Best Graphic Novels for Primary School Children

We are big fans of the InvestiGators graphic novel series. This pun-filled action series is a hit with younger fans of the graphic novel format and has hooked in lovers of Dog Man and The Bad Guys through its full-colour animal antics, funny cases to solve, and clever wordplay.

We love the good, clean fun of this series, and parents and teachers know that young graphic novel fans are in good hands with these books. Author John Patrick Green said of the series, “Of all the comics I’ve created in my professional career, making InvestiGators has come closest to recapturing that feeling of being 11 years old, drawing comics in my bedroom, with the sole intention of making my friends and classmates laugh.”

John’s commitment to child-centred visual humour and puns has clearly paid off and is reflected in the popularity of this series, which teachers and librarians tell us is flying off primary bookshelves at lightning speed. For children, the books are funny from the get-go, and pun-loving grown-ups like us can’t help but smile at the non-stop wordplay woven through the action scenes, too.

The Dog Man books form a wildly popular children’s book series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. The series features a half-dog, half-human police officer who fights crime and saves the day in the city.

Written in a graphic novel format with comic-style illustrations and speech bubbles, these books are popular with children aged 6-9. The series has become known for hooking children into reading through visual humour and wacky storylines. Each story in the Dog Man series is told through several short chapters, and the books can be read in any order.

Readers who enjoy Dog Man might also like to explore our Branching Out list of more books like Dog Man.

The Bunny Vs Monkey series by Jamie Smart has become a popular favourite with children. The stories started as part of the Phoenix Comic and have now been made into a book series of their own. Teachers are seeing what a big hit these funny graphic novels have been in the classroom and the books have also seen success in bestseller lists and book award shortlists.

The stories follow the wacky tales of Bunny and his friends Weenie the Squirrel, Pig (the pig), Action Beaver and Skunky the Inventor, who all lived a peaceful life in the forest until Monkey’s rocket crash-landed and he decided to take over. What follows is a riot of chaotic adventures and mayhem that unfolds through a funny comic strip format.

If you enjoy this series, check out our list of more books for fans of Bunny vs Monkey.

This graphic novel is based on a very silly story and one that will go down a treat! Firstly, it’s about pizza – always a popular topic with children! Secondly, it stars two likeable, somewhat barmy characters (the good guys) and several creepy, villainous ones.

Its comic strip style is super appealing and colourful and the story is crammed with jokes and high jinks. The storyline is interesting (read fun, surprising, wacky, and inventive) and there’s a drawing tutorial at the end. Readers will be pleased to see the promise of future Peng and Spanners books.

This book will fly off the graphic novel shelf and is perfect for fans of the Investigators and Sparks in KS1 and KS2.

This colourful, cartoon-style reference book brings history to life with humour and fun. Following on from the enormous success of its award-winning predecessor ‘A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You‘, this book is packed full of information and facts, presented in an entertaining comic style that is a joy to read.

The book is divided into three main sections – Ancient History, The Middle Ages, and The Modern Age. Within each section, relevant ‘day in the life’ comics describes certain aspects of history. We learn about the typical day of a Neanderthal, an Inca Farmer, and a Gladiator, as well as the more unexpected daily routines of a wheel, a Samurai sword, and a stick of chalk!

Additional ‘bigger picture’ pages give extra details and more in-depth information – for example on Civil Rights, the Terracotta Army, and the world map. ‘Secret Diaries’ provides a wider viewpoint over a larger timescale – we find out from Isaac Newton’s cat that he got stuck in an apple tree, dislodging one of the fruits; The diary of a wooden board from Leonardo da Vinci’s studio stretches over four hundred years and sees the board end up in an art gallery in Paris. ‘Newsflashes’ are interspersed throughout the book and give more context to the ‘days in the life’ and ‘secret diaries’ by filling you in on what else was happening in the world at the time, and there is also a world map and a glossary for easy reference.

Readers will enjoy the variety of historical information, which feels like a balanced view of different areas of the globe. This is a great book to sit and read individually, or to dip into when exploring related topics.

I love this series and jumped at the chance to get hold of River Rescue for my younger primary pupils! Paige Braddock has really hit the sweet spot for younger readers new to graphic novels. These are just lovely, simple stories of a wise grown-up dog (Crackers), a typical grumpy heart-of-gold cat (Butter) and an irrepressible new puppy (Peanut). They’re very straightforward stories which don’t rely on puns or clever vocabulary to be funny; the humour is all in the characters, making them ideal for children who have maybe struggled but are making progress into independent, confident readers. When you hear “I can’t put it down!” from these readers, you know you’re on to something a bit special.

River Rescue tells the story of a camper van trip into the woods – super-exciting for little Peanut, perhaps not quite so much for home-loving Crackers. All is comfortable until Butter’s feline pride gets the better of him, mysteriously disappearing off for an adventure with Peanut, and the two end up needing calm, steady Crackers (and a helpful beaver!) to pull them out of the river. The illustrations are bright, clean and uncluttered, with larger typeface than usual in the speech bubbles. There’s a short bonus story and a “how to draw the characters” section at the back in the same vein as Dogman and Bunny vs Monkey.

Peanut, Butter and Crackers are great stories in their own right, but they could serve as an introduction to graphic novels and is real fun for Year 1 and Year 2.

A young graphic novel series, about two friendly ‘bugbops’ called Bumble and Snug.

This brightly illustrated story is lovely for Key Stage 1 to read independently. The characters are lovable, the story is fun and easy to follow, and the comic strip style makes for a really fun read. There are oodles of fun moments to enjoy, from picnics and pirates to jelly and a giant octopus.

Visual readers new to the graphic novel format will find this a real treat.

A laugh-out-loud short graphic novel, bound to get even the least enthusiastic readers engaged.

The three short comic-style stories would be great for introducing a graphic novel to reading sessions for those children moving on from phonics; exploring the characters, the humour and how the illustrations support the storytelling and help the reader make inferences about the characters. It is jam-packed with possibilities for the classroom. There are Narwhal and Jellyfish facts that could lead to information writing and the final text is a reflection on imagination and storytelling the blank pages would be a brilliant prompt for children to unleash their own creativity and design their own comic strip style stories.

A reading-for-pleasure ‘must have’ for the KS1 classroom! I highly recommend it!

This graphic novel for younger readers is absolutely hilarious. Beak, the bird and Ally, the alligator meet when Beak moves into Ally’s swamp. From the very first second Beak annoys Ally considerably with all his talking and singing and talking. Ally likes being alone, well most of the time and Beak is quite insistent that Ally needs a friend like him.

This book has a lovely message about making and finding new friends in different places and situations and is full of jokes. My eight-year-old daughter loves this book. She has re-read it another four times now without any prompting from me!

Norm Feuti’s colourful illustrations engage the reader. This book would be great for introducing children to graphic novels and be perfect for fans of the Narwhal and Jelly books. This book would be suitable for younger readers in KS1 but also slightly older reluctant readers too.

Press Start! is a series of books aimed at readers who are ready for their first chapter books or those who feel overwhelmed by longer chapter books.

‘Game On, Super Rabbit Boy’ is set in the game of Super Rabbit Boy Land, a platform game that is activated when the boy in the story presses start. For this book, Super Rabbit Boy has to save Singing Dog who has been captured by the game’s main enemy, King Viking. Once he starts the rescue, he is faced with the challenge of successfully completing six levels of increasing difficulty with only limited lives. As the game progresses, failure occurs and Super Rabbit Boy has to learn from his errors as he restarts a level. He has to remember what he has learned, apply his new knowledge, overcome his fears and go for the win. Not only must Super Rabbit Boy not give up, but nor should the boy who is playing the game – the theme of resilience and perseverance is very strong and would suit classroom conversations about not giving up.

Children who love gaming would very likely be attracted to the book – it reflects the visual style of Minecraft of Roblox, but it will appeal to a wide audience because of the level of detail, bright colours and range of illustrations page after page. The speech bubbles, relatively simple sentences, repetition and short paragraphs will make this work well as an independent reader for the more confident, as well as a shared reader.

In this episode of graphic novel series Pablo and Splash, the characters plan a holiday, yet are unable to find Professor O’Brain to help them into his time machine. Bustling with jokes and plays on word, this is a joyous, easy read, which will appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. Will Artificial Technology really be able to outsmart this famous duo? Or will they successfully muddle their way through the Ice Age to rescue the Professor?

This comic-style book muddles through many mishaps, meets very questionable cave men and even comes face to face with the world’s cutest sabre-toothed tiger (hang on… aren’t they extinct?).

Both children and adults will love reading to find out whether Pablo and Splash will make it out alive, or be DOOMED in the Ice Age forever.

This ‘out of this world’ graphic novel has lots to like and is a strong first offering from a brand new series of young graphic novels.

The story follows Nova, who is from a family of scientists and creative geniuses. Influenced by an environmental problem she sees on the news, Nova rushes to her secret lab to try to find a solution. After a few attempts, she succeeds, and all seems well until things get out of control and she is in a race against time to stop Chomp on his path of destruction. Nova soon realises that she cannot do this on her own and needs to enlist the help of her sister Cassi.

This short and easy-to-read graphic novel is fast-paced, fun and the perfect read for budding inventors or scientists. With bright colours, energetic characters and important themes like plastic pollution, girls in STEM and environmental problem-solving, this is pitched for 7-9 year olds and will surely appeal across primary schools.

Happy Hills is a place full of fun and chaos, just like this book, and is a place children will love to visit to escape their own reality. This bold and colourful book is pleasing to the eye and will attract the most reluctant reader with its comic style. As we follow the different stories of the Happy Hills’ characters, we visit a duck’s happy place, sing sea shanties with Captain Crosspants and disco dance with a cat; there is fun and silliness on every page and giggles galore! But when the Giant Danger Kittens arrive at the Hills, can the gang come together to defeat them?

The pages of this brilliant book are packed with visual treats and each mini story comes together to deliver an amazing adventure.

Fans of the Super Happy Magic Forest stories will love this book – it is not one to be missed!

We love this good-natured graphic novel series!

Brand new teacher Mr Wolf starts his first day at Hazelwood school, teaching a Year 5 class. The fun of animal characters in an instantly familiar classroom setting is an instant appeal, with the warmth of the regular routines of the school day coupled with the funny and surprises that crop up in normal classrooms too. Fans of Pamela Butchart’s Wigglesbottom Primary series will enjoy moving on to these school-based tales next.

These comic-style books are warm and humorous, and an enormous hit with children around 7-10. Primary children looking for graphic novels sometimes need to navigate their choices to avoid books originally aimed at older children (because of the publishing history of the format, which was popular with teens before gradually becoming more accessible to a younger audience, much to our delight!).

We highly recommend Mr Wolf’s Class as a safe, enjoyable and entertaining choice for KS2 children.

This is a cheerful, full-colour graphic novel for young readers set in the undersea town of Nowhere. We’re introduced to the main characters, Ollie the vampire squid and his best friend Zing, the sea bunny, who with their friends and neighbours form the Squid Squad, each with their own special aquatic super power. We follow them through a series of wacky adventures in which those super powers eventually save the day.

The balance between having enough peril to make the plot exciting without scaring very young readers is very deftly managed, making this great for KS1.

I expect this book to be particularly popular with children in Years 1-4 and it would work well as a first introduction to graphic novels. It’s prefect for fans of: Max and Chaffy; Narwhal and friends; Peanut, Butter and Crackers; Bumble & Snug.

A funny, fast-paced graphic novel full of thrills and excitement, which would be perfect for any fan of similar texts such as Dog Man and Bunny vs Monkey.

This vibrant story documents the twists and turns of Josh and Daisy, who stumble upon Dadbot—a robot with super-strength at a car boot sale to save themselves from a telling off from a trader. Their summer holidays take a turn for the extraordinary as they activate Dadbot, only to find themselves facing the villainous Doctor Egg, who plans to steal Dadbot for world domination.

This book was snapped up when it was first placed in our school library and was met with lots of rave reviews. The children are looking forward to further updates on DadBot and his adventures!

The story unfolds with plenty of action, puns, and unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. This text is perfect for Y3 readers or fans of graphic novels who enjoy humour and adventure.

This is a hilarious graphic novel about a girl who falls down a hole into the underworld and has to battle the ruler, while navigating terrifying challenges such as the “bog of intense emotions”.

A funny, weird, mysterious and absurd page-turner!

A fun graphic novel in which the author and illustrator team clearly know their craft and their audience and manage, with an economy of words and lively pictures, all that is needed to tell the incredible story of two heavily disguised cats and an alien posing as a baby. The latter is fixed on world domination (of humankind), and the former on saving it. When calamity strikes, cats August and Charlie quickly come to the rescue, with the help of a weirdly smart litter box and not helped, on occasion, by their tendency to argue.

It all makes for a very amusing, madcap adventure that makes perfect sense to readers willing to suspend reality. This is just what many children want and why I think it will prove a hugely popular resource in primary school libraries. Just don’t expect it to stay on the shelf for long.

Stitch Head is a loveable little character – almost human – who has been created, and then forgotten, by his master the mad Professor Erasmus Erasmus. When Stitch Head inadvertently saves the professor’s latest monstrous creation (who has one eye, two noses and three ears) and calms him down with an anti-werewolf potion, the monster immediately vows to be Stitch Head’s ‘bestest friend’.

Stitch Head, who has never had a friend before and lives to serve his crazy master, is at first overwhelmed with the idea of friendship but the pair work together to save the town of Grubbers Nubbin and its fearful residents including the spunky Arabella Guff, from the arrival of a mysterious travelling carnival as well as from the mad Professor’s creations. Stitch Head recounts to his new friend how he was made out of leftovers by the professor, many years ago, when he was just a boy. But those idyllic early years ended abruptly when Stitch Head, along with all the boy’s toys, was locked away and the boy was instructed to take over his father’s work. Stitch Head now lives in the shadows, helping the Professor from afar and ensuring that his creations don’t escape, ‘for what humans fear…they will destroy.’

This graphic edition of Guy Bass’s novel will be highly popular with KS2 children. Both the style and the storyline are likely to win over previously reluctant readers; Stich Head has just the right mix of strong storyline and action-packed illustrations. The text, although mainly delivered using speech bubbles, builds a fun, fast-paced coherent narrative and Pete Williamson’s rollicking illustrations lend emotion and detail to the characters in this, the first of six Stitch Head graphic novels.

Mega Robo Bros is a long-running comic strip in The Phoenix, written and illustrated by Neill Cameron. The stories are not available in a series of graphic novels and are huge hits with KS2.

Alex and Freddy are robots and also brothers, doing typical brother things like arguing, going to theme parks and annoying each other at school. The boys band together when a series of robot attacks take place in London and the pair need to work as a team to defeat Evil Robot 23.

An action-packed graphic novel weaving feel-good themes of family and school life with a good scattering of deadly lasers, jet packs, danger and some excellent sidekicks.

This is a fast-paced and fun graphic novel series that is the perfect new read for fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Dog Man and the Beano.

The story follows two cats, who embark upon a hilarious monster-slaying quest to save their town from an attack of sea creatures. This funny graphic novel has Medieval weapons, bumbling wizards, rampaging monsters and wannabe warrior cats.

I love this fun book about a comic-making club for animals. It teaches children to never ever ever give up and I love the examples of comics made in lots of different styles (even clay, junk modelling and collages). It’s really fun, especially if you already love the Dog Man books!

This is unapologetically and undeniably a book about poo.

It’s a fact-based science comic book, and likely to appeal to fans of “A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You” and other books in that series. There’s a lot of information crammed in about the digestive system, including comparing the human digestive process with that of other animals. There’s also detailed discussion of how sewage is processed. It’s all presented in a cheerful comic style in full colour throughout the book, with a lot of jokes thrown in.

Instructions for how to draw the two main characters are a nice addition. The style makes the book accessible for a wide range of ages and reading abilities. The authors don’t shy away from using technical vocabulary about the digestive system, but do introduce and clearly explain any terms that are likely to be unfamiliar. There’s also a helpful glossary provided at the back.

The subject matter means this book won’t appeal to all children; it’s not a book for the squeamish. Those children that do choose to read it are likely to love it and will laugh and learn a lot along the way.

This is a madcap collection of short sketches, each 1-2 pages long, that will have huge appeal to fans of series such as Bunny vs Monkey.

Early on in the book, we are introduced to a bizarre range of characters, such as: Jammyboi, who creates havoc by squeezing jam over a variety of important historical and legal documents; Chalky – the ghost of a murdered Victorian donut; and an (unnamed) man going to extreme lengths (including space travel) to avoid an over-enthusiastic donut force feeding itself to him. There are also excellent ‘Ask Your Father’ features, which are very well-observed, and involve Dadnut over-explaining life lessons to Lil Timmy, his son. Alongside all this chaos, a host of bagel characters are planning a rebellion against their sweet relations, hoping to turn mankind against the sugary treats.

Only when Anxiety Donut is sent to investigate the rumours does the true scale of the conflict unfold.In addition to the mini-stories, there are pages of humorous ‘advertisements’ that start with innocuous fan merchandise and develop into war-mongering accessories. The ‘Rejected Donut Flavours’ feature was very appealing too – anyone for ‘broccoli glazed’ donuts?The short nature of these sketches will make them appealing to reluctant readers as well as graphic novel fans, and the sections at the end featuring step-by-step guides to create and draw your own characters will appeal to keen illustrators too. This will be a popular title on bookshelves!

The opening to the book has illustrations that introduce you to some of the characters, followed by a unique map, which gives you a brief overview of The Garden, showing the Unfairies and Tree Fairies holdings. Pip, the little hero fairy of this story, sets out with his new friend Midge by his side to deliver a report on how the winter food stores have gone mouldy. Danger seems to follow him throughout, or perhaps he follows danger!

His encounters with sticky, bug-bum honey, a crash involving a beetle and centipede and the carrying of a prophecy are just a few of the quests set out for Pip. Throughout the book, double-page spreads share a map or information page based on different areas of The Garden and Oakhold, both unique and humorous.

This graphic novel is a fantastic combination of a Welsh author, who provides endless laughs, and an Italian illustrator, who brings the colours and vibrancy. It ticks all the boxes for a fun read.

We adore this moving graphic novel memoir about deafness by Cece Bell.

Cece Bell retells her memories of being a young child, when she experienced hearing loss after being ill with meningitis. In this graphic novel retelling of her life, characters are redrawn as charming anthropomorphic bunnies – although, after a few pages, you forget that they are not just people. Despite the challenges of her condition, Cece approaches life with positivity and bounce.  A throwaway comment by another child called her ‘El Deafo’ sparks the creation of a fun alter-ego, empowering her to think like a superhero would about her hearing aid (which she sees as cool gadgets that give her extra powers). Other themes covered in the story include friendship, moving class and celebrating differences.

Readers will whizz through this thought-provoking and unique graphic novel.  There’s also an author note that gives a little more background about Cece Bell’s life.

A 245-page graphic novel by Caldecott Medal winner and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Dan Santat. Sophia’s father, a marine biologist, was lost at sea when his research vessel sank. At the mercy of investors, the ‘Aqualand’ marine reserve he founded to protect sea life and continue their research is getting slowly but surely turned into a money-making theme park. One day, a strange being in an old fashioned diving suit emerges from the ocean searching for ‘Aqualand’. When they meet Sophia there, it is revealed that the suit is piloted by four friends from the ocean who, having found her father’s journal near his shipwrecked vessel, are wowed by the promise of a safe haven where they can be protected from the dangers of the ocean. Sophia becomes firm friends with these brave little creatures, and in their humorous adventures not only do they help Sophia with her science project, but together they save ‘Aqualand’ and make it into the haven it was always supposed to be.

A gripping graphic novel. For those who like true-to-life drama in their graphic novels rather than fantasy or whacky humour, this is a superb read that really packs a punch.

The story follows twelve-year-old Jordan as he tries to fit in at a new school. The challenges of blending in at an elite, non-diverse private school become quickly apparent. This insightful story is poignantly told through words and pictures, and explores themes of racism, fitting in, prejudice, moving schools and confidence.

A perfect choice for reflective Year 6 children who like to think about wider social themes and are getting ready to move schools for themselves.

Ever wanted to know ‘What a humble dung bug has to do with the rising sun’, ‘Why the pyramids were built’ or ‘What was the role of the baboon police’? Then look no further! Told in a comic book style, ‘Pets Tell Tales – Ancient Egypt’ is an engaging and hilarious way for young readers to learn about the history of Ancient Egypt.

The book begins with an introduction from Manny (an Egyptian bird similar to Bennu), explaining where the reader can find Egypt on a Map. Throughout the chapters, Manny adds his hilarious commentary, engaging the reader with witty remarks and asides.

Among the comic strips, the book interweaves timelines, graphs, images, dates and key facts to aid learning on this period of history. These work as tools to clarify the story and embed learning. I would recommend this book to history lovers, graphic novel fans, reluctant readers and any primary school child who has an interest in Ancient Egypt.

An enjoyable sports-themed graphic novel recommended for Year 5 and Year 6.

This graphic novel oozes individuality. It’s the story of Astrid, a middle-grade girl on the cusp of adolescence and coping with all the problems that come pre-prescribed.

Roller Girl packs much in: friendship, mother/daughter relationships, being yourself and self-belief (also hair-dye), all under the backdrop of roller derby (to say it’s a sport not for the faint-hearted is an understatement)!

Sisters Kyra, Margot and Janna are off for a wonderful innocent summer at their Grandma’s home in Frygea Forest – a summer of blanket forts, campfires and tree climbing. But after older sister Margot wanders into the forest and looks a Fog Fury in the eye, little do they know, that before the holiday is over, they will all be changed…

This is a story of both light and dark. Literally, in terms of the changing colour schemes as dark forces appear and recede, but also in terms of the challenges the sisters face. Frygea Forest is a mystical place, full of unusual creatures, some friendly and whimsical, such as the Root Goblins, Alfs and Wisps, and some malevolent –Hell Hound, Trolls and, most feared of all, the Fog Furies.

In the other-worldly forest, the dangers are dramatic – baby Janna becomes lost in the dark and Kyra gets sucked deep into the swamp and becomes trapped by Trolls. But back in the farmhouse, the more prosaic changes that face Margot as she enters puberty, as her body changes and as she grows away from her sisters, are more profound.

Sisters of the Mist is a stunning debut from Marlyn Spaaij, reminiscent, in both the graphic style, the themes and the emotional depth leavened with humour, of Raina Telgemeier’s work.

There is some mild language (butt, boobies) and older themes (specifically periods), which means Sisters of the Mist is only appropriate for the older end of Primary, and beyond. Many children in the upper primary age group will benefit from its central message and use of metaphors to explore puberty. As the book itself ends, ”Change can be very scary. And even though you’re afraid, sometimes you have to let your biggest fears come true. You’ll see afterwards, it’s not so scary. Not anymore”.

A pre-teen graphic novel from a series of graphic novel memoirs about growing up, puberty, navigating peer relationships, tackling school and finding self-confidence.

In this book, American twelve-year-old Raina has a momentary accident that causes injury to her teeth and leads to years of dental treatment. The story follows the ups and downs of her experience of braces, headgear, dental surgery and fake teeth – all at a time of life when self-consciousness is high and a rush of embarrassment comes easily, especially about personal appearance.

Readers will feel empathy with Raina, but will also draw courage from her journey and see that true friendships run deeper than surface appearance.

A great addition to the library or book area for children to read independently. A mystery graphic novel that had the children hooked and waiting to pass along to others – this is one of the most popular fantasy graphic novel series in Upper KS2.

Strong artwork links the themes with a developing storyline. The storyline follows a pair of siblings who go on a mission to rescue a family member, which takes them to a land of magical creatures. The characters are imaginative and the story is full of treats for readers who love mythical creatures and fantasy quests.

Lightfall ‘The Girl and The Galdurian’ was my starting place for the discovery of graphic novels – a foray into a genre I had hitherto avoided – and what a spectacular journey it was! The artwork in graphic novels is a hugely important part of the book and Lightfall is no exception – the artwork alone is a captivating example of a great graphic novel and a gentle introduction to the genre for mid to upper KS2.

The storyline is great too. Tim Probert, in his first full-length graphic novel, takes us on an enchanting journey through the world of Irpa, a place where the sun has been extinguished and the Galdurians, an ancient race, have created floating lights to act in place of the sun. The story follows Beatrice a young girl who lives peacefully foraging for plants and making medicines with her adoptive grandfather, Alfirid, known as the Pig Wizard. However one day her grandfather disappears and so Bea sets out to find him. On her journey, she meets Cadwallader, a Galdurian who is lost, and together they embark on an epic adventure.

Tim Probert’s artwork is beautiful, with images saying more than words alone – such as the twisting vines that twine around Bea when she is feeling anxious or fearful. Lightfall paints a rich fantasy world filled with the heartwarming tale of two adventurers and their friendship and courage. Book One, The Girl and the Galdurian, leaves us keen for more – and Books Two and Three continue the epic adventure.

For those not already familiar with the Miles Morales character from the Marvel movie ‘Into the Spider-Verse’, Miles is an alternate Spider-Man doing his superhero thing in Brooklyn, while also juggling school, friendship issues and doing the right thing by his family.

New to the Spidey-game, Miles is still learning how to web sling accurately, when he comes across two young thieves, Vex and Trinity, who also seem to have superpowers. From here on, we follow a classic formula of adventure, evil bosses, hidden identities and magical glowing rocks. Whilst that might make ‘Miles Morales: Shock Waves’ sound derivative, in truth it is anything but: as a non-Marvel-fan, I was quickly drawn in. Particularly engaging are the family scenes when Miles’ family are affected by an earthquake in Puerto Rica, and Miles’ floundering attempts to make friends with new girl, Kyle, at school.

The text throughout is written in a conversational style with an approachable tone and lots of very funny snarky come-backs. Young readers will love the contemporary references to Instagram and TikTok dance challenges, while Marvel fans will love spotting the odd hidden easter egg reference to the wider MCU. 

Miles Morales: Shock Waves is a superb and deserving of a place in every primary school library. I hope there are many more to come in this fantastic new graphic novel series.

This highly appealing text is a hybrid between picture book and graphic novel. It follows the story of young Leo, who finds himself on an Ancient Greek quest to slay a beast. This modern twist on the myth of Perseus and Medusa is full of all of the delights expected of Greek mythology – monsters, heroes, quests and challenges – while emphasising a new set of values around what it means to be a hero.

Perfect for those who adore adventures, history, mythology or a strong lead female character.

Luna grapples with strange forest creatures, exciting and dangerous challenges, along with a young Atzec girl called Atzi. Following their journey, in which Luna had ulterior motives, she learnt the important moral ‘there were more important things than just looking out for yourself’

This graphic novel style book follows in the format of the other Brownstone’s Mythical Collection and is accessible for even the most reluctant reader; each time the book is read, you can spot a new detail. It is a beautiful book to hold, with its detailed illustrations, it makes you want to dive straight in with the promise of treasure and adventure on the cover.

This book is great to share with primary year groups and recommended for any book corner.