The top 18 picks for our Graphic Novel series
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi
After their father dies, Emily and Navin find a new home with their mother where their great-great-grandfather used to live. But far from being a peaceful retreat from their grief, this house is full of new fears, including a basement dwelling creature that lures their mother into a magical underground world. Obviously, they follow her through. And obviously there is no shortage of adventures that await.
Babymouse series by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
This is the most beloved graphic novels for kids series at our house – I think Ella has read them all at least two or three times. They’re so cute and they’re are a LOT of them. This duo also wrote the Squish series which has also been a hit at our house and has more boy appeal than the all-pink Babymouse series.
Binky series by Ashley Spires
I love the true wackiness of this graphic novel series, with Binky, a cat who sees everything around him through a different lens than the rest of the world. We’d probably call that buzzing thing a bug, but he’s convinced it’s an alien invader. As one does.
Big Nate Series bk. #1 – The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World by
One school morning, Nate barely survives his Dad’s toxic porridge before rushing off to school, forgetting his lunch. He thinks he has a test and he hasn’t studied for it!
Nate Wright is a rebellious eleven-year-old who is convinced that he is a genius destined for greatness. Despite any evidence to the contrary (for example, being the all-time record holder for detentions in school history), his belief in his destiny is unshakeable. After all, he read it in a fortune cookie, so it must be true.
Whether it is as a talented comic book artist, the self-proclaimed king of the class or the motivational leader of the school sports team, Nate approaches everything with reckless confidence and resolute enthusiasm. Nate will not let anything get in his way, even if it means landing in detention AGAIN.
Bird & Squirrel series – Bird and Squirrel outwit Cat by James Burks
Bird and Squirrel outwit Cat and become best friends in this zany adventure. Squirrel is afraid of his own shadow. Bird doesn’t have a care in the world. And Cat wants to eat Bird and Squirrel. Of course, he’ll have to catch them first, and that’s not going to be easy.Join this trio as they head south for the winter in a hilarious road trip. But watch out! Cat is waiting around every bend, and he’s one pesky feline.
BONE #1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith
The first book in Jeff Smith’s New York Times bestselling, award-winning graphic novel series featuring an unlikely hero who must save an idyllic valley from the forces of evil.After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins — Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone — are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures. Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran’ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!
CatStronauts by Drew Brockington
I think one thing that’s so appealing about graphic novels for kids is that they just lend themselves so easily to a little bit of silliness, in a way another format doesn’t. In this one, the fate of the world depends on the CatStronauts setting up a solar power plant on the moon to solve the global energy crisis. Fortunately, this feline crew is more than up to the task in this world where everyone is a cat and EVERYONE wants a tuna sandwich.
The Flying Beaver Brothers by Maxwell Eaton
Ella’s review of this graphic novel series: “It is VERY far-fetched. But it’s also really funny.” I mean, when two beavers start battling it out with penguins who want to turn their island paradise into a frozen resort? What else would you expect?
Hamster Princess by Ursula Vernon
Ella currently claims this as her favorite graphic novel series. They’re more robust than most of the other graphic novels for kids on this list, clocking in at around 250 pages per book and they’re hilarious rodent retellings of famous fairy tales.
Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
This was the first graphic novels for kids series I ever read and I remember clearly reading it on the train in Boston and thinking, “This is SO clever.” The black and white with yellow color scheme is so appealing and it’s full of nutty adventures and hilarious crime-fighting tools from lunch lady supplies. I’ve never met a child who didn’t love these.
Narwhal and Jelly Book series by Ben Clanton
These are the perfect introductory graphic novels for kids. They have three little stories, brief text and large illustrations. And they are hilarious – I was reading one aloud to my girls in the backseat while my in-laws were visiting and everyone was chuckling along at the antics of these underwater friends.
Owly series by Andy Runton
Poor little Owly. He’s so sweet, but he’s so lonely. All he really wants is a friend. And in this two-part graphic novel, he might just find one.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
Raise your hand if you have a small unicorn lover at your house? I’ve got three and this book was a smash hit. Everything in this book happened by accident when Phoebe skipped a rock across the water and, entirely by mistake, smacked a unicorn in the face. And who knew that this leads to getting a wish granted? Possibly the best part is that the unicorn’s name is Marigold Heavenly Nostrils.
Squish Series – Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm
It’s SQUISH—a graphic novel series about a comic book-loving, twinkie-eating grade school AMOEBA trying to find his place in the world (or at least trying to make it through a school day). Inspired by his favorite comic book hero, SUPER AMOEBA!, Squish has to navigate school (bullies! detention! Principal Planaria!), family (dad: Hates to wear a tie. Secretly listens to heavy metal in the car), and friends (Peggy-rainbows! happy all the time! and Pod . . . who’s . . . well, you just have to meet him). Can Squish save the world—and his friends—from the forces of evil lurking in the hallways? Find out in Squish: Super Amoeba—saving the world, one cell at a time!
Tiny Titans Vol. 1: Welcome to the Treehouse
You’ll see what life is like for the very young heroes of Sidekick Elementary and learn what could go wrong when the kids of Sidekick Elementary spend an afternoon in the Batcave in this new graphic novel.
These all ages tales from the DC Universe, beautifully written and illustrated by Art Baltazar and Franco, will entertain new readers and seasoned fans of comics.
13 story Treehouse – The Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths
If your child lives for slapstick, this graphic novel series is for them. Andy and Terry live in a treehouse with thirteen stories. It also has a swimming pool and a bowling alley and it keeps getting bigger and better as the duo add more stories. Chocolate waterfall, anyone?
The Witch Boy Series #bk. 2 – Hidden Witch by
Aster and his family are adjusting to his unconventional talent for witchery; unlike the other boys in his family, he isn’t a shapeshifter. He’s taking classes with his grandmother and helping to keep an eye on his great-uncle whose corrupted magic wreaked havoc on the family. Meanwhile, Aster’s friend from the non-magical part of town, Charlie, is having problems of her own — a curse has tried to attach itself to her. She runs to Aster and escapes it, but now the friends must find the source of the curse before more people — normal and magical alike — get hurt.