Recommendations from the Children's Librarian: Graphic Novels

Not sure what to read next? Overwhelmed trying to pick something off the shelves at the library? Check out some recommendations from our Children's Librarian, Emma! Don't forget - we're here to help you find the books you want. If you are looking for a book that's similar to something else you've read and enjoyed, trying to find recommendations for a hesitant reader, need help requesting a book from another library, or simply want a book suggestion, let us know!

The Dragonet Prophecy: The Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire #1) by Tui Sutherland (2018)

Told from the perspective of Clay, a pacifist MudWing dragon, the reader is instantly thrown into the world of Pyrrhia. Clay and his 4 “littermates” are the 5 dragonets destined to end the war between the 3 dragon clans of the region. The Dragonet Prophecy has a wide array of characters, albeit all of them dragons. Each of the main 5 characters are a different species of dragon, with each of them having unique powers related to their type. The different powers, appearances, skills, and culture of each dragon type creates a unique world. The reader only has the 5 dragonets to refer to for understanding the differences of each species, but a tricky thing is that the dragonets themselves don’t understand their true differences! Since the 5 protagonists have been cut off from the world since hatching, the readers learn about the realities of Pyrrhia alongside them. 

Each type of dragon within the world has a unique design, calling to the elements for which their species are named. The illustrator, Mike Holmes, skillfully portrays a variety of emotions on the dragon’s faces, despite the significant differences between the species design. These emotions connect the reader to the mood of the scene, allowing for much to be said with little words. The humorous dialog is very enticing for readers. Perfect for hesitant readers, The Dragonet Prophecy has an engaging and colorful art style and a fast-paced plot. As this series originally came out as chapter books, hesitant readers can begin with the graphic novel series and eventually consider the chapter books. Already being familiar with the story and the character design can reduce some anxiety for hesitant readers and introduce them to the chapter book series, which may contain significantly more details than the graphic novel was able to incorporate. 

39 Clues: The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Ethan Young (2023)

The Maze of Bones is a page-turning thriller following the adventures of Amy and Dan, descendants of the last matriarch of one of the world’s most powerful families: Grace Cahill. Minutes before she died, Cahill changed her will and gave her descendants the biggest choice of their lives, “You have a choice — one million dollars or a clue.”

39 clues have been hidden around the world that will finally reveal why the Cahill family is so powerful, but so far no one has been able to collect them all. The intense situation the main characters find themselves in brings tension to the reader. The witty banter and fascinating plot make up for a slightly bland pair of protagonists. The Maze of Bones has unique back matter. Readers can find an invitation to download Scholastic's Home Base app, and be sorted into a branch of the Cahill family themselves. Readers can also play interactive games and connect elements that they have found in the book series. 

The cartoon art style of Ethan Young is pleasing to the eyes. Young is skilled in his ability to capture a variety of emotions felt by the many characters throughout the book. Being a graphic novel based on an existing chapter book series, many children who are hesitant readers may find this series more palatable. The exciting and fast-paced plot is incredibly engaging for readers. After all, what child doesn’t love a world-wide scavenger hunt? The adapted version after the original publication of the chapter book in 2008 also brings in an entirely new generation for the series. 

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (2016)

In a unique behind the scenes look at Dog Man, Pilkey shows the reader who actually created the comic. George and Harold are the protagonists of the popular chapter book series Captain Underpants. After having many adventures, the drama has come to an end, and the two characters decide to remake their old comic Dog Man. Dog Man’s tragic backstory begins with the reader learning about Greg the dog and his partner Officer Knight. While Greg the dog has the brains for being a great cop, he doesn’t quite have the strongest body. And while Officer Knight is a tough cop with a kung fu grip, he doesn’t have the brains! Tragedy strikes when the antagonist strategizes a plan to get rid of the pair: a bomb! While the two partners survive, Greg’s body and Officer Knight’s head were both too damaged to be saved, and in a stroke of genius the doctor sewed Greg’s head onto Officer Knight’s body. And thus, Dog Man was born! 

The silly and approachable art style is unique to Dav Pilkey. The illustrations are deliberately drawn childlike, and are colored throughout the book. The font for the entirety of the book appears to be handwritten. The combination of the two gives the reader a feel like the entire book was handmade, which ties into the original child creators of the comic: George the author and Harold the illustrator. 

Children can see the original creators of the comic, George and Harold, and easily put themselves into their shoes. George and Harold are not only kids themselves, but they write and draw like it too! This gives children who are reading the story the confidence to create their own comic. Afterall, if Dog Man is so popular, why can’t they have a comic? The humor is another feature of the graphic novel that many readers will find hilarious, children and adults alike. The end of the book contains several pages of How 2 Draw various characters, including Dog Man, Petey, Philly, and hilariously: Invisible Petey! (Which is a blank page with numbers for each “step”) The book also has several sections of flip-o-rama, where readers can animate certain pages within the graphic novel themselves by flipping them back and forth very quickly. Pilkey provides outlines for the reader’s hand placement, providing an accessible and easy to understand method of flipbook animation!

New Kid by Jerry Craft (2019)

New Kid shows the life of Jordan Banks, a seventh grader who is the new kid at a prestigious private school. While he dreams of going to an art school instead, the academic quality of Riverdale Academy Day School swayed his mother into his attendance. However, Jordan is one of the few people of color at the school, and the PWI (Predominantly White Institution) takes its toll on him. The story goes beyond simply being the new kid, it goes into the daily life of a student of color experiencing microaggressions from his classmates and teachers. Finding solace in the few other people of color within the school, he sees just how differently they are treated compared to his white classmates and faculty.  

Craft is especially great at drawing a variety of facial expressions with a wide array of emotions. Many times the emotions of anger and fear are drawn in a humorous way, especially during lighthearted scenes. Any child who is starting a new school can relate to this book, especially children of color who are dealing with living in or going to school in a predominantly white area. While the story focuses much of the content on Jordan’s personal experiences of having difficulty fitting in with black kids and white kids, any child who is struggling with fitting in can sympathize with him. This book also opens up children to a discussion about microaggressions and the internal biases they have.