The 8 Best Comics and Graphic Novels for Kids

Introduction: Why should your kid read comics and graphic novels?

Comics and graphic novels have been an integral part of the entertainment industry for decades. They are usually created by a writer who is aided by artists, editors, and other creative professionals. The story is told through text and illustrations that are often in full color.

The comic book industry was founded in 1933 with the release of Action Comics. Since then, comics have grown to include many different genres including humor, horror, romance, crime fiction, science fiction, and more. Graphic novels are comic books that tell a story through words and pictures - they can be created with any type of art style or technique.

Comics and graphic novels are not just books with a bunch of pictures. Comics and graphic novels are a thriving industry, with many different forms of storytelling and life lessons that can be applicable to your children. This article will give our top 8 comics and graphic novels that your child can read!

8 of the Best Comics and Graphic Novels Your Kids Can Read

1. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

   Persepolis is a graphic novel that tells the story of Satrapi's childhood and adolescence, set against the backdrop of the Iranian revolution. The book was originally published in French in 2000 and then translated into English in 2003. The book is based on Satrapi's own childhood experiences. It tells of her family's life in Tehran, their financial struggles, and her education.

    

2. Maus: A Survivors Tale by Art Spiegelman

   Maus is a graphic novel and one of the first ever to win the Pulitzer Prize. The book tells the story of Art's father, Vladek Spiegelman, who was a Holocaust survivor. The novel is told as a series of interviews between Art and his father, in which they discuss everything from the start of World War 2 to Vladek's eventual escape from Auschwitz.

    

3. Smile: A Graphic Novel by by Raina Telgemeier

   Smile is a graphic novel written by Raina Telgemeier. It tells the story of her childhood, growing up with a preteen’s worst nightmare: braces! After falling and injuring her two front teeth, Raina goes through a series of embarrassments with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear that her peers make fun of, and wearing a retainer with fake teeth attached. It is a great coming-of-age graphic novel for your child to read!

    

4. Big Nate Series by Lincoln Pierce

   Nate Wright is an eleven-year-old that thinks he's destined for greatness. Even though he holds the record for the most detentions in school history, his belief in his destiny is unshakeable. Lincoln Pierce started drawing Nate as a comic strip back when he was in 6th grade in 1991. Today, Pierce has 8 books and an animated series that came out in 2021.

    

5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

   American Born Chinese is a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. It's the first graphic novel to be nominated for the National Book Award and it received six Eisner Awards. The story is about an Asian-American boy named Jin Wang who has to come to terms with his life in America after he learns that he was born in China with a different name and nationality there.

    

6. Bone by Jeff Smith

   Jeff Smith is an American cartoonist and creator of the comic book series Bone. Bone was a critical and commercial success for Cartoon Books and Smith; it won 41 National and International Awards including 10 Eisner Awards and 11 Harvey Awards! It tells the story of Fone Bone and his two cousins Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone and Smiley Bone and the crazy adventure that is waiting for them!

    

7. One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

   One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who wants to become the king of the pirates, in search of the One Piece treasure. One Piece is the best-selling manga of all time, surpassing 500 million copies globally!

    

8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney

   The Wimpy Kid series of books is a 16-part story that follows the life of Greg Heffley, a middle school student. The book starts off with him getting ready for the first day of sixth grade and continues as he goes to school, hangs out with his friends, gets into trouble at home, and more. Jeff Kinney’s series has been a #1 New York Times best-selling series since it debuted in 2007, and it is a guarantee your kids will enjoy it!

At Ivy Camps USA, we offer our Comic Book Creation course, which is a part of our Writing Certificate Pathway! If your child already shows a passion for drawing and storytelling, this is the perfect class for them!