For years, parents and teachers sometimes dismissed graphic novels as “just cartoons.” And I still hear families say, "I want them to read a real book, or they need to read a book with words, we're past that." (cue side-eye)
Today, graphic novels are some of the most powerful tools we have to keep kids reading and loving it.
Graphic novels can be magical gateways for kids who might feel daunted by long text-only books. The visual storytelling, pacing, and layered plots help with comprehension, confidence, and just pure reading joy.
How they help build strong readers:
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They blend art + text so readers can follow context even if some words are unfamiliar.
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They allow kids to feel flow: visuals support comprehension, which boosts confidence, which encourages more reading.
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They draw in reluctant readers: bright pages, action, humor—kids often want to keep turning pages.
Here are some of our top picks:
New Kid I Jerry Craft
New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real.
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Frizzy I Claribel A. Ortega
Frizzy is about Marlene, a young Dominican girl whose greatest enemy is the hair salon! Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming and gorgeous middle-grade graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all.
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Miles Morales: Shock Waves (Original Spider-Man I Justin A Reynolds
Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother's birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island.
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Pie in the Sky I Remy Lai
A laugh-out-loud illustrated middle-grade novel about an eleven-year-old boy's immigration experience, his annoying little brother, and their cake-baking hijinks!
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Swim Team I Johnnie Christmas
Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees-until she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears.
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Weirdo I Tony Weaver Jr.
From rising star Tony Weaver, Jr. comes a middle-grade graphic novel memoir about an awkward preteen who loves all things geeky but struggles with mental health issues and self-doubt.
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💡 Parent Tip: If your child loves graphic novels, lean into it! They aren’t “cheating”. They’re a bridge to more reading confidence and deeper comprehension.
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Want more? Explore our full collection of diverse graphic novels aand discover stories that spark confidence, creativity, and a love of reading [Shop the Collection →]
