Graphic Novels

Graphic novels are an exciting way to read a story with pictures. Below is a list of recommended titles. For additional titles and assistance, please ask at the ASK ME Desk.

Grades 2 & 3

Benny and Penny in Just Pretend
by Geoffrey Hayes                                          J 741.5 HAY
Benny is pretending to be a pirate but his sister, Penny, keeps interrupting him demanding hugs. He tries to get away from her, but then begins to feel sad. Benny is pleasantly surprised when Penny kills a scary dragonfly.   32 pgs.  (Look for other Toon Book titles in a variety of reading levels.)

Babymouse. 1, Queen of the World!
by Jennifer L. Holm                                        J 741.5 HOL
Babymouse wants a life of adventure, excitement and fame. Instead, she has to settle on being unpopular in her school. Will she be invited to popular Felicia Furrypaws’ slumber party and change her uncool image?  91 pgs.  (Look for other titles starring Babymouse.)

Bumperboy & the Loud, Loud Mountain
by Debbie Huey                                              J 741.5 HUE
Follow Bumperboy and his best pal, Bumperpup, on a journey to a mysterious and deserted land. The only sign of life is a lonely, talkative mountain called Jumbra. Is he really alone? Who are the marshmallow-like creatures on the island?  How does Bumperboy help save the creatures from Dr. Yum?  128 pgs.

Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer
by Andy Runton                                              J 741.5 RUN
Owly is an owl who wants a friend. At first, Wormy is scared of Owly since owls are known to be fierce hunters. When Owly saves Wormy’s life, Wormy learns that he is a sweet, good-natured owl.  157 pgs.  (Look for other titles starring Owly and Wormy.)

Hamster and Cheese
by Colleen A. F. Venable                                J 741.5 VEN
Someone is stealing sandwiches from the pet shop’s owner. Sasspants, the guinea pig detective, is reluctantly brought into the case when Hamisher the hamster begs for his help.  46 pgs.  (Look for other Pet Shop Private Eye titles.)

Grades 3 – 6

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
edited by Kazu Kibuishi                                              J 741.5 EXP
This anthology of graphic short stories by distinguished authors of graphic novels is centered on the theme of a mysterious box and the great things (or not so great things) inside.  126 pgs.

The Adventures of Tintin
by Herge                J 741.5 HER
Young reporter Tintin and his dog, Snowy, have exciting adventures and solve mysteries in different countries. These classic graphic novels were first published in Belgium in 1935.  192 pgs.  

Peanutbutter & Jeremy’s Best Book Ever!
by James Kochalka                                          J 741.5  KOC
Peanutbutter is a sweet little cat who thinks that she works in the house where she lives. Jeremy is a temperamental crow who becomes friends with Peanutbutter, even though he always tries to steal her hats.  273 pgs.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
by Jarrett Krosoczka                                        J 741.5 KRO
Three friends (known as the breakfast bunch) wonder what the lunch lady does when she’s not cooking. Little do they know she’s a superhero in disguise, complete with a flying spatucopter, chicken nugget bombs and a lunch tray laptop. Is the robot substitute any match for Lunch Lady?  Unpaged.  (Look for other titles in the Lunch Lady Comics series.)

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson                       J 741.5 LEN
Meg Murry and her friends fight off a dark force and save our universe in a graphic adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle’s Newbery award-winning classic.  392 pgs.

Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu 1, The Challenge of Samukai!
by Greg Farshtey                                             J 741.5 FAR
The “chosen four” ninjas Kai, Jay, Cole and Zane must learn to use their elemental powers of fire, ice, lightning and earth with the guidance of their master, Sensei Wu.  62 pgs. (Look for other LEGO Ninjago graphic novels)

The Demon of River Heights
by Stefan Petrucha                                           J 741.5 PET
Everyone's favorite girl detective makes her dazzling graphic novel debut! Nancy Drew also makes her debut in a horror film concerning a monstrous River Heights urban legend. Does the River Heights Demon truly exist? Will Nancy, Bess and George live long enough to find out?  Unpaged. (Look for other Nancy Drew, Girl Detective graphic mysteries.)

Geronimo Stilton 1: Discovery of America
by Geronimo Stilton                                        J 741.5 STI
Geronimo Stilton is a talking mouse who lives on Mouse Island with his friends and relatives. It is 1492, and Geronimo joins Christopher Columbus on his voyage from Italy to America. His mission is to save all the mice on Mouse Island.   Unpaged.  (Look for other Geronimo Stilton graphic novels.)

Cardboard
by Doug TenNapel                                          J 741.5 TEN
When Cam’s unemployed father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday, he thinks it’s the worst present ever. His opinion changes when he and his father bend the cardboard into a man, and it magically comes to life. Danger looms when the neighborhood bully, Marcus, gets involved.  283 pgs.

Bake Sale
by Sarah Varon                                                            J 741.5 VAR
Cupcake has a pretty good life. He has a bakery, a band and his best friend, Eggplant. His days are spent cooking, being with friends and playing music. Recently, Cupcake has been having a hard time in the kitchen. The solution to his baking woes has got to be somewhere.  157 pgs.

Middle School

Yotsuba&!. 1
by Kiyohiko Azuma                                        J 741.5 AZU
Young Yotsuba is a very curious and somewhat crazy young girl who moves to a new neighborhood with her father. Join Yotsuba in her adventures such as going to the department store, catching cicadas and the attack of the villainous Boxerman.  224 pgs.  (Look for other Yotsuba&! titles.)

Anya’s Ghost
by Vera Brosgol                                               J 741.5 BRO
Anya feels lonely and desperately wants a friend. When she falls down a well, Anya finds someone who has been dead for a century. A new friend, even a ghost, is just what she needs (or so she thinks).  221 pgs.

Dark Graphic Tales
by Denise Despeyroux                                                            J 741.5 DES
Take a mysterious journey through three of Edgar Allen Poe’s tales adapted especially for middle-school readers.  96 pgs.

Hikaru No Go.1, Descent of the Go Master
by Yumi Hotta                                                 J 741.5 HOT
Hikaru Shindo is not interested in playing the ancient Japanese strategy game called Go until he encounters the spirit of the ancient Go master, Fujiwara-no-Sai. Hikaru is the only person who can see Sai, and with Sai’s instructions, Hikaru is able to beat the most difficult Go players. Will Hikaru himself become a great Go player with Sai’s teachings? 183 pgs.  (Look for other titles in the Hikaru No Go series.)

Rapunzel’s Revenge
by Shannon Hale                                             J 741.5 HAL
As a punishment for climbing the tall wall surrounding her fancy villa, Rapunzel is forced to live in a creepy tree that her mother has grown. Rapunzel lives in the tree for so long that her hair grows to a ridiculous length. It isn’t long enough, though, to escape from her imprisonment.  144 pgs.  (Also look for the sequel: Calamity Jack.)

Naruto 1: The Tests of the Ninja
by Masashi Kishimoto                                     J 741.5 KIS
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, buried within him, a strange power. His antics amuse his instructor and irritate his teammates. Naruto desperately wants to become the greatest ninja in his village.  186 pgs.  (Look for other titles in the Naruto series.)

Out from Boneville
by Jeff Smith                                                   J 741.5 SMI
The three Bone cousins, Smiley, Phoney and Fone are run out of Boneville. When they travel past the borders of their map, they are separated. One by one, they all find their way to a fantastical valley filled with unusual creatures. They must struggle through the sudden winter to find each other and find their way back home.  138 pgs.  (Look for other titles in the Bone series.)

Pretty Guardian, Sailor Moon. 1
by Naoko Takeuchi                                         J 741.5 TAK
Usagi Tsukino wakes up from a nap one day to discover that she is now Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon’s mission is to fight evil and enforce justice in the name of the moon in this engaging graphic novel.  240 pgs.  (Look for other titles in the Sailor Moon series.)

Drama
by Raina Telgemeier                                        J 741.5 TEL
Callie loves the theater. Since she can’t sing, she decides to be the set designer for the stage crew. She wants to create a Broadway set, but that is challenging on a middle-school budget. Drama ensues when everything starts to go wrong!  233 pgs.

rev. 1/13 JB

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      630-584-9390 or contact us online.

This list was created by Youth Services, St. Charles Public Library.