal John Schmetzer said graphic literature can serve as a gateway to get students interested in reading other types of books.

"It's a motivator for them," he said. "We want to have kids used to reading."