young kids
Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World! by James Kochalka. Top Shelf Productions. 2008.
Johnny Boo and his pet ghost, Squiggle have a lot of fun chasing each other around. They also love ice cream. They go for a walk to find Johnny Boo’s secret stash of ice cream when they run into an ice cream monster!
Descriptive words: iconic, childlike, colorful, fun, doodles
Appeal factors: appeals to beginning readers and young grade school children, light read, humorous, character driven, quick read, akin to the Toon Books series
Awards: Featured on ALSC’s Graphic Novel Core Reading List for grades k-2
Misc: Read on in the Johnny Boo series with Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power, Johnny Boo: Happy Apples, Johnny Boo: The Mean Little Boy, & Johnny Boo: Does Something!
Descriptive words: iconic, childlike, colorful, fun, doodles
Appeal factors: appeals to beginning readers and young grade school children, light read, humorous, character driven, quick read, akin to the Toon Books series
Awards: Featured on ALSC’s Graphic Novel Core Reading List for grades k-2
Misc: Read on in the Johnny Boo series with Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power, Johnny Boo: Happy Apples, Johnny Boo: The Mean Little Boy, & Johnny Boo: Does Something!
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. Kids Can Press. 2008.
A story about a germophobic squirrel who does not venture out of his tree. He keeps the same routine every day, until one day something drops out of his tree and he has to go fetch it. He then finds out he’s a flying squirrel! He adds a daily flight to his routines, but still spends most of his time in his tree where it’s safe.
Descriptive words: simple, iconic, cheerful, digital
Appeal factors: humorous, appeals to child's silly nature, character driven, similar humor to Johnny Boo and Mo Willems' books, appropriate for parents to read to toddlers, or for early grade school to read on their own, hybrid comic/picture book
Awards: 2010 Monarch Award, 2008 Shining Willow Award, 2008 North Carolina Children's Book Award
Misc: Turned into a Canadian animated TV series in 2011 - Other scaredy squirrel books: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas: A Safety Guide for Scaredies, Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, & Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween
Descriptive words: simple, iconic, cheerful, digital
Appeal factors: humorous, appeals to child's silly nature, character driven, similar humor to Johnny Boo and Mo Willems' books, appropriate for parents to read to toddlers, or for early grade school to read on their own, hybrid comic/picture book
Awards: 2010 Monarch Award, 2008 Shining Willow Award, 2008 North Carolina Children's Book Award
Misc: Turned into a Canadian animated TV series in 2011 - Other scaredy squirrel books: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas: A Safety Guide for Scaredies, Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, & Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween
Tiny Titans: Sidekick City Elementary by Art Baltazar and Franco. Stone Arch Books. 2012.
This comic takes you to the sidekick city elementary, where all the young sidekicks go. There’s tiny Robin, tiny Wonder Woman, and other tiny superheroes. Go with them on their adventures and experience their mishaps.
Descriptive words: bright, simple, cartoony, childlike
Appeal factors: appeals to young elementary students - primarily boys, character driven, humorous, quick read, great introduction to superhero characters, several different stories in one book
Awards: 2 time Eisner Award Winner for Best Publication for Kids (the Tiny Titans series) 2009 & 2011
Descriptive words: bright, simple, cartoony, childlike
Appeal factors: appeals to young elementary students - primarily boys, character driven, humorous, quick read, great introduction to superhero characters, several different stories in one book
Awards: 2 time Eisner Award Winner for Best Publication for Kids (the Tiny Titans series) 2009 & 2011
Older kids
Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano, & Greg Salsedo. First Second. 2014.
A young girl wakes up to find her grandmother, Dounia, crying on a couch. Dounia goes on to tell her granddaughter about her experience during the Holocaust. About how as a child, she couldn’t understand what she had done wrong to be treated so poorly and have her parents taken away from her. Neighbors and friends of Dounia’s parents risked their lives to keep her safe and away from the Nazis. Telling her granddaughter is the first time Dounia has been able to share her story.
Descriptive words: poetic, subdued, iconic yet detailed, inky
Appeal factors: plot and setting driven, for fans of historical fiction, could be read by younger kids but subject matter leans more towards mid-grade school kids, good book to introduce Holocaust to young readers, similar drawing style to Primates by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks
Awards: 2015 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor book
Misc: Originally published in French in 2012
Descriptive words: poetic, subdued, iconic yet detailed, inky
Appeal factors: plot and setting driven, for fans of historical fiction, could be read by younger kids but subject matter leans more towards mid-grade school kids, good book to introduce Holocaust to young readers, similar drawing style to Primates by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks
Awards: 2015 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor book
Misc: Originally published in French in 2012
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks. First Second. 2013.
This non-fiction graphic novel tells the beginning stories of the three most successful primatologists. You learn what these three women had in common, they all worked for a famous scientist, Louis Leakey, and you learn the important contributions they made to this field.
Descriptive words: bright, friendly, charming,
Appeal factors: quick read, appeals to older elementary students, informative & entertaining, for animal lovers - aspiring zoologists or primatologists, narrative non-fiction
Awards: 2015 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee
Descriptive words: bright, friendly, charming,
Appeal factors: quick read, appeals to older elementary students, informative & entertaining, for animal lovers - aspiring zoologists or primatologists, narrative non-fiction
Awards: 2015 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee
Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci and Sara Varon. First Second. 2013.
Theodora is a normal duck that lives her life peacefully. She enjoys her routine and spends most of her time alone. One day, a new neighbor moves in close by and her life suddenly changes. Chad is an odd duck who is very loud and does things his own way; he doesn’t care what other people think. Despite his oddities, Theodora befriends him out of kindness and soon realizes she is just as odd as he is, and that’s why they make the best of friends.
Descriptive words: endearing, pastel, iconic, playful
Appeal factors: quick read, plot driven, appeals to early elementary students - more appealing to girls, sweet lesson to the story, light-hearted
Misc: if you like the artwork, try other books by Sara Varon: Robot Dreams, Bake Sale, Chicken and Cat, Chicken and Cat Clean Up, Sweaterweather
Descriptive words: endearing, pastel, iconic, playful
Appeal factors: quick read, plot driven, appeals to early elementary students - more appealing to girls, sweet lesson to the story, light-hearted
Misc: if you like the artwork, try other books by Sara Varon: Robot Dreams, Bake Sale, Chicken and Cat, Chicken and Cat Clean Up, Sweaterweather
Copper by Kazu Kibuishi. Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. 2010.
Copper is a young, adventurous boy, and Fred is his dog that is too smart and cautious for his own good. Together these two go on fantastical adventures, much to Fred’s dismay. In this book you’re introduced to magical worlds with giant mushrooms you can jump on, and other fun things.
Descriptive words: rich, jewel-toned color palette, cinematic, serial, surreal
Appeal factors: appeals to mid to late elementary students, Fred's humor could also appeal to adults, character driven, several different stories within one book, fast paced, akin to Garfield and Calvin & Hobbes
Awards: 2006 Eisner Award nominee for Best Digital Comic
Misc: originated as a webcomic and got formatted in print
Descriptive words: rich, jewel-toned color palette, cinematic, serial, surreal
Appeal factors: appeals to mid to late elementary students, Fred's humor could also appeal to adults, character driven, several different stories within one book, fast paced, akin to Garfield and Calvin & Hobbes
Awards: 2006 Eisner Award nominee for Best Digital Comic
Misc: originated as a webcomic and got formatted in print
Amulet Book One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi. Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. 2008.
Emily and Navin lost their dad in a car accident, forcing their mother to move them to an old family house where Emily finds a captivating stone necklace in her great grandfather’s strange library. Later, when the family is sleeping, they hear a strange noise and all go to investigate in the basement. A strange octopus-like creature swallows Emily and Navien’s mother, and a great adventure begins where they meet their great grandfather and the alternate world he’s a part of, as well as go on a quest to save their mother.
Descriptive words: cinematic, adventurous, rich, fantastical
Appeal factors: appeals to late grade school age kids - but could also appeal to early teens, for fans of adventure, has a continuing story, plot driven, has a suspense factor
Awards: 2014-2015 Bluestem Nominee
Misc: Other titles in the Amulet series include Amulet Book 2: The Stonekeeper's Curse, Amulet Book 3: The Cloud Searchers, Amulet Book 4: The Last Council, Amulet Book 5: Prince of Elves, Amulet Book 6: Escape from Lucien
Descriptive words: cinematic, adventurous, rich, fantastical
Appeal factors: appeals to late grade school age kids - but could also appeal to early teens, for fans of adventure, has a continuing story, plot driven, has a suspense factor
Awards: 2014-2015 Bluestem Nominee
Misc: Other titles in the Amulet series include Amulet Book 2: The Stonekeeper's Curse, Amulet Book 3: The Cloud Searchers, Amulet Book 4: The Last Council, Amulet Book 5: Prince of Elves, Amulet Book 6: Escape from Lucien
Monster On the Hill by Rob Harrell. Top Shelf Productions. 2013.
It’s 1860s in England, but in a fantasy world where every town has a monster that entertains them with scares every now and then, and also protects them from an infamous dangerous monster. However, the town of Stoker-on-Avon’s monster, Rayburn, hasn’t been seen for some time, and when he has, he’s moping. The town elders send a washed-up doctor to cure the monster, and he is followed by an ornery orphan. Together, these two help Rayburn gain back his confidence by getting him out of his lair, seeing an old friend, and encouraging him in little triumphs.
Descriptive words: fantastical, rich, detailed cartoon
Appeal factors: humorous adventure, rich setting - can feel the atmosphere of the London streets through the artwork, plot driven, appeals to elementary and middle school kids, endearing adventure tale, akin to How To Train Your Dragon, would also appeal to fans of the Amulet series
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book, YALSA's Great Graphic Novel for Teens, YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and featured on ALSC's Graphic Novel Core Reading List
Descriptive words: fantastical, rich, detailed cartoon
Appeal factors: humorous adventure, rich setting - can feel the atmosphere of the London streets through the artwork, plot driven, appeals to elementary and middle school kids, endearing adventure tale, akin to How To Train Your Dragon, would also appeal to fans of the Amulet series
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book, YALSA's Great Graphic Novel for Teens, YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and featured on ALSC's Graphic Novel Core Reading List
Kat and Mouse: Teacher Torture Book 1 by Alex De Campi. TokyoPop. 2006.
Kat and her family move from Iowa to New Hampshire shortly after the school year has begun. Kat’s dad got a job as a science teacher at Dover Academy, a school for the best and the brightest. However, it turns out its more for the privileged than the bright, and Kats dad soon finds out how far his students will go for a decent grade. Kat and her new friend Mouse join forces to find out who is blackmailing her dad, and the reader is set up for a whole series of junior detecting.
Descriptive words: iconic, simple, soft manga (not as stylized as a lot of manga)
Appeal factors: appeals to elementary age students - mainly girls, quick read, formulated, character driven, appeals to young mystery solvers, for fans of Nancy Drew and other jr. detective series, appeals to avid series readers
Descriptive words: iconic, simple, soft manga (not as stylized as a lot of manga)
Appeal factors: appeals to elementary age students - mainly girls, quick read, formulated, character driven, appeals to young mystery solvers, for fans of Nancy Drew and other jr. detective series, appeals to avid series readers