Graphic novels are my secret weapon for reluctant readers, both boys and girls, but they are also the slippery slope for newly independent readers to develop a love of reading. I became a huge fan of graphic novels when my son learned to read in first grade. Not only did graphic novels get him asking to go to the library in search of books, but it also helped him with reading comprehension. YES, graphic novels support reading comprehension strategy development in children!
It’s the magic of pictures and words. Words + Pictures = A Game Changer for Reading Comprehension. Not only do kids love graphic novels and notebook novels and will eagerly devour them, but having to figure out the story from the words and the images helps kids develop critical reading comprehension strategies that they will need to employ for school, for life, and certainly, for Common Core standardized testing. This kind of reading comprehension strategy transfers to chapter books, non-fiction, and all other genres.
To celebrate the educational value + sheer pleasure of graphic novels/notebook novels = reading nirvana, I have a book list below to help you find more graphic novels for your kids based on other books that you might know.
How about you? What graphic novels do you and your kids like and could you please give us the plot with two books? (Or not!) Thanks for sharing!
This Book + That Book = Graphic Novel Find
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If you take the friendship and reading level of Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel and add in the environmental message of Hoot by Carl Hiaasan, you get …
Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue by Paige Braddock
Stinky Cecil, a toad, and his animal friends notice a new highway that threatens their pond and are not afraid to take on the machines and humans to save their way of life. One of their friends, a salamander, saves the day in an unexpected way. [graphic novel for newly independent readers, ages 5 and up]
This Book + That Book = Notebook Novel Find
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If you take the “Every Boy” in Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney but add in comic book superheroes such as The Return of Superman (DC Comics) by Dan Jurgens, you will end up with …
The G-Man Super Journal: Awesome Origins by Chris Giarrusso
Michael G wants superpowers of his own as his friends seem to effortlessly acquire them. He needs some kind of boost given his teacher is out to get him and his older brother picks on him. Could it be that his grandfather’s blanket will unlock his latent superpowers? [notebook novel, ages 6 and up]
This Book + That Book = Notebook Novel Find
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Short mysteries for readers to solve in Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook Volume 1 by Liam O’Donnell with aliens in the neighborhood like Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Elise Allen make for riveting reading such as …
Alien Invasion in My Backyard: An EMU Club Adventure by Ruben Bolling
11-year-old Stuart forms The EMU Club with his best friend and little sister in search of Exploration, Mystery, and “Unbelievable,” not realizing that this combination is brewing in his own backyard. When his video game controller goes missing, they discover something unbelievable in their dog’s doghouse — he’s a computer genius who’s staved off an alien invasion for 500 years. Unfortunately, the aliens arrive and it’s up to The EMU Club to send them home. Will their prowess in a water fight save the day? [notebook novel, ages 7 and up]
This Book + That Book = Notebook Novel Find
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The allure of popularity in Big Nate: Say Goodbye to Dork City by Lincoln Peirce combined with a theme park adventure in Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson will get you …
Desmond Pucket and the Mountain Full of Monsters by Mark Tatulli
Sixth grader Desmond Pucket has a gift for pulling off “scares.” A “scare” is like a magic trick; it requires a lot of planning and precise execution. All of his life, he’s waited to ride a theme park roller coaster called Mountain Full of Monsters. He wants to ride it with cutie Tina Schimsky — she’s game — but his teacher Mr. Needles is working overtime to prevent him from having any fun during their school field trip. And this is his last chance because the Mountain Full of Monsters roller coaster is coming down. Can Desmond get the ride of dreams, the girl, and even possibly, the monsters from the ride? [notebook novel, ages 7 and up]
This Book + That Book = Graphic Novel Find
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If you take the daring adventure of Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne and add in three unknown adventures including The Daring Nellie Bly: America’s Star Reporter by Bonnie Christensen which is a picture book biography about a real female reporter who went on a daring around the world trip for a newspaper scoop, you end up with …
Three Remarkable Journeys Around the World by Matt Phelan
There are three true life adventures in this graphic novel of world travel but Nellie Bly is the only female. She raced around the world to beat Jules Verne’s 80 days against another newspaper female reporter adversary. There’s also Thomas Stevens, a miner who wanted something more. He pedaled a giant front-wheeled bicycle in all kinds of terrain traversing the world as both adventurer and writer. Finally, sea captain Joshua Slocum repaired a sloop and then sailed it alone in dangerous seas. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
This Book + That Book = Graphic Novel Find
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If you take the high school social drama of Drama by Raina Telgemeier and add in a robotics competition that requires know-how such as Robotics: Discover the Science & Technology of the Future with 20 Projects by Kathy Ceceri, you will end up with …
Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks
It’s the cheerleaders against the robotics team, but not like you’d think. You see, the ex-boyfriend of the head cheerleader is also involved. Who would have thought the basketball captain — who’s afraid of his ex — would side with the robotics squad while being a pawn for the cheerleaders in a school election that will determine which team can make their big competition? For readers who liked Smile and Drama, here’s the most similar graphic novel I can find with high school drama, the kind that is not played out on a stage! [graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
Two Graphic Novel Giveaways (2 Winners!)
Thank you to AMP! Comics for Kids for sponsoring this giveaway of Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue and Alien Invasion in My Backyard. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
My grandkids have all loved the Captain Underpants graphic novels. They have read many others and enjoyed them, but always drift bank to the captain. The two reluctant readers, for whom words on the page are a struggle to decipher, have really improved both their reading skills and their enjoyment. I plan to surprise them when I take them on vacation next month with a new stack of graphic novels, several of the ones you mentioned in this blog have piqued my interest!
Hi Mojra,
My son loved Captain Underpants too and graphic novels got him reading. I hope your grandkids like these books too. What a great hands-on grandmother you are to get your grandkids books that are just right for them!
My son’s favorite graphic novel is The Flash.
Hi Valerie,
My son too!!! I think he made me buy 4 of the graphic novel books so far!! I didn’t realize there were so many on The Flash!
I’m not sure I have a favorite, but my son’s favorites currently are the Wimpy Kid books.
Hi Diane,
My kids loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series too! It’s such a great series to get kids reading.
These are great! Thank you so much, Mia, for your wonderful blog!!!
Thank you for your kind words Erika! You totally just made my day!
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Hi Leslie,
My son and I love El Deafo too! Thanks so much for your great book rec!
Amulet series, El Deafo and anything Telgemeier! But the list could go on and on… I can’t speak highly enough about how GNs engage readers.
Hi Beth,
Me too!! Graphic novels got my son reading and he transitioned to chapter books after that. I love them!
My favorite graphic novel series is the Amulet.
My son and husband love The Amulet too! I started reading it and got scared but then I pushed on and I can see why they are hooked!
I want to try Kristy’s Great Idea…
Hi Dari,
Hope you enjoy it!