My 7 year old was different from the child I thought I’d have in so many ways. She’s an amazing person and fully her own self. One thing that I didn’t realize she would love and introduce me to is the graphic novel genre. I had read Persepolis and The Watchmen but had no idea there are graphic novels for kids. Thank goodess there are! They are an excellent way to experience stories and a great strategy for reluctant readers as well. These are some of our absolute favorites.
The DC Comic SuperHero Girls Super Hero High School books are the first non-picture books that my kid wanted to read. We started reading them to her when she was 5 and she has re-read all of them several times. Written by Shea Fontana and illustrated and colored by Yancy Labart, Agnes Garbowska, Marcelo Dichiara, Silvana Brys, they are excellent for kids who like action, aren’t afraid of villains, and like a female empowerment message. It was also really fun for my husband, who has loved comics as well, to read these with her and see the parallels to the super hero comics he read as a kid. Her favorite is Search for Atlantis . Check out my Bookshop store’s “SuperHero Girls List” for a full list of them!
Recommended for kids aged 5-12.
I was all in on the BabySitters Club books as a kid and I was thrilled to rediscover them in our library. My kids passed until we stumbled upon the graphic novel version of Kristy’s Big Idea and now both of my kids and I read them together. It is so fun for me to see how the characters and storylines have been updated and also how try they are to the original text. Both of my kids are able to follow the story because of the images. The best parts of the books are still present- fun text features like the BSC notebook entries, the values of responsibility, friendship, and honesty. They even come in a boxed set! We have also checked out the Netflix show which updates the story lines even more and has been so fun to watch as we read!
Recommended for kids aged 7-14, though my 4 year old is super into them, too.
We were already big fans of Aaron Blabey’s picture books, so when we found out about The Bad Guys books, we had to check them out. They are really great for kids who like action and can understand some sarcasm and families who don’t mind a little potty humor. In the first book, The Bad Guys, readers meet a wolf, shark, piranha, snake who are determined to turn their reputations as Bad Guys around. They set out to do this by freeing 200 dogs from the pound and hilarity ensues. The subsequent books follow their misadventures as they work to be Good.
Recommended for kids ages 5-10.
Kelly Starling Lyons and Vanessa Brantley Newton’s Jada Jones series begins with Jada Jones: Rockstar. Readers meet Jada as she is figuring out how to move forward after her best friend, Mari, moves away. She and Mari loved collecting rocks together at school and Jada isn’t sure she’ll find another friend who likes she same things she does. We love that, while not necessarily a graphic novel, most pages have images to help reader comprehension and interest, and the lessons about supporting each other, being a good friend, and processing a loss are really important for kids. This series is one of my 4 year old’s favorites, actually, and we are eager to read the rest of them! You can find several in my “Chapter Books we Love” list in my Bookshop store.
Recommended for ages 7 – 12 though my 4 year old likes them!
What other graphic novels do the kids in your life love? Drop a comment to share!
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