Hellobee Boards

Calvin & Hobbes? Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Captain Underpants?

My husband is really into comics and graphic novels, so naturally LO has a bunch. She likes Captain America, and LOVES this collection (Disney Princesses): http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Princess-Treasury-Volume-Comics/dp/1926516028

She will sit quietly by herself for an hour reading that princess treasury!

There are also smaller (like, single issue) comic/graphic novels for kids that are good – with your normal characters, and there are actually a bunch of pretty decent history graphic novels for kids too. If you have a good comic book store nearby, I’m sure they can steer you in the right direction.

There is a *fantastic* series based on Congressmen John Lewis about his life and his involvement in the civil rights movement (nonviolent movement), his meeting with MLK and more, called _March_. It’s actually co-written by Lewis. It’s not “for kids”, but is really good, and an accessible way to get into talking about the civil rights movement in the 60’s.

My Elementary school kids used to love the Amulet series, the Bone series, the Hardy Boys graphic novels and Nancy Drew graphic novels and Babysitter Club graphic novels. There were a set of Graphic novels for the young, young kids with all the super heros, but I just looked on Amazon and can't find them--I got them through Follett before. Oh, and Babymouse! And the Amelia Rules series.

@.twist.: DH has the whole series too and he said it's really well done. it's on LO's bookshelf now waiting for him to be ready to read it. (Might be a while, he's only 11 months )

I usually purchase for the high school set, but a couple of recommendations for the elem. crowd:

Publishers (i.e. multiple great titles)
- Toon Books
- First Second
- Graphix

Series
- Babymouse
- Geronimo Stilton
- Zita the Spacegirl
- Lunch Lady
- Joey Fly
- Battling Boy (new series)

The Bone and Amulet series have huge age cross-over appeal.

Robot Dreams is a great wordless graphic novel - perfect for practicing lots of literacy skills (retelling, prediction, etc.).

The Arrival by Shan Tan is also a beautiful wordless picture book! I love the art, nuances and lessons that you can talk about with kids. Tan is a wonderful, quirky author of other picture books worth exploring.

* Remember, if you library has a responsive staff you can put in suggestions/requests for specific titles and then you are first on the list when the book comes in!!

Scholastic Book Clubs has some graphic novels you can order at decent prices too (you aren't limited to the current month's flyer, they have more titles regularly available online).

A couple of good lists (I like to cross-reference):
http://www.ala.org/offices/resources/its_elementary_graphic_novels

http://www.atyourlibrary.org/connectwithyourkids/reading-together/best-graphic-novels-children

http://goodokbad.com/kids/#prek

http://www.slj.com/2011/07/collection-development/comic-relief-thirty-nine-graphic-novels-that-kids-cant-resist/#_