Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Graphic novel

Azzi In Between

Graphic novel

This important and very topical text uses a comic-book style to portray some of the experiences of some refugee families. Azzi and her family flee their home and find themselves on a frightening and dangerous journey to a new country. In her new home, Azzi is faced with adapting to a foreign way of life, starting a new school and learning to speak English. This is an excellent, thought-provoking text that presents a difficult topic in a way that evokes empathy and understanding in young readers.

When Stars Are Scattered

Iman Geddy & Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

Graphic novel

A heart-wrenching true story in graphic novel form, all about life as a refugee. This book is set to restore your faith in real-life happy endings.

This powerfully moving graphic novel is about Omar, an eleven-year-old living with his brother in a Kenyan refugee camp. Despite harsh daily struggles, Omar finds hope, finds enjoyment in football and dreams of a future shaped by education.

This poignant and unforgettable tale is based on a true story, told in a compelling graphic novel format. It’s an essential read, offering profound insights into courage and resilience.

After the Fall

Dan Santat

Graphic novel

We’ve all heard about Humpty Dumpty’s catastrophic fall, but what about how he got back up again? In this humorous picture book, Humpty Dumpty recounts his brave and arduous journey back up to the top of the wall again. We like the way in which this cleverly illustrated story acknowledges that things go wrong sometimes but that it can be our individual response to such misfortunate that often harvests resilience and hatches us into something stronger than ever before.

Shackleton’s Journey

William Grill

Graphic novel

This is a brilliantly visual re-telling of Ernest Shackleton’s adventures from pole to pole, published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s historic expedition.

This engaging text is filled with diagrams, maps, infographics and fascinating facts that will both delight readers and transport them through an imaginary exploration of frozen worlds.

We recommend Shackleton’s Journey as a good non-fiction text to use for engaging reluctant readers in KS2. There is also an accompanying activity book available from Amazon.

Ice Trap!: Shackleton’s Incredible Expedition

M. P. Robertson & Meredith Hooper

Graphic novel

A retelling of Shackleton’s astonishing journey, well pitched for KS2. This recount of Shackleton’s expedition is accompanied by illustrations, maps and timelines, making it detailed and informative without losing any of the drama of the exciting tale. For more on Shackleton, you may also like William Gill’s fantastic visual retelling of Shackleton’s Journey available on Amazon.

The Lorax

Dr. Seuss

Graphic novel

Dr Seuss’ The Lorax absolutely enthralled my year 2 class and we had some brilliant discussions about the polluted environment that the boy lives in and why it came about. Even though it was written decades ago, the themes are still important today. The destruction of the trees, the impact on the habitats of the animals living there and the pollution from the factory the Once-ler built are huge talking points about the need for industry – but at what cost? The way that Seuss wrote, although not to everyone’s liking, added to my class’ enjoyment.

Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa

Jeanette Winter

Graphic novel

This beautiful and factual picture book about Wangari Maathai is inspiring and full of hope. The devastating impact of deforestation is made starkly clear but it is counterbalanced by the actions taken by first Wangari Maathai and then more and more women until millions of trees had been planted and healing began. Children I have shared this story with have asked probing questions and wanted to find out more: How long did it take the trees to grow? How long before the earth recovered? Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work and classes may enjoy this two-minute video clip where she tells, herself, the story of the tiny hummingbird who does her best to make a difference. This book could also be useful for Black History Month and International Women’s Day.

The Aquanaut

Dan Sentat

Graphic novel

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.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela & Paddy Bouma

Graphic novel

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela is the amazing story of a true hero of our times; his famous biography has been specially adapted for children in a beautiful illustrated picture book format. Discover how a little boy whose father called him “troublemaker” grew up to fight apartheid, become South Africa’s first black president and campaign for freedom and justice throughout the world.

Adapted by poet Chris van Wyk and illustrated by South African artist Paddy Bouma, with an introduction from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Long Walk to Freedom introduces children to the life of one of the world’s most beloved leaders.

Walter Tull’s Scrapbook

Michaela Morgan

Graphic novel

This scrapbook walks through the story of Walter Tull – famous Tottenham Hotspurs footballer and the first black officer in the British Army. Walter – or ‘Tully’ as he was known – was brought up in a children’s home before being scouted for his talent by Clapham FC, where he began his footballing career. As WW1 broke out, Tully joined the British army during a time when many people believed that only white men should become officers. His bravery and leadership in the battlefields of WW1 won him a recommendation for a Military Cross – but it is suggested that the award was never given because of the racial prejudice prevalent in the British army at the time.

Walter’s story is visually and informatively brought to life in this fictionalised scrapbook that is designed to appear as if put together by Walter himself. The scrapbook incorporates illustrations, letters, photographs, notes and newspaper cuttings.

By the same author there is also Respect: The Walter Tull Story, a short chapter book retelling of Walter Tull’s life and accomplishments, published by Barrington Stoke. For a more in-depth study of Walter Tull, we recommend the 6-lesson scheme of work from The Historial Association, which is available to download with a free account.