10+ Graphic Novels for Kids

A collection of 10+ graphic novels for kids. Engaging, captivating, educational and fun to read for early readers.

It’s no secret that we’re a book-loving family. Curling up in bed with a book at the end of the day is truly something I look forward to all day long and one of my very favorite moments of the day. Thankfully, we have three boys who also adore books and reading, though the learning-to-read phase wasn’t one our oldest boys dove right into without some help.

Both Chase and Ryder have eased into longer books through graphic novels, something I wholeheartedly support, as I remember first falling in love with reading through Garfield comics. (Yes, really! From there, I transitioned to chapter books and was an avid reader all through middle school, high school and beyond.) The pictures and texts in graphic novels are often more stimulating for new readers or reluctant readers and we’ve found a handful of graphic novels that have absolutely captivated our kids over the years.

I’m sharing this blog post hot on the heels of my Best Picture Books roundup of books we’ve loved reading to our boys in their younger years, so be sure to check that one out if you have children who adore quality picture books. Coming up next: My roundup of early reader chapter books we’ve loved!

Graphic Novels for Kids

When it comes to the graphic novels for kids I’m sharing today, the series of graphic novels featured below are all “picky parent approved” as I’m “that” mom who hates children’s books that include name calling or kids who are disrespectful to each other or adults. They’re not scary and are simply children’s graphic novels that are written in a way to captivate young readers. They’re also age-appropriate, fun to read, colorful, imaginative and playful.

What Is a Graphic Novel

A graphic novel is a book that tells a story using both illustrations and text. They can be similar to a comic book, but are typically longer and include a more complete narrative. Graphic novels for kids often feature age-appropriate themes, simple dialog between characters and captivating pictures.

Graphic novels have been a game changer for our boys when they’re in the “sticky spot” of learning to read; the spot where they’ve outgrown your basic beginning reader books but aren’t quite ready for young reader chapter books yet. One thing we’ve also noticed: Graphic novels are the books that our boys reach for over and over again in a way they don’t with more traditional chapter books. They have the same allure of picture books for our kids so we’ve taken to buying complete series of their favorite graphic novels because they read them every single night before bed. I cannot tell you how many times our kids have made their way through the Press Start!, Owl Diaries and Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly Series.

Are Graphic Novels Good for Kids

I’ve talked with my third grader’s teacher about this at length because, at 9-years-old, Chase still adores graphic novels. (He will also read chapter books but will gravitate toward graphic novels over others if given the choice.) She’s reassured me time and time again that graphic novels are wonderful for young readers for a myriad of reasons.

Improve Reading Skills

Graphic novels for kids combine text and visuals, helping children expand their vocabulary, reading comprehension and reading stamina in an engaging way.

Encourage a Love of Reading

This is HUGE in my book! When you see your kids reach for a book on their own as their own source of entertainment and genuinely enjoy the time they spend lost in the pages of their graphic novel, it feels incredible, especially if your kids has been a bit of a reluctant reader. The illustrations and fast-paced storytelling in graphic novels make them so engaging, especially for readers who may find young reader chapter books intimidating.

Support Different Reading and Learning Styles

Not kid learns the same way and not every kid learns to read the same way. For kids who prefer a more visual style of learning, graphic novels can be a lot more stimulating and a little easier for young readers to understand and enjoy.

Introducing Complex Themes in an Accessible Way

This is one of the coolest things about graphic novels to me. In the graphic novels our boys have loved, we’ve seen themes about friendship, determination, group dynamics, perseverance and diversity addressed in a way that makes them easier for kids to understand. The Owl Diaries series in particular is amazing at covering important themes in a fun and understandable way.

Graphic Novels for Kids: Our Favorites

• Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott

The sweetest series, Owl Diaries is one of the first graphic novels our two oldest kids loved as young readers. It’s great for both boys and girls and, as a parent, I love that it covers topics like friendship dynamics, feeling nervous, trying new skills, etc. in a kid-friendly way that feels fun and engaging. We own every single book in this series and it was well worth it for us to buy them because they’ve been some of the boys’ most re-read graphic novels.

• Unicorn Diaries by Rebecca Elliott

Unicorn Diaries is very similar to Owl Diaries and just as colorfully fun! In this series a group of young unicorns have various magical powers and must work together to earn special patches after they master certain skills. It’s imaginative and creative and a great series for early readers who still prefer lots of pictures. (Note: Our boys prefer Owl Diaries over Unicorn Diaries, but they’re very similar.)

• Press Start! by Thomas Flintham

I first discovered the Press Start! books when I volunteered to read with kids Chase’s first grade class. I am not lying when I say 95 percent of the boys in is class came up to me with a Press Start! book from their classroom library in their hands to read together because they were all absolutely obsessed. Each action-packed book in the series follows Super Rabbit Boy, a video-game character in a video-game world, out to stop the evil (but not-at-all-scary) King Viking. These books are some kind of magic for kids, especially reluctant readers, and seem to absolutely captivate them.

One small disclaimer: They’re annoying to read as an adult. Well, Ryan doesn’t think so but I don’t love reading them aloud because of all the thought bubbles (I prefer the seamless flow of a more traditional novel) BUT for kids reading alone, they’re an absolute dream and hold their attention so, so well. Anything that gets my kids to park their butts on the couch and excitedly dive into a book is a WIN for me! Chase (9) and Ryder (6) both adore them and they’re the books they both reach for to flip through before bed more than any other books we have in our house.

• Arcade World by Nate Bitt, Illustrated by Glass House Graphics

For kids who like Press Start!, Arcade World is another winning set of graphic novels. In this series, video games come alive at Arcade World and the two best friends who have the top scores in most of the video games suddenly find themselves inside the games they know so well.

• Diary of a Pug by Kyla May

• Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan Quinn, Illustrated by Glass House Graphics

Dragon lovers will flip for this series! (Note: This is a great one for kids as they get older as Chase — currently in 3rd grade — loves it!) Ruskin is the pet dragon of the Prince of Wrenly and has never ventured outside of the palace until one day when a young dragon visits the palace begging for help after an evil curse was unleashed on their kingdom. Determined to help, Ruskin makes the brave decision to join his new friend but the mission is much more complicated and dangerous than either of them imagined. This is another one of those can’t-put-down series of graphic novels for our big kids.

• The Party Diaries

After reading the very first book in this series with the boys, I knew it would be a hit. I adore the way the series not only captivates young readers but, as a parent, I appreciate the way it also highlights some of Priya’s feelings, her introversion and her nerves as she goes after a goal that’s important to her in the first book. It’s a great series for kids that feels fun but it also incorporates a sprinkle of not-too-obvious emotional intelligence education which I love for our boys to be exposed to through reading.

• InvestiGators by John Patrick Green

The InvestiGators series was a library find for our family that quickly became a set of graphic novels our boys devoured. In this series, a team of alligators use fancy spy technology and silly tricks to solve mysteries together. It’s a funny series that is presented comic-book style, making it particularly good for the boys before their reading was as proficient since they could still follow along through pictures.

• Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

One of my teacher friends recommended Mighty Jack to Chase when I said how much he enjoyed graphic novels and it was a spot-on recommendation because he flew through this series. It’s another one older kids who love action and adventure will enjoy (Chase is 9 and still very much loves it). Mighty Jack discovers a magical garden in his backyard filled with otherworldly creatures and Jack, along with his sister, Maddy, and friend Lilly, must battle plants and creatures to protect their world.

• Dog Man by Dave Pilkey

You know a series is a hit when both kids come home from school the day of the book fair disappointed because the latest book in the series they had their eye on was completely sold out. Dog Man has an enormous following and you can count our kids among Dog Man’s biggest fans. I asked Chase to describe Dog Man for you guys and he said, “Dog Man is really funny and exciting and he fights evil villains in a crazy way.” He’s part-dog, part-human police officer and goes on crime-fighting adventures that crack our boys up along the way.