Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Graphic novel

A visually stunning representation of an incredibly emotive novel.

This story is told through the voice of Will, who has grown up knowing how to watch his own back and that of his friends and family, knowing the death of those close to him in his neighbourhood and knowing ‘The Rules’. Then the unthinkable happens, and Will knows it is his turn to right the wrongs, just like his brother, Dad and Uncle before him.

Incredibly insightful, this graphic novel opens up a world of gangland violence without sugar coating or glamorising any of it. The tale is powerfully delivered through language and watercolour.

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.

Real Friends is a friendship memoir graphic novel from Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. It deals with complicated friendship groups and the dynamics of popularity in school. It also treats some of the challenges of sibling relationships in a large family. Shannon is surrounded by people but feels constantly left out. She is desperate to form close connections but is too often hurt. The drawings are powerful and make good use of colour, capturing Shannon’s anxiety and the real joy when things go well for her.

This book is great for KS2 and into KS3 and will be particularly popular with the many fans of Raina Telgemeier, Jerry Craft and other graphic novels revolving around school and friendship-based issues.

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator 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. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.

Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap—for good?

Cactus Kid has exiled himself to the Neverending Desert to master magic and prove to his all-powerful father that he is the best wizard alive. All he needs is a piece of star rock to supercharge his magic, but he’s not the only one after it. Caught in the crossfire between rival gangs of the Clams and the Shells, he must compete in the epic and death-defying moto-brawl race to get a single slice of the star rock. Meanwhile, a shadowy lizard figure is scouring the desert. Armed with a mystical compass, this bounty hunter is searching for any magic he can get his hands on. Once the Moto-Brawl begins Cactus Kid learns that sometimes even lone heroes need allies. But will he and his new-found friends be able to see off the competition and the mysterious bounty hunter to emerge victorious before sunset?

Build skyward in this brand new graphic novel set in the world of Minecraft!

Farmer Cobb likes to keep his crops as neat as possible, which is frustrating when he has neighbors who like to chow down on his fresh produce without asking and villagers who can’t stop themselves from planting potatoes in his field without rhyme or reason. After a rough encounter with an Enderman he finally decides to get as far away from everyone and everything as he can . . . building a tower up into the sky!

When a stranger shows up on his new sky island and reveals a whole town full of people who desired peace and quiet just like Cobb, he accepts an invitation to join the town of like-minded hermits and moves onto a plot they so generously give him. But he learns that his neighbors in the sky might be even more disruptive than those on the ground. As tensions rise sky high, he is reminded that he didn’t just have neighbors down below, but caring friends. Friends he may need to protect.

Join writer Andrew Clemson and cartoonist Jeremy Lawson on an exciting new Minecraft adventure in the clouds.

An all-new original graphic novel starring Marvel’s Lunella Lafayette (Moon Girl) and her pet dinosaur!

Just in time for the debut of her original Disney TV show, Lunella Lafayette – aka the smartest person in the Marvel Universe – gets her own original graphic novel! When a rad-skating band of thieves start going wild, it’s up to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur to take to the streets and put a stop to their crime spree – while making sure to bust a few sweet moves along the way! But can Lunella balance fighting crime AND training with her all new, all awesome derby team – especially when it turns out that team might be up to no good?

Set against the backdrop of her vibrant Lower East Side community, this hilarious graphic novel with a diverse cast of characters will be a hit with kids everywhere.

Perfect for Marvel fans

Empowering role model for all the aspiring ‘supergirls’ out there

Fun, jam-packed adventure that kids will love

Dinosaurs from space! Homicidal worms and talking tigers! Atomic robots, alien worlds, mad scientists, sinister curses, and villains from throughout the DC Universe welcome to the wild adventures of Billy Batson, whose big red alter ego defends the Earth from its weirdest and wildest threats! Want to stop Lex Luthor and The Joker? Call Superman and Batman! International crises? Page Wonder Woman! But when Garguax, Emperor of the Moon, sets his sights on Gorilla City, that s when you shout ‘Shazam!’ The fan-favorite team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora (Batman/Superman: World s Finest) brings the magic! Collects the Dawn of DC series SHAZAM! #1-6.

Before The Stand and The Hunger Games, before Battle Royale and Yellowjackets, there was Lord of the Flies.

A plane crashes on a desert island. The only survivors, a group of schoolboys. By day, they explore the dazzling beaches. By night, they are haunted by nightmares of a primitive beast and of what they’ve lost.

‘There aren’t any grown-ups anywhere.’

Orphaned by society, they must forge their own; but it isn’t long before the group is split, and their innocent games take a dangerous turn.

‘What are we? Humans? Or Animals?’

For the first time, from acclaimed artist Aimée de Jongh, comes the stunning graphic novel adaptation of this classic story, one of the BBC’s ‘100 Novels that shaped our World’.

The breakout web-slinging star of the SPIDER-VERSE animated films returns, as Gwen Stacy tackles new challenges both in and out of costume! It’s time to face the music! The Mary Janes are off on a four-city tour as the opening act to one of Earth-65’s biggest rock bands! Gwen has promised the band that this big break will be all about the music. No web-slinging, just drums. But when a mysterious assassin targets the headliner, Gwen begins to wonder how she got this gig in the first place. And as the tour continues, she will share the stage with stunning new versions of some of your favorite characters! In Chicago, Gwen pulls double duty as drummer and secret bodyguard for Dazzler! But when the Hulk attacks, what is Bruce Banner really after? Collecting: Spider-Gwen: Smash (2023) 1-4

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