30 Best Graphic Novels for Kids, According to Kids Themselves
Want your child to continue reading for fun? Give them some great graphic novels.
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I've been running a kids' book award program for 15+ years, and I've noticed that tweens who read graphic novels for fun are more likely to still be reading for pleasure when they reach college. These books swoop in at a stage when some kids perceive reading as hard or boring, and help these readers-in-training get over that hump. Fast-forward a few years, and reading outside of school work has cemented itself as habit.
Instead of rushing your child out of graphic novels because they're not "real books," champion the category. We've rounded up more than two dozen choices—many are favorites from the annual Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards, which are chosen based on feedback from kids—and one even beat out text-heavy novels to receive the top prize in children's literature.
A group of middle schoolers set out on their bikes to find out if a town's legend is true: Do the paper lanterns for the annual equinox festival actually turn into stars? With a breathtaking color palette, friendship subplot and superb dialogue, this graphic novel grips readers. Ages 10-14
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New Kid by Jerry Craft
New Kid by Jerry Craft
The only graphic novel to win a Newbery Medal introduces kids to seventh-grader Jordan Banks, one of the few students of color at his new school. He finds himself torn between two worlds in a story that's perfect for any kid who's ever felt like an outsider. Paired with companion graphic novels Class Act and School Trip, the three-book boxed set won a 2024 Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award. Ages 8-12
The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
Budding writers and illustrators will especially be drawn to this graphic novel which seamlessly weaves together a friendship story with a roll-up-your-sleeves masterclass on how to make your own comics. A group of students start their own comics club at school, and readers pick up drawing tips, storytelling strategies, and other creative know-how right along with the characters. TheGood Housekeeping Kids' Book Award winner is the brainchild of Raina Telgemeier (creator of graphic novel blockbusters, like Smile and Sisters) and Scott McCloud (a legendary cartoonist). Ages 8–12
Young readers will savor every page of this food-driven graphic novel. A 12-year-old enters a cooking contest so she can buy her Taiwanese grandmother a plane ticket to visit her with the prize money. Chapters highlight the contest, round by round, as the girl's confidence grows and she learns a lot about herself. Read with snacks! Ages 8-12
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In a story that helped the graphic novel movement gain momentum, Telgemeier focuses on how she lost her two front teeth in an accident when she was 12. Kids with braces or other major dental work will especially relate. The book won a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in 2011. Ages 8-12
With eye-catching art and a timely premise, Schoolbot 9000 thoughtfully explores what might happen if robots replaced middle-school teachers. Its balanced storyline portrays the pros and cons of AI in the classroom. This thought-provoking graphic novel is the first in a new series and ends on a cliffhanger. Ages 8-12
The classic Princess Diaries story from 25+ years ago got a glow-up and has re-emerged as a graphic novel! Manga-influenced art helps tell the story of a New York City ninth-grader who dreams of saving baby seals but is instead told by her father that she must move to a European country to be a princess. Ages 8+
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At the school science fair, a new student bumps into a stain-removing potion and turns invisible! Science-focused antics, unlikely friendships and plot twists make this graphic novel an irresistible read. Fans of Disney's Phineas and Ferb may be especially smitten. Ages 8-12
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Based on a true story about a girls' championship basketball team with players who wear hijabs, this fast-paced graphic novel explores themes of teamwork, self-confidence and bias. The play-by-play game scenes in this 2024 Kids' Book Award winner are especially exciting. Ages 8-12
Based on co-author Omar Mohamed’s childhood in an African refugee camp with his brother who doesn’t speak, this heartfelt story ends on a hopeful note. It was a National Book Award finalist in 2020. Ages 8-12
Winner of a 2024 Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award, this STEM gem follows the adventures of a young dragon and her family. When a birthday cupcake and a magical artifact merge, they attempt to take over the city. Can the dragon family come to the rescue? Ages 6-9
The series almost every tween reviewer in our Kids' Book Awards requested to review, Dog Man engages readers-in-training with its silly antics, flip-o-rama pages, and beloved characters. Gift new readers the first half-dozen books in the series—and you'll no doubt fuel a reading obsession. Ages 7-12
A gamer's hopes are dashed when his parents sign him up for a no-electronics summer camp that takes place at the same time as a video game tournament. The 2024 Kids' Book Award winner impressed our junior reviewers for taking a balanced approach to screen time. Ages 8-12
A 12-year-old thinks she's going to be bored this summer because her friends are at camp. Then she gets a job babysitting her neighbor’s 217 cats. School vacation just got exciting! The first two books in this series are packed with adventure and plot twists. Ages 8-12
Nineteen installments of the popular chapter book series from the 1980s have been re-imagined as graphic novels, and kids are loving them! This box set, containing the first seven volumes, follow the baby-sitting adventures of a group of girls who manage to handle every obstacle they encounter. Ages 8-12
A cheeky STEM-focused graphic novel about plastic pollution enthralled kid testers so much that it earned a spot on Good Housekeeping's 2025 Kids' Book Award list. Our 7-year-old testers loved all th characters, especially the monster created by a kid scientist. Ages 7-10
The first installment in this four-book graphic novel series focuses on a family member who goes missing. After her grandfather disappears, Bea and a member of a race believed to be extinct set out to find him in a magical world. The series has been featured in Good Housekeeping's Kids' Book Award. Ages 8-12
This big-hearted graphic novel may remind kids of the bestseller Front Desk. After a dream vacation in California, three siblings from Taiwan remain in the U.S. because their parents believe they'll have better opportunities in America. The kids strive to balance household tasks and schoolwork while navigating a new country. Ages 8-12
Written by a roller derby girl, this heartwarming tale of discovering new passions, surviving a failing friendship and, of course, junior high, won a Newberry Honor Award and other accolades for good reason. Give it to any kid who needs a little dose of confidence. Ages 9-12
Graphic novels can help introduce young or reluctant readers to the classics, like this one that features everyone's favorite redhead. The illustrations add an entirely new dimension to the classic that adults will appreciate, as well. Ages 8-11
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