Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Graphic novel

Shazam!: Meet The Captain

Graphic novel

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.

Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel

Aimee de Jongh & William Golding

Graphic novel

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’.

Spider-Gwen: Smash

Enid Balam & Meliss Flores

Graphic novel

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

Harry Dickson: Mysterion

Doug Headline & Luana Vergari

Graphic novel

Famous investigator Harry Dickson is just back in London after some well-deserved holidays, and already Scotland Yard are seeking his help again, for there are very strange events afoot. A famous heiress and writer, Delphina Cruikshank, has vanished from a locked house. The corpse of an executed murderer has disappeared.. while the doctor who was autopsying him was murdered. And Mysterion, Miss Cruikshank’s new character, may not be entirely fictional!

Green Arrow: Reunion

Joshua Williamson & Sean Izaakse

Graphic novel

The Emerald Archer is lost, and Oliver Queen’s whole family joins in on the search-and-rescue mission! Arsenal and Black Canary journey into the bowels of Belle Reve Prison and discover dangerous forces are determined to keep them apart at any cost. While the hunt is on, Oliver desperately tries to find his way back and is joined by some very unexpected old friends. Spinning out of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Green Arrow by DC architect Joshua Williamson and artist Sean Izaakse is an action-packed adventure and a pivotal chapter in the Dawn of DC! Collects Green Arrow #1-6.

Avengers: Twilight

Chip Zdarksy & Daniel Acuna

Graphic novel

A thrillingly dark new vision of the Avengers! In a gleaming new world of prosperity, Captain America is no more. But Steve Rogers still exists, floating through an America where freedom is an illusion, the Avengers are strangers and his friends are long dead. But is the Dream itself dead? And how do you assemble Avengers in a world that doesn’t want them? With the clock ticking down to New Year’s Day, Steve must build an army to save America! Will his surviving friends sign up, or will he have to lead the ragtag group called the Defenders against the expert military marksman known as Bullseye? And can Steve infiltrate the Raft, a government facility full of secrets and danger off the shores of New York City, before the new Iron Man sentences him to the same gruesome fate as Tony Stark? Collecting AVENGERS: TWILIGHT (2024) #1-6

Hirayasumi, Vol. 1

Keigo Shinzo

Graphic novel

With a carefree outlook on life, Hiroto knows better than anyone that slowing down is sometimes the best way to move forward.

At 29 years old, carefree Hiroto Ikuta doesn’t have a girlfriend, a full-time job, or a plan for the future—and he couldn’t be happier. Hiroto’s breezy attitude isn’t easy for everyone to understand, though. In a world filled with anxiety, confusion, and grief, Hiroto and the people who surround him are all just doing their best to figure out this thing called life.

After developing an unlikely friendship with the grouchy old woman who lives in his neighborhood, Hiroto suddenly finds himself inheriting not just her house but some rather difficult emotions as well. His 18-year-old cousin, Natsumi, moves in with him, but as a struggling art student, she has her own troubles to deal with and may just put Hiroto’s easygoing lifestyle to the test.

Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder

Dav Pilkey

Graphic novel

The instant Number One bestseller, now in paperback! Our canine superhero returns in DOG MAN: THE SCARLET SHEDDER, the suspenseful and hilarious twelfth graphic novel in the trator Dav Pilkey! P.U.! Dog Man got sprayed by a skunk! After being dunked in tomato juice, the stink is gone but the scarlet red colour remains. Now exiled, this spunky superhero must struggle to save the citizens who shunned him! Will the ends justify the means for Petey, who’s reluctantly pulled back into a life of crime in order to help Dog Man? And who will step forward when an all-new, never-before-seen villain unleashes an army of A.I. robots? The fun and creativity continue with Dog Man with Love: The Official Colouring Book. And for more heartfelt graphic novel adventures, join Flippy and Li’l Petey in the Cat Kid Comic Club series. And don’t forget the series that started it all: Captain Underpants! Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including:

empathy kindness

persistence and the importance of doing good. Full colour pages throughout.

Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch

Jamie Smart

Graphic novel

When Bunny, Monkey and friends discover that all of existence is a virtual reality simulation, life gets a little bit crazy! Bunny declares himself The Woods’ Magical Protector, Pig becomes a superspy, Weenie grows some serious muscles . . . but just what nefarious scheme is Skunky planning . . .?

Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker

Josh Cleland & Russell Punter

Graphic novel

Solve the puzzles to help Supersquirrel save the world from disaster.

When a top secret formula is stolen, it’s a job for Supersquirrel. Using her amazing superpowers, she tracks down the culprit, the ruthless Dr Drizzle, who has a plan to make a fortune. Help Supersquirrel to solve a variety of puzzles and put a stop to Dr Drizzle’s evil scheme.

– Packed full of puzzles to solve as you read the story
– Simple text and comic strips make reading fun for beginner readers
– Perfect for shared reading as you work to solve the puzzles together
– Supersquirrel is the first in a series of puzzles stories featuring appealing animal superheroes

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Format: Graphic novel

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