Graphic novels are all the rage. From preschoolers to adults and everyone in between graphic novels are being published by the truckload – and for good reason! Kids love them.
They are vibrant and colorful like a picture book but with that chapter book heft that feels mature. For kids who are new readers, slower readers or who struggle with learning to read, graphic novels are less threatening than a chapter book with endless words. And they capture the magic of picture books where the illustrations and words work together to tell a story, but their format allows for longer more complicated storylines.
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The trouble I suppose, is finding the best ones. Often they are checked out at the library, although ours has increased their supply of graphic novels significantly. Like with all book borrowing and book buying, it can be hard to know which ones are best. Which ones can you gift and make a kid smile? Which ones will appeal to your little reader? My kids are absolutely graphic novel obsessed and have read any and all I can get my hands on – so we have I suppose done the work for you. Below are the ones they love the most. The ones they re-read frequently and look the most loved and worn on their shelves.
Graphic Novels for Younger Elementary Schoolers
Bear
by Ben Queen & Joe Todd-Stanton
This is somewhere between a picture book and chapter book. Billed for 4-6 year olds, I would argue kids a little older would enjoy as well. It is a large square format and 160 pages long. It’s the story of a guide dog who loses his vision which leads to a grand adventure in the wild. Warm and fast paced. Find Online
Kraken Me Up
by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Holiday House has a series of I LIKE TO READ COMIC that are essentially easy readers in graphic novel form. The text is brief and they aren’t super thick, but they are written and illustrated like graphic novels. This one is about Izzie and her very unusual pet, a kraken. Find Online
Pizza and Taco series
by Stephen Shaskan
PIZZA AND TACO is great for 5-8 year olds. This is a super fun series that will make kids laugh, even though the text is super brief. Find Online
Bird and Squirrel series
by James Burks
These hilarious graphic novels are about a fearless bird and fearful squirrel who go on a big adventure. The one pictured above is the first in the series and there are others that are equally as hilarious and entertaining. My kids fell absolutely in love with these two hilarious characters when they were in kindergarten so I think younger kids can enjoy these adventurous tales too. Find Series Online
Dogman
Likely this is already on your radar. These slightly over the top ridiculous books are plentiful and loved by kids everywhere. This was one of the first my son read and he was hooked. Find Online
Super Turbo series
by Edgar Powers
This is about a pet hamster who is also a SUPERPET! Each page has about five speech bubbles on it. Written for 5-9 year olds, this is a little beyond the earliest reader but it has sparse text and lots of action in the illustrations. Find Online
Pup Detectives series
by Felix Gumpaw
A pack of friends face down the worst mysteries of elementary school in this series of graphic novels. Simple text, lots of action, with cute animal characters. Find Online
Catstronauts
Catstronauts is along the same goofy lines as Dogman and the Bird and Squirrel series. It is about cats who are astronauts. It’s super silly and there is again a whole series of them. Find Online
Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly series
by Jordan Quinn
Fantasy for younger elementary school readers. These graphic novels are about a young dragon prince who is launched into adventure to save his kingdom. Find Online
Lost in NYC by Nadja Spiegelman
This is a graphic novel that follows a crazy underground adventure of a class of children. The details. The colors. The glimpse at NYC. Loved it. Find Online
Science Comic Series
Of all the graphic novels we own, these are the ones my kids agree on the most. They both absolutely love these. If your kid is a nonfiction reader these are amazing. They are each on a different nonfiction topic; cats and dogs, space, anatomy, etc. They are written in a graphic novel style but they are nonfiction and have a ton of science information packed into them. Find Online
Show Me History
For nonfiction fans, this is another great series. It has a growing list of titles about people throughout history. My kids both love these as well and they’ve been a great addition to our Social Studies learning as well. Find Online
Graphic Novels for Upper Elementary & Beyond
Sort of Super
by Eric Gapstur
SORT OF SUPER is a debut graphic novel about a middle schoolers who accidentally obtains super powers. Wyatt wants to be a superhero but his dad says he’s too young. Together Wyatt and his brilliant younger sister, Adeline, become a crime fighting duo despite their dad’s reservations. Their story has humor, friendship, a great sibling relationship and fast paced adventure. Wyatt is a completely relatable, realistic kid – aside from the whole flying, speedy, invisible stuff and Adeline is smart and endearingly mischievous. This graphic novel is fantastic fun for the middle grade crowd.
Babysitter’s Club
based on the novels by Ann M. Martin
I get all the nostalgic feelings from these remakes of the original Babysitter’s Club books, told in graphic novel form. These are incredibly well interpreted from the original stories. They follow the same plot lines and the art is well done. I’d save these for third graders and up. Find Online
Drama
by Raina Telgemeier
I think it’s fair to call Raina Telgemeier the queen of graphic novels for young girls. If you have a girl aged 7-12 then it’s a safe bet to buy Telgemeier’s newest as the next gift for your daughter. My daughter and her friends have read them all over and over. She gets this age group and their emotions and situations so well. Find Online
When Stars Are Scattered
While most graphic novels that kids read seem to lean towards pure comedy, this one is more serious but so well written, gorgeously illustrated and filled with heart. It is best for upper elementary school (third + most likely) and tells the story of two boys in a refugee camp. It is incredibly well done. Find Online
Witches of Brooklyn
by Sophie Escabasse
Another series (isn’t that always a delight to find!) that my daughter adores. She has re-read this one more times than I can count. Find Online
Truly Tyler
by Terri Libenson
This is a book in the Emmie & Friends series. They are all stories about friendship, figuring out who you are, being you that are great for 8-12 year olds. This one my kids both liked, but my daughter has read the whole series. Find Online
Allergic
by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter
My kids both really related to this one. We have severe allergies in our house and my kids both love animals so Maggie was someone they related to easily. Find Online
To Dance
by Siena Cherson Siegel
artwork by Mark Siegel
TO DANCE is a must read for any aspiring dancer. Siegel beautifully describes the demanding work and the commitment required to become a ballerina, but she also shares how she dreamed dance and how it was an escape from her home life. Seeing ballet through her eyes is an entirely different experience. The words are transformed to movement through the graphic style illustrations. This is the re-released, refreshed and expanded edition of the Sibert Honor-winning graphic novel. It is a moving, inspiring story of pursuing your passion and about a great love of dance. Best for 8-14 year olds. Find Online
The Runaway Princess
by Johan Troianowski
This is about a princess who is bored of “princess-ing” and sets off on her own adventure. If your kid loves Princess in Black this is a fun next step. Sweet, funny, and entertaining. Find Online
The Science of Surfing
by Kim Dwinell
Calling all surfing fans. My son discovered a love of surfing last summer and it’s been a fun sport for him to explore. This book is a great nonfiction guide to surfing. Find Online
The Okay Witch
by Emma Steinkellner
This graphic novel blew me away. First, it is the story of a young girl who doesn’t fit in and then discovers that she is the descendant of witches which is a creative context to blend past and present. Next, the element of magic is playful and just the right touch of fantasy, but it is truly the characters and relationships that propel this story forward and grab your heart. A compelling story, THE OKAY WITCH is well paced and hard to put down and there is now a sequel. Find Online
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy
Little Women fans, this is a modern retelling of this beloved story and it’s really well done. This was (accidentally) my daughter’s first exposure to the story. Although I would have probably preferred her to read the original first, she loved this and it did lead her to want to read the original – so maybe it all worked out the way it was supposed to. The art and story are great. Find Online
Isla to Island
by Alexis Castellanos
Powerful heart filled graphic novel that tells the story of a girl immigrating from Cuba to America on her own to live with foster parents. The lush illustrations help you feel all of the emotions as this easy to love main character mourns her losses, explores her new world, and ultimately finds her place.
