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Elementary Summer Reading 2024: Graphic Novels

Reading Graphic Novels

Graphic novel image

"Why won't my child read 'real' books? He only likes graphic novels."

There are several things to keep in mind if your child seems to only gravitate toward comics or graphic novels, supported by academic research:

  • graphic novels are highly engaging, particularly for reluctant or struggling readers
  • the combination of words and pictures increases understanding
  • reading comprehension improves with graphic novels--readers are learning to make inferences, using visual cues to understand what a character is thinking or feeling, and readers develop more fluency
  • comics feature higher levels of vocabulary than traditional children's books--53.5 rare words per thousand for comics compared to 30.9 for children's books
  • reading a variety of texts, including graphic novels, helps diversify reading skills

A central role of the school library is to support students' free choice and encourage children to find books they are excited about reading. Graphic novels add variety to and supplement the more traditional beginning readers, picture books, and chapter books that are typically used for instruction in regular classrooms. They cover a wide range of topics and genres, including non-fiction. Discouraging children from reading what they love can backfire, turning an enthusiastic graphic novel reader into a child that reads very little.

The following graphic novels are new additions to our library this year. For even more information about great graphic novels for kids, we suggest the following sites that are searchable by age. 

American Library Association Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table

No Flying, No Tights (filter by age range at the top)

 

Titles Below Recommended for Grades K-3rd:

Agents of S.U.I.T

Aster and The Accidental Magic

My Aunt is a Monster

Bea Wolf

Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers/#5

Comics Squad Recess!

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Volume 1

Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly: The Coldfire Curse #1

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom #2

The Flamingo

InvestiGATORS

The Last Comics on Earth

Leon The Extraordinary

Marshmallow & Jordan

Max Meow

The Mighty Bite

Pawcasso

Pizza and Taco: Who's The Best?

Squished

Things in The Basement

Waffles and Pancake: Flight or Fright

The Witches

Titles Below Recommended for Grades 4th-6th:

Above The Trenches

Amulet #9 Waverider

The Battle of The Labyrinth

Cold War Correspondent

Duel

Enemies

Enola Holmes

Evil Spy School

Four Eyes

Ghost Book

Lightfall #1

Lo & Behold

Mabuhay!

The Mark of Athena/Heroes of Olympus, #3

Mexikid

Miss Quinces

Nat For Nothing

Nell of Gumbling

Parachute Kids

Saving Chupie

Saving Sorya: Chang and The Sun Bear

Swim Team

The Tryout

Two Tribes