20 Best Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages

The 20 Best Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages

There are plenty of benefits that come with reading, but getting kids to read can sometimes be a challenge. Graphic novels are a great option to introduce your kids to if you want them to read more.

The illustrations can help children follow the fast-paced and interesting story and keep them more engaged than novels that consist of text alone.

These are the best graphic novels for kids of all ages!

Psst… Here’s your guide to navigating art museums in NYC!

Primary school

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

Ben Clanton

Age: 5-8

This creative story follows a carefree Narwhal and her down-to-earth friend Jelly the jellyfish. Although they don’t have much in common, they explore the ocean together and enjoy their love of waffles, parties and adventures.

This book is a favorite among children and the first book in the Narwhal and Jelly book series. Check out the newest installment of Narwhal and Jelly, released earlier this year!

Mr. Wolf’s class

Aron Nels Steinke

Age: 6-9

Mr. Wolf is a new teacher in grade 4 and this story is about his classroom on the first day of school. At school, Mr. Wolf and the students learn more about each other with their different personalities, go through ups and downs and even search for a lost classmate.

This colorful and entertaining book introduces many wonderful characters that children can identify with as they read the Mr. Wolf’s Class series.

Give the squirrels a donut

Mika Song

Age: 4-8

Norma and Belly are two squirrel best friends who will do anything for a donut. After burning their breakfast, they smell a delicious odor that turns out to be coming from a food truck selling donuts.

They begin to plot to get the delicious food by any means necessary, although it won’t be easy! It’s perfect for young new readers, and a great choice if your reader enjoyed the Narwhal and Jelly series.

Measuring

Lily LaMotte

Age: 8-12

Cici is a twelve-year-old girl who recently moved from Taiwan to Seattle. Her grandmother, A-má, is about to celebrate her 70th birthday, and Cici wants to celebrate with her. Since A-má is still in Taiwan, Cici signs up for a cooking contest so she can win the prize and buy her grandmother’s plane ticket.

But Cici can only cook Taiwanese food, so she sets out to create a winning recipe. Follow Cici as she tries to fit in with her new friends, find herself, and adjust to life in Seattle.

El Doof: A Graphic novel

Cece Bell

Age: 7-10

Cece, a girl with a giant hearing aid, faces the challenge of starting at a new school. She discovers that her hearing aid gives her superpowers, allowing her to hear her teacher throughout the school. Despite feeling lonely, she tries to use her powers to find a true friend. “El Deafo” is a book that entertains children and provides a hero for hearing impaired children.

Unicorn Boy

Dave Romans

Age: 8-12

The Unremarkable Life of Brian Reyes takes an unexpected turn when a unicorn horn grows on his head. With the help of his friend Avery, Brian faces strange events and embraces his destiny to save Avery from dark creatures. Unicorn Boy, by Dave Roman, introduces a charming cast of characters who deal with everyday problems and magical destinies.

Investigators: Agents of SUIT: From Badger to Worse

John Patrick Groen

Age: 7-10

In the second part of AGENTS OF SUIT, Bongo and Marsha’s B-TEAM is sent to Bora Bora to investigate a case at a tropical resort. The super-spy Badgers are known for their extravagant spending on gadgets and spy vehicles, but this time are taxed cracking a pineapple-flavored caper the old-fashioned way. The bees that run the resort are hiding something beneath the tropical sand, and Bongo and Marsha are on the case to unravel the mystery.

Taylor Swift

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Age: 3-9

Read the inspiring story of Taylor Swift, a talented singer-songwriter who pursued her passion for music from a young age. This book is part of a bestselling children’s biography series called “Little People, BIG DREAMS,” which highlights the lives of extraordinary people and offers inspiring messages to children of all ages.

Secondary school

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney

Age: 11-13

This classic graphic novel follows Greg as he enters high school. The novel is written in the form of a diary, in which Greg writes about life at school, where he is one of the little weaklings in the hallways filled with taller, meaner kids.

Greg’s friend Rowley is also part of the not-so-cool group, until he becomes more popular and Greg tries to use this to his advantage. The first of seventeen books (with an eighteenth coming out in October!) in the hit series of the same name, this novel is a must-read for pre-teens!

Big apple

Alyssa Bermudez

Age: 11-13

Set in New York City in the year 2000, this story centers on 12-year-old Alyssa who divides her time between her father in Manhattan and her mother in Queens.

As the story unfolds, Alyssa talks about life as a high school student, boys, fashion, and living in NYC. The story then leads to the changes she experiences after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and realizing what really matters after such a tragic event.

Fly on the wall

Remy Lai

Age: 11-13

12-year-old Henry Khoo is treated like a baby by his family. He can’t go anywhere without his older sister accompanying him.

But Henry is going to prove his independence to his parents: after a family trip to visit his father in Singapore is canceled, Henry sets out on a solo trip to the other side of the world.

This exciting story teaches children about family and friend relationships and also contains many funny and entertaining moments.

Smile

Regena Telgemeier

Age: 9-13

In addition to the normal issues that teenagers face during their high school years, sixth grader Raina also deals with many dental problems.

After falling and damaging her two front teeth, Raina has to go through a long process of braces, surgeries, embarrassing headgear and a set of false teeth, which jeopardizes her social life at school.

She also talks about boy trouble, fake friends and more prepubescent issues. It is an autobiographical must-read full of funny and touching moments.

Go with the flow

Lily Williams

Age: 9-12

High school friends Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha notice that their school, Hazelton High, is not putting enough effort into women’s health. The friends decide to start a revolution and make a difference.

That won’t be easy, because they also have to deal with crushes, classes and school life. The book is about menstruation, a typical taboo subject, but also teaches readers about activism and friendship.

The New Girl: A Graphic Novel

Cassandra Calin

Age: 9-12

“The New Girl” is a heartwarming graphic novel for middle grades that follows Lia’s experiences as she immigrates to a new country, and deals with the challenges of adjusting to a new home, a new language, and her first period. The story beautifully captures the struggles of change and the journey to acceptance, inspired by the own immigration experience.

Survival Scout: Lost in the Mountains

Maxwell Eaton

Age: 8-12

The first installment in the Survival Scout graphic novel series follows Scout as she weathers natural disasters and offers valuable survival tips. The story takes readers through Scout’s trials in the mountains as she shows them how to survive when lost in the wilderness. The book offers a step-by-step guide, including inventorying resources, finding shelter, building a fire, signaling for help, and securing food and water.

Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces

Carlos Sanchez

Age: 8-12

Join Chiri, a fun-loving super chef, and her best friend Dai as they embark on an exciting adventure filled with magic, danger and friendship. After a failed quest, they find themselves in the secret kingdom of Puddin’, where they must befriend witches, bards, ogres and wizards to find their way back home. With the looming threat of the Thousand Faces Monster and the darkness that has awakenedTheir journey promises to be exciting and full of unexpected twists.

Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom

Braden Hallett

Age: 8-12

The Ravensbarrow series is a humorous and exciting new book series that begins with “Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom.” The story follows Teddy, a nervous young boy, as he navigates a strange new school filled with zombie-like students and brain-eating hamsters. Together with a group of misfits, Teddy unravels the supernatural mysteries of Ravensbarrow in this action-packed horror comedy series.

Secondary school

Himawari House

Harmony Becker

Age: 14-18

Nao has returned to Tokyo to rediscover her Japanese heritage and has decided to live in Himawari House. Here she meets Hyejung and Tina, two girls who, like her, want to shape their lives in Japan.

The story follows the struggles of moving to a new country, as the characters miss home and struggle with their identity. This beautiful story teaches its readers the importance of friendship when times are tough and you feel out of place.

Hey, kid

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Age: 13-17

Jarret Krosoczka lives with his loud and loving grandparents. His mother is an addict who has been in and out of rehab for most of his life, and his father is also out of the picture. Jarret’s childhood is far from normal, but his grandparents try to make it as normal as possible.

In his teenage years, he begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together, to understand his mother’s situation and to track down his father. Based on Krosoczka’s own life, it is a profound story about children growing up with parents struggling with addiction who are not there.

Long way down

Jason Reynolds

Age: 14-18

After the murder of his brother Shawn, fifteen-year-old Will is looking for one thing: revenge. He takes his dead brother’s gun and heads to the elevator to find the person he believes is responsible for Shawn’s death.

During the elevator ride and at each stop he meets more people who could be involved and he starts adding more pieces to the story. This exciting story is a page turner that keeps you wanting to know more!