In the last few decades, comic books, manga, graphic novels, and graphic memoirs have evolved past simple comic strips and have begun to be appreciated by educators, students, and all readers as valuable works of literature. From brand-new readers to reluctant readers to hard-working high school seniors, whether the story is a crazy adventure with a wacky crew of characters, a fantastical story, a poignant coming of age story, or rooted in history, this collection of comics for kids is sure to appeal to any kind of student you can imagine.
Comic Books for Pre-School
1. Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists
Pretty much exactly what the title suggests, this is great to read to preschool-aged kids, or even just for them to look through the illustrations to stories with which they’re already familiar.
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2. Silly Lilly and The Four Seasons by Agnes Rosenstiehl
Join Lilly as she learns about the seasons and celebrates summer, fall, winter, and spring!
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3. Jack and the Box by Art Spiegelman
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus lends his expertise to this funny (and slightly creepy) story about a boy and a box-and the weird creatures that emerge from it.
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4. Sleepless Knight by James Sturm
A little knight can’t fall asleep without her teddy bear, so off she goes on an action-packed mission to find him!
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5. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
The pigeon in the title is an expert at arguing a case. He logically explains why he does not need a bath. In fact, the whole pigeon series is great! The pigeon also does not want to go to school, nor does he want to go to bed early.
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Comic Books for Elementary School
6. Little Robot by Ben Hatke
An adorable book for kids just getting used to comic book structure, Little Robot tells the story of an unlikely friendship between the titular little robot and a little girl who befriends him-and then has to save him from danger.
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7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
No collection of comic books for kids would be complete without this series! The entire series will keep them engaged and entertained for a while! These stories of the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley will not fail to capture the imaginations of most kids!
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8. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by L. Pichon
For fans of the addictive Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this series is another diary-style funny story collection about a misunderstood fifth-grader and his adventures-and mishaps.
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9. Adventure Time by Ryan North (and others)
Inspired by the incredibly popular television show and originated by Ryan North, creator of Dinosaur Comics (another great elementary school comic!) this series follows the Adventure Time crew on their funny, quirky travels in the Land of Ooo.
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10. El Deafo by Cece Bell
A graphic memoir about a child’s (or in this case, a bunny’s) loss of hearing due to spinal meningitis, El Deafo takes young readers into Cece Bell’s experience of being a disabled young person, while staying relatable with themes of persevering through new and challenging experiences.
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Comic Books for Early Middle School
11. New Kid by Jerry Craft
Jordan is a brilliant boy whose parents decide to send him to a well-respected school for high-achieving students, instead of the art school he wishes to attend. He soon discovers he’s one of very few students of color, and his journey of navigating his new world, while also staying in touch with his old friends, is poignant and complex.
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12. Lumberjanes by Various Authors
At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Riply are the best of gal pals! This collection of adventurous, fun stories is perfect for middle school students.
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13. Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
When Robin Ha moved from Seoul, Korea to Huntsville, Alabama at age 14, her transition wasn’t easy. This book tells the story of that time of her life, and how learning to draw comics became an outlet that aided her tremendously.
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14. Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J Krosoczka
A sincere look at the coming of age of the author, whose mother was addicted to drugs and whose father was missing, and how Jarrett used his art to help himself persevere. A National Book Award Finalist, Hey, Kiddo is a graphic memoir with a heart that will encourage empathy and understanding of some complicated issues.
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Comic Books for Middle/Early High School
15. Maus 1: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
One of the first to foray into using comic book style artwork to shed light on a historical moment, Art Spiegelman’s Maus is one that a high-level middle schooler or any high schooler would love. Using animals to depict people, Spiegelman tells the story, framed within the story of his own interviews with his father, of his own father’s time in a concentration camp during the Holocaust.
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16. Maus 2: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
Maus 2, the sequel to the popular first book, continues the story of Spiegelman’s father Vladek’s life during the Holocaust. Using the form of an accessible medium, paired with the relatable father/son dynamic between Art and Vladek, makes this book an indispensable part of any student’s study of World War II.
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17. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Another incredibly moving graphic memoir documenting an important time in world history, Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is the story of her own childhood during the revolution in Iran. From the point of view of a small child, readers learn about what Iran was like both before and after the revolution, and how the change in regime affected the entire country.
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18. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi
In the follow-up to her first book, Marjane continues her own story by sharing her experiences as a young adult, coming of age far from home in Vienna, where her parents sent her to keep her safe. It’s the story of an Iranian woman living outside Iran, contending with her feelings about being away from home, and eventually returning to Iran, where her complex story goes on.
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19. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
This is a story of identity, assimilation, culture, and history told through three interwoven narrative threads-one of the mythological Monkey King, one of a Chinese-American boy at a new school, and one of a popular white boy who goes to the same school.
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20. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
The book that inspired the Wachowskis’ 2005 film, V for Vendetta does take some maturity to understand, though it is chock-full of political philosophy and ethical questions. It tells the story of the “anti-hero” V, a revolutionary who plots to overthrow the regime of the fascist government that imprisoned him, and of Evey, who he inspires.
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21. Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War by Michel Chikwanine
It’s a heavy topic, but this graphic memoir introduces it well via Chikwanine’s own experience of being forced to become a child soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo at age 5.
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Comic Books for High School
22. Epileptic by David B.
David B.’s loving, emotional, and compassionate story of growing up with a brother who suffered from epilepsy. This is a stellar, renowned work about a family both tested by and drawn together by illness.
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23. Fun Home: A Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Alison Bechdel’s first and most popular book-length work inspired the Broadway musical! The parallel story of Bechdel’s coming-out and of her funeral home director father’s suicide-and her revelations about his hidden sexuality. Beautiful, sometimes funny, yet heart-wrenching.
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24. Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel
The anticipated follow-up to Fun Home focuses on Bechdel’s sometimes strained relationship with her mother. Philosophically profound and narratively serpentine yet satisfactory!
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25. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
For a student who’s really interested in the genre, this book is illuminating! In this educational yet funny book, McCloud teaches about the history of comic strips, the way they’re structured and how readers’ brains make sense and meaning of them, and their cultural significance. This book can totally help a reader appreciate how nuanced and symbolic the form can be!
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26. Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels by Scott McCloud
A great follow-up to Understanding Comics, McCloud goes on to teach readers how they can utilize the form of the comic strip to tell the stories they want to tell!
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