From fantasies to real-life stories, these graphic novels for kids will quickly become the favorites of young readers
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15 Best Graphic Novels for Kids, According to a Book Reviewer
Updated on Nov. 25, 2024
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Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Recommended for ages: 7+
Garlic is content to garden and work at the farmers market with her vegetable friends and the caring Witch Agnes. Well, not quite content—she’s actually a nervous anthropomorphized bulb. But when a vampire turns up in a castle in town, all the vegetables think it makes sense that garlic, with her natural protections, should go and fight him. Which means she’s going on an adventure, whether she’s ready or not.
Garlic and the Vampire, first published in 2021, is such a unique, adorable vampire book to explore themes of bravery and individuality. Young readers will likely connect with Garlic’s reluctance to make her first journey alone, though more adventurous bookworms may revel in the descriptions of the quest itself.
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The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill
Recommended for ages: 7+
The Tea Dragon Society might not have a place in an increasingly fast-paced world—at least, that’s the worry of the group’s remaining members. No one seems interested in learning the slow process of caring for the tea dragons and harvesting their magical leaves. But Greta, a young blacksmith in training, feels a pull to the dragons that, combined with a budding friendship with the youngest tea dragon caretaker, Minnete, might mean she’s there to stay.
The illustrations in 2017’s The Tea Dragon Society are gorgeous, and the illustrator plays around with panel shape and size, allowing some images (and creatures) to escape the bounds of their frames in a way that makes the story really come alive. I love how peaceful the world and the story seem; even moments of battle are somewhat tranquil.
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Upstaged by Robin Easter
Recommend for ages: 7 to 12
In Upstaged, published in 2024, Ash is determined to make the best of their last summer at their beloved performing arts camp. That means making the end-of-summer production run smoothly as stage manager and spending as much time as possible with their best friend, Ivy. But could it also mean they share with Ivy that they have a bit of a crush on her?
This charming story is a great pick for young theater geeks, with plenty of passion for stagecraft and the magic of theater on every page. Plus, it’s the perfect LGBTQ+ book for young people.
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Kristy’s Great Idea: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier and Ann M. Martin
Recommended for ages: 8 to 10
The class ’90s book series The Baby-Sitters Club has been remade into a sure-to-be classic series of graphic novels for kids, beginning where it all began, with Kristy’s Great Idea. Kristy knows that she and her friends have superior babysitting abilities and that with some organizational skills (which she has plenty of), they can run the kind of business that will have all the neighborhood parents clamoring to get a Baby-sitters Club member to watch their kids on date night.
The beloved BSC characters in these new graphic novels for kids will be familiar to fans of the original series. But they’re imbued with even more energy and quirky individuality on the page by illustrator Raina Telgemeier, best known for her own graphic novels, such as Eisner Award–winning Smile and Guts.
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Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Recommended for ages: 8 to 11
Sue thinks she knows exactly how her month with her family in Honduras will go. No internet, no cell and a lot of time spent with family and practicing her Spanish. What she didn’t count on was a surprise quinceañera party, something she absolutely does not want. Everything from the fancy dress to the number of eyes on her seems horrible, but everyone in her family insists it’s a teen rite of passage she’ll regret if she skips. When her mom agrees to consider letting her go to fantasy camp with her friends if she goes along with the celebration, she’s reluctantly on board.
Miss Quinces, published in 2022, manages to explore so much in such a short book, from grief to tradition to finding your place in your family, not by changing yourself or changing them but by blending together.
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, illustrated by Hope Larson
Recommended for ages: 8 to 11
This classic novel has been introducing young readers to tesseracts and the Murry family since it was first published in 1962. In the graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time, published in 2012, they’ll still follow siblings Meg and Charles Wallace as they follow the mysterious Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatits through time and space on a quest to find their long-lost father. But the fantastical elements of the story, as well as the love between siblings and friends, are made even more vivid with Hope Larson’s Illustrations, which transform the prose into a soon-to-be classic graphic novel for kids.
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Tidesong by Wendy Xu
Recommended for ages: 8 to 11
In the world of Tidesong, published in 2021, those who wield magic can influence the tides and the wind. Sophie is determined to make her family proud by gaining entrance into the most prestigious magic academy. If only her family, from her cold great aunt to her warm but cautious aunt, would let her train instead of having her do chores and take magic lessons at a very, very slow pace. When Sophie uses her magic against their wishes, a water dragon turned human shows up on their doorstep, which means Sophie now has more judgment from her family—and a friend.
What I love about the world Wendy Xu has created is how seamlessly the natural world and the world of magic seem to blend together in the illustrations. The book also perfectly captures the frustration of a kid who knows greatness is just around the corner, if only the adults in her life would stop making up those silly rules.
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Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley
Recommended for ages: 8 to 12
Jen likes some things about her new life on a farm with her mom, her mom’s boyfriend and his daughters, like working for the neighboring haunted hayride. Something she doesn’t like as much is the idea of starting at a new school. Things seem to be looking up when she makes a friend who’s into the same book series as she is … until everyone starts insisting that, because he’s a boy, he must be her boyfriend.
Lucy Knisley has published many graphic memoirs that act as fascinating windows into her life, from her post-college years to wedding planning to pregnancy. Her 2022 look back at middle school, Apple Crush, a follow-up to 2020’s Stepping Stones, is a sweet and funny story about that moment in life when everything seems to be about crushes—from the perspective of a protagonist who just wants to keep doodling with her platonic friends.
Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong
Recommended for ages: 8 to 12
Scout wants, needs, absolutely must see her favorite comic book author at an upcoming festival. The risk of not doing so, as her friend tells her in unsubtle terms, is that the elderly author might die before Scout gets another chance to meet her. So when her dad says it’s too far to make the trip, she comes up with an excellent plan: She’ll join her school band, which just happens to be traveling to the same festival. The only issue is that she doesn’t actually play an instrument.
What I love about Scout Is Not a Band Kid, first published in 2022, is how the author explores all the ways friendship and community can spring up around different beloved art forms, from music to comics.
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Cici’s Journal by Joris Chamblain and Aurélie Neyret
Recommended for ages: 8 to 12
Cici knows she’s going to be a writer, which is why it’s so important that she gets into a habit of finding stories in the people she meets every day, from her neighbor who might be a witch to a market worker who could very well be a pirate. It’s why she keeps a journal in which she’s already started telling her story. And it’s why she and her friends sometimes “observe” people from their treehouse—they need to see who might be worthy of a starring role in a future tale.
Cici’s Journal, first published in 2017, is equal parts adorable and intriguing, with plenty of humor, heart and mystery. My favorite part might be Cici’s own colored pencil drawings, which sometimes appear between the panels in case you forget who’s really telling this story.
Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
Recommended for ages: 8 to 12
In Pilu of the Woods, published in 2019, Willow is still coming to terms with the death of her mother and trying hard to keep her anger (or as she thinks of it, her tiny anger monsters) in check. But when she has an explosive fight with her sister, she runs into the woods and into Pilu, who’s also running from her family and her anger monsters.
I love the way this story captures Willow’s passion for nature and chronicles her journey through grief, and the many ups and downs we all go through before we can reach a state of acceptance.
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Sheets by Brenna Thummler
Recommended for ages: 9+
Marjorie, the protagonist of Sheets, has a hard time connecting with people. Or maybe people have a hard time connecting with her. Wendell has a hard time connecting with ghosts, which wouldn’t be a problem if he weren’t a ghost himself, hanging out in afterlife support groups that aren’t really offering him much support. When an unlikely friendship forms between the pair, they both find new ways to put themselves out there.
What I love about this ghost story, first published in 2018, is how unafraid it is to confront the idea of loneliness. Marjorie’s pain is so well captured on each page, which makes it that much more gratifying when it begins to ease.
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When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy
Recommend for ages: 9 to 12
Based on the life experiences of co-author Omar Mohamed, When Stars Are Scattered follows young brothers Omar and Hassan as they navigate the world of the Kenyan refugee camp they’ve lived in since fleeing their home. Though they lack resources there, often going without food, Omar spends every day protecting Hassan, who barely speaks. Omar fights to obtain an education and looks toward a future in which he and his brother will be safe, happy and, most importantly, together.
A National Book Award finalist first published in 2020, When Stars Are Scattered never shies away from the painful realities of living in a refugee camp, but it also highlights moments of play and community. This graphic novel isn’t just the story of reaching for a goal—it’s about lives lived.
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Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez
Recommended for ages: 9 to 12
Stephanie has always loved creating art, and now that she’s 13, her art teacher seems to think her hard work is paying off (even if her other teachers don’t always appreciate the artistic flair she adds to, say, a science project). So when she hears about the opportunity to audition for an art school, she’s incredibly excited. Now if she can just convince her mom to let her go …
The charming coming-of-age story of a young artist, Doodles from the Boogie Down, published in 2023, captures both the heady moments of feeling like you’ve found your artistic voice and the soul-shaking moments of self-doubt. Bonus: The ’90s pop culture references in Rodriguez’s semi-autobiographical book are sure to make this a fun read for parents as well.
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The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
Recommended for ages: 10 to 13
In Aster’s family, the girls learn magic by taking lessons in the secret language of spells, and the boys prepare to become shape-shifters and hunt demons. But Aster has never been interested in that path and finds himself drawn to the conversations and lessons of the girls. When he makes a friend outside his community, and a member of his family is taken by a strange force, he begins to wonder if he can fight what he’s always thought of as his destiny to find a place where he truly belongs.
Fantasy as an extended metaphor for identity can be wielded clumsily, but in The Witch Boy, first published in 2017, Ostertag has created a compelling character arc inside a fantastical world that’s explained clearly and succinctly—and the story is still full of unexpected twists and turns.
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