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Best Graphic Novels for Children
Graphic novels, comics, manga, or graphic-novel hybrids (a combination of traditional text and graphics) for children ages 5 to 12.
Comments Showing 1-50 of 62 (62 new)
Also not graphic novels:Club Penguin Search-and-Find Book, bff: a girlfriend book you write together, Big Book of Activities, Igloo Makeover, The Awesome Official Guide to Club Penguin: Expanded Edition: Expanded Edition, Game Mania, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, Club Penguin: Official Annual 2012.
More books removed because they are not graphic novels, or graphic hybrids:Club Penguin Party Time, All the Time!, Stowaway! Adventures at Sea 1, Dancing with Cadence, Club Penguin: The Official Annual 2011, The Great Puffle Switch, The Ultimate Official Guide to Club Penguin, Volume 1, Disney Club Penguin Poster Book, Disney Club Penguin Mad Libs, Flying Solo.
Let's face it: as much as I love Art Spiegelman's masterpiece, I would not like to say that it's highly recommendable for children ages 5 to 12... :-)
... or "Clumsy" by Jeffrey Brown! What are you people thinking! :-D
I feel the same about Persopolis and its sequel. Great books, but for under 12s? no, not really.
Removed because they are not graphic novels: Wonder, Uglies, The Outsiders, The Skin I'm In, Winnie-the-Pooh, Summer of the Monkeys,The Goose Girl, Forest Born, River Secrets, Enna Burning, Princess Academy, The Lost Hero, The Sea of Monsters, The Last Olympian,The Red Pyramid, The Son of Neptune, The Throne of Fire, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Fever 1793, Tears of a Tiger.
Removed because they are picture books, not graphic novels:Strega Nona, Curious George, Are You My Mother?.
I removed Maus by Art Spiegelman because it is not a children's book.
I feel a bit sad as , there are some great books on this list, but so few from marvel and DC.When I first started reading ALL comics were done as all ages. There's no old Marvel or DC's that I would say my kids couldn't read.
Now, kids have to have a special section because so few writers can do true all ages. They are too busy being grim and gritty, so kids today can't read Batman or Superman unless they have geek parents with twenty year old back issues.
Rant over.
Yes, I can see what you mean, Travis. At my library, we have a popular series for kids called Marvel Adventures, but there's aren't a lot of great classic superhero graphic novels that are rated PG.
Also, it looks like someone messed things up ... there's a ton of Goosebumps chapter books on here now.
Manga is fine as long as it's targeted at young children (12 and under) and not adults or teens. Thanks for the heads up about Goosebumps.
I've deleted the Goosebumps and some other non-graphic novel. Will list the specific titles shortly.
Destinee wrote: "Manga is fine as long as it's targeted at young children (12 and under) and not adults or teens. Thanks for the heads up about Goosebumps."Ok, I'm well-versed on manga so I'll go through and delete what doesn't belong (such as Yotsuba&!, which looks like it's for kids but is actually written for adult men.)
The Holy Terror wrote: "Ok, I'm well-versed on manga so I'll go through and delete what doesn't belong (such as Yotsuba&!, which looks like it's for kids but is actually written for adult men.) "What you say is true about it being written for men, but does the targeting matter if it is still rated for all ages and appealing to children? Yotsuba&! is my three-year-old niece's favorite book and I have read all 11 volumes I own to my niece three times since January, and we started again today. When it first came out here in 2005, it was loved by my sisters who were 8 and 12 years old at the time.
Any manga could be appealing to a 3 year old though, because of the pictures. And yotsuba& is especially cutely drawn.I guess "appeal" is a word that is a little too subjective then, and it's what's contradicting the title of the list and causing confusion. Should this list be for books that are aimed at that age rating, or that that age rating enjoys? If it's for the latter, then this list could get out of hand and off-topic, because plenty of kids read at different levels and read more adult books than others. Some YA GNs would fit on this list then too.
I think to play it safe this should be a list for books that are generally thought to have been written for children. Plenty of other lists already exist that are geared towards YAs and adults. And then there are just general lists for "the best" no matter who it's written for.
I like that this one should just be for books written for kids, in the general sense. I like that this is kept specific like that.
So, I think, Destinee, that you might what to change the wording in the description? It's up to you though, (even though Listopia lists are public once they're up), I'm going to defer to you since you created this list.Maybe change "appeal" to "are written for" instead? Your last comment said "targeted at" which makes me think you might agree with me? Totally cool if you don't though.
I'll change the description to "created for" because I agree that the purpose of the list is to separate out children's books from teen and adult books. Thanks for your input, y'all.
I did a little research on Yotsuba&!, and it seems like it's written for children and adults. It looks like it was nominated for an Eisner Award in the "Best Publication for Kids" category.
Well, I guess it depends on if you're looking at where it was originally published, in this magazine for young men. The American publisher does list it is all ages though so I can see how this is all confusing. But even though Yotsuba& is appropriate for all ages, it doesn't mean it was written for kids. If that makes sense. There are YA and adult series that kids could read without any trouble, but they weren't written specifically for them. So, do we include something that could be appropriate for kids or that was written for them? I still think we have enough other lists that blend all of the categories and I liked that this one was very specific.
Goosebumps and some other novels were added again. It might be a good idea to message (if you can't PM the person you can comment on their votes) and explain why they don't belong or this will just keep happening. Just click on the number of people who voted for the particular book and then you'll come to a new page where you'll see where to click to view the rest of their votes and a new page to leave a comment.
Today I removed the following books because they are not graphic novels, or graphic hybrids:The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (again), Guinea Dog, Coraline, Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, The Sneetches and Other Stories: Yellow Back Book, Horton Hears a Who!, The Lorax, Welcome to Dead House.
Hi! I just found this list today, and have some new books to deck out. Thanks. For someone that has editing rights to this list, here are a few books that are on the list, but don't seem to belong: Wonder, Coraline, (this is the graphic novel version Coraline, I forgot to check if it's on the list), The Wolves in the Walls I think is more picture book than graphic novel, isn't it? Peanut was marketed as YA. Bink & Gollie is illustrated, but it is an early reader, and not paneled like a TOON book. Howl's Moving Castle is a novel. Clementine is a chapter book written for grades 2-4; it does contain pictures, but so do most chapter books written for this level.
Just found the graphic novel version of Coraline on this list.
Hi Becky. I've removed Wonder, Bink & Gollie, Howl's Moving Castle, and Clementine from the list. I've never read The Wolves in the Walls myself, but 75 goodreads users have it shelved as a graphic novel; it's probably a graphic novel/picture book hybrid, of which there are quite a few on this list. I agree that books like Peanut that are marketed to young adults don't belong here, but there are many already on the list with multiple votes, and I feel its Destinee's call whether or not to remove them. I only remove things that are not graphic novels or hybrids at all.Edited to add: I also deleted yet another goosebumps novel, One Day at Horrorland.
Hi, Emily. Thanks for helping out. I wish people would read and consider the list characteristics before adding things. This is not the only list that I have found additions that do not make sense given the descriptions.Parents, please do further research before handing these titles to your child. Some might not be appropriate. (Many others are and make great reading!)
I disagree with removing Bink & Gollie from this list for two reasons: 1. The list is for ages 5 to 12 and B&G definitely falls into that age range. 2. I don't think the art needs to be in panel form for a book to be considered a graphic novel. I agree with the rest of it, and thanks for helping to moderate this list!
Destinee,Then what is the difference between a graphic novel (or a hybrid) and a traditional picture book or a traditional easy reader (which always have included pictures)? Would Frog and Toad Are Friends make this list? I think Bink & Gollie is closer to Frog and Toad than a TOON book, for example, which are written as primary level graphic novels. The lines between all of these designations are blurring, but there still are differences. How do you define them? Does anything that contains pictures that was written for ages 5-12 belong on this list? Also, there are books on this list that are standard graphic novels, but are written for teen audiences. Do they belong?
Those are good questions, Becky. I'm not a graphic novel expert, I just created the list to help those in search of books for elementary school kids who like graphic novels. The main distinction I would make between F&T vs. B&G is audience. At my library we put B&G in with the chapter books and I see a lot of 1st and 2nd grade readers, but F&T are with the early readers and I mostly see younger kiddos reading these with their parents. It's not black and white, so I can see your frustration in trying to pin it down. Part of the distinction may be that B&G books have a a hipper, more modern vibe and so they appeal to kids who like graphic novels, whereas F&T is more old fashioned and I doubt I could sell it to a 2nd grader who asks for graphic novels.
I'd rather the list be more inclusive than exclusive, so if you think F&T is something you'd recommend to a elementary school kid seeking graphic novels, go ahead and add it!
Persepolis The Story of a Childhood has slowly been rising on this list, but I have chosen to delete it because it's not a children's book. It is indeed an excellent graphic novel, but (despite the title) it is not intended for a child audience, though it may be a great for a teen reader.
My daughter is 8 going in 3rd grade reads a bit more advanced than that but not to advanced she read The Couragous Princess by Rod Espinosa and loved it we are looking for books like it any suggestions?? feel free to email me or comment here... sotwell75@gmail.com
Calvin and Hobbes and Archie are not graphic novels. They're both too short form. Please remove them.(Generally a good list!)
Calvin and Hobbes and Archie are graphic novels. They are both not a short form. Please never remove them.
Uh...V for Vendetta? Chobits? Black Butler? Ages...5 to 12?
Gone with the Wind isn't a graphic novel (and it certainly isn't for children); Drizzle isn't a graphic novel; it's juvenile fiction.
Prince of Underwhere isn't a graphic novel; it's juvenile fiction.
Mangaman is certainly not for children, neither is Flight, Chobits, V for Vendetta, mushishi.
Okay, not sure when the last time this list got weeded was, but if the original creator/editors are still about, these are the titles that popped at me as I looked through the list (and I apologize they aren't in order; I was running out of room my post-it note)as should probably be removed: Persepolis 2, Ghost World, Maus I & II, The Fatal Lozenge (is an alphabet picture book), Adeventur-Poms (picture book), Blueberry Girl (poem/picture book), Divergent, Princess Bride, Gone with the Wind, V for Vendetta, Black Butler, House of Hades, Lightening Thief, Tomboy, Demigod Diaries, War Horse, Disney after Dark, Blizzard of the Blue Moon (Magic Tree House), Vampire Academyu, The Originals, TTYL series, Holes, The DUFF, and Cinder. Whew. Also, is Sisters on here twice?
Gawsh I've read 90% of the books listed here xD
I deleted Maus and Maus 2 (again). These books are clearly not intended for a child audience.
I deleted House of Hades, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Disney after Dark, Catching Fire, The Fault in Our Stars, Holes, Heat by Lupica, Looking for Alaska, and the Princess Bride since the versions selected were primarily text if even illustrated at all.
I removed Chobits, V for Vendetta, Mangaman, Black Butler, and Mushishi. None of them are for 5-12
I think some people are a little confused by what constitutes as a graphic novel for children. Graphic novels in children's lit have had a big boom in the last few years. There are great books that have come out that should be on this list and are. I think it's easy to blur the lines between 'nostalgic' and 'good.'
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Anyone can add books to this list.
The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Matilda, The True Meaning of Smekday, The Alchemyst, Oopsy Daisy, Violet in Bloom, The Warlock, Secret Agent Handbook (Disney Club Penguin, The Inventor's Apprentice 2, Stuck on Puffles, Luv Ya Bunches, Would You Rather.