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Graphic Novels for Early Readers

Graphic novels are great for kids building their reading skills, as the pictures and stories engage readers without requiring lots of words! The content of this booklist is curated by Ramsey County Library Staff following RCL best practices and standards including equity and inclusive representation.

Ramsey County Library

23 items

  • Frightening away prospective friends who fear owls, kindhearted Owly eventually bonds with a friend-seeking Wormy, who becomes his faithful companion and helper as they share adventures, problems and laughter. A wordless graphic novel
    Graphic NovelNew York : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2020. — GRAPHIC J SERIES OWLY #1
  • To earn their "foraging" bug badge, Doug, Abby and Josh, the Bug Scouts, embark on an adventure in the wilderness to find an edible plant and encounter a clever, yet hungry, frog who distracts them from their mission.
    Graphic NovelNew York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2022. — GRAPHIC J SERIES BUG #1
  • Best friends Pizza and Taco engage in a hilarious campaign to prove which of them is the best, inviting their friends Hot Dog and Hamburger to help them prove themselves during a popularity contest that tests the strength of their bond.
    Graphic NovelNew York : Random House, [2020] — GRAPHIC J SERIES PIZZ #1
  • By: Sherry, Kevin Squizzard is a small squid who always wants to be the center of attention, whether it is playing with his best friend Toothy the vegetarian Great White Shark, or giving a report in school; but when his behavior finally…
    Graphic NovelNew York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2020. — GRAPHIC J SERIES SQUI #1
  • Bunbun has it all: a delightful Bunbun nose, a winning Bunbun smile, a ridiculously cute Bunbun tail, and not one, but two adorable Bunbun ears. But Bunbun doesn't have a friend -- until Bunbun meets Bonbon.
    Graphic NovelNew York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2020. — GRAPHIC J SERIES BUNB
  • Presents the first entry in a full-color graphic-novel series about four unlikely friends who support each other through wacky adventures.
    Graphic NovelNew York, New York : Disney-Hyperion, 2020. — GRAPHIC J SERIES BALO
  • When local park fixture (and spy-master) Pops gets squirrel-napped, it's up to Norma, Belly, and their friend little B to save him!
    Graphic NovelNew York : RH Graphic, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, [2021] — GRAPHIC J SERIES NORM
  • A floppy-eared puppy's unabashed energy completely upends the quiet world of an anxious rescue dog and a plump, snarky kitty.
    Graphic NovelNew York : Viking, 2021. — GRAPHIC J SERIES PEAN #1
  • A companion to Training Day finds Mexican wrestling star El Toro teaming up with his fighting partner, La Oink Oink, when a post-match mess at the stadium becomes a bit too intimidating to clean up alone.
    BookBoston : Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, [2021] — READER FIC RAUL
  • Welcome to the world of Simon and Chester, ghost and boy duo extraordinaire. They like to kick butt and take names. They don't like chores. They are best friends. And they are going to have a sleepover.
    Graphic Novel[Toronto, Ontaria] : Tundra, [2021] — GRAPHIC J SERIES SIMO
  • In this funny book about friendship, which also serves as an introduction to the graphic novel format, two dinosaurs who are polar opposites become unlikely friends.
    BookNew York : Simon Spotlight, 2021. — PB READER FIC ESBA
  • With encouragement from her supportive lunchbox, a young girl ignores a classmate's teasing and heartily enjoys yellow chicken curry, stinky tofu, and other tasty lunches prepared by her Taiwanese grandmother.
    BookNew York : Simon Spotlight, 2021. — READER FIC CHAN
  • A graphic-novel adaptation of the first entry in the best-selling chapter-book series features illustrations by twin sibling comic artists and depicts Jack and Annie’s adventures as they are swept into the prehistoric past by the Magic…
    Graphic NovelNew York : Random House, [2021] — GRAPHIC J SERIES MAGI #1
  • Armed with her magical toy dog Penelope, loyal friend and super-cute Mimi must convince people that she is more than just cuteness personified, in a book for beginning and newly independent readers.
    Graphic NovelNew York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Press, 2022. — GRAPHIC J SERIES MIMI #1
  • When they lose Dad-cat in the big science museum after seeing extraordinary things, kittens Pancake and Waffles wonder if they’ll get stuck living in the museum and eating star tots and tuna melts fur-ever.
    Graphic NovelNew York : Little, Brown and Company, 2021. — GRAPHIC J SERIES WAFF
  • After finding a map in a bottle, best friends Kondo and Kezumi build a boat and set out to explore the islands near their own.
    BookNew York, NY : Little, Brown and Company, 2020. — J FIC GOOD #1
  • One day, a bored little fish journeys up to the surface of the ocean, where it meets the sun. A wonderful friendship blooms. Only, right in the middle of their fun, the sun starts to set! Fish and Sun is a powerful story about newfound…
    BookNew York, NY : HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2021] — PB READER FIC RUZZ
  • Excited to light up the night and show their friends the beautiful moonflower, Firefly hopes they can rouse them from their slumber to see nature's magic.
    BookNew York, NY : Harper Alley, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2024] — PB READER FIC WALD
  • Blink and Block Make a Wish

    Fang, Vicky
    A brand-new early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers starts by introducing robots Blink and Block in a STEM-inspired story by a debut…
    BookNew York, NY : HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2021] — PB READER FIC FANG
  • The first of her kind, Shark Princess Kitana gives her allergy-ridden best friend Mack, who believes he is too dangerous to be a princess due to his massive sneezes, his own crown as they embark on a deep sea adventure.
    Graphic NovelNew York : Viking, 2022. — GRAPHIC J SERIES SHAR