graphic novels for kids

The Other Side of Tomorrow: A Graphic Novel Review

Are hyper-realistic graphic novels a genre? I don’t think they are, but The Other Side of Tomorrow is a graphic novel that wields a mighty hammer in knocking at the doors of book classification. It’s realistic fiction, but is so realistic, both in the manner in which the illustrations are done, and the taut nature of the story that you’ll pinch yourself in gratitude that it’s not happening to you. This is a graphic novel that entertains via drama, age-appropriate political intrigue, familial love and armchair travel. Moreover, The Other Side of Tomorrow manages to tell its story alongside one of the greatest geographic areas and humanitarian crises that middle school kids never learn about, North Korea.

The Other Side of Tomorrow is a realistic fiction graphic novel whose potentially heavy topic is buoyed by the art, presentation and pacing of the story.

A graphic novel as art, entertainment and discussion

Discover Why Kids Love The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza #1,

Young readers and reluctant readers have more in common than they think. Reluctant readers in most cases just think that they don’t want to read. Assuming that we’re talking about young, elementary school ages, both groups have to find the vehicle that can get them to realize that reading is not punishment. It’s got to be a book so relentlessly fun, over the top silly that it commands young people to engage in something by themselves, for their own enjoyment. The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza is the first book in the series that takes its rightful place alongside Dog Man and Investigators as the go-to graphic novel series for ages seven and up. This book also came out a couple of years ago, so if you’re judging as to why it’s just being reviewed now, I say be curious, not judgmental.

The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza is the start of a beautiful graphic novel friendship for ages seven and up.

Like a cat video and a potato chip, but in a book

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior, An Op Alliance builds on its potential

For a period in most boy’s or young men’s lives, they love Minecraft. Granted there are some girls who enjoy and can craft circles around their Y chromed counterparts, but for the most part in our experience. So for those girls that like ghosts, warriors, creepers, wolves, and more, Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior, An Op Alliance is for you. This is a surprisingly good and effective original graphic novel that fills a void that exists in regards to a literary version for this immensely popular franchise.

elementary-aged readers get yr minecraft graphic novel..

Arkhamaniacs, a DC Comics graphic novel that runs with glee for 8 and up

When I was a younger man, the Muppet Babies rubbed me the wrong way. I saw the ‘babyization’ of already famous characters represented as infants or babies as robbing the tomb of my childhood. It should also be said that I was also 22 and had a friend who seriously started a petition to remove Barney from PBS because he was annoying. The ’90s, combined with being in your twenties and trying to find yourself was a wacky time wasn’t it? With that mindset clearly in the rearview mirror, I read Arkhamaniacs. I also gave it to our kids to read. Our nine-year-old loved the graphic novel and immediately curled up in bed to read it.

An original all-age graphic novel that immediately attracts 8-year-olds

Hilo All The Pieces Fit nails the ending to this graphic novel series

I just asked our 10 year-old what he likes about the Hilo graphic novel series by Judd Winick. He gave me a series of one-word answers, like: action, funny, humor and then he said action again. He hasn’t really embraced his descriptive powers yet, so I’ll fill in the blanks. Hilo is one of the best graphic novel series of books out there for upper elementary school students through middle school. Personally, it’s one of our favorite series of books or graphic novels that has a continuous narrative. While Hilo All The Pieces Fit, seems like an ending, it might not be.

Hilo is a perfect graphic novel series and this entry perfectly ends this chapter

Owly, The Way Home-now in a graphic novel for new audiences

We often chat about all age comic books. Since 2012 we’ve done a weekly podcast where we talk about some of the week’s new comic books. That podcast is accompanied by a post where all of the week’s comic books and graphic novels that are good for kids are listed. Owly is an OG all age graphic novel and the first book in Eisner Award-winning series is being reprinted, this time with color illustrations done by creator/artist Andy Runton.

Our 8YO just found a graphic novel that he Wants (!!!) to read