Age rating and parents' guide:Press Start!
by Thomas Flintham
Ages 6–8
Press Start! by Thomas Flintham is best for children aged 6–8. It has mild violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.
Join Super Rabbit Boy, a brave pixelated hero who lives inside an exciting retro video game. Controlled by a boy named Sunny, Super Rabbit Boy must leap across platforms, dodge tricky obstacles, and level up to stop the evil King Viking from causing trouble in Animal Town. Fast-paced and designed like an actual console game with bright illustrations and game-over screens, this early chapter book is a huge hit with emerging readers who love gaming.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- None
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Graphic novel
- Part of the Press Start! series
- Easy to get into from the first page
- Pictures on almost every page
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Animals
- Friendship
Reading mood
- Playful
Good to talk about
- Friendship
Books like Press Start!
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 6–8
The Bad Guys
by Aaron Blabey
Mr. Wolf is tired of being seen as a scary villain, so he rounds up a crew of other misunderstood predators—including Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Shark—to do good deeds. Their first big mission is breaking two hundred dogs out of a maximum-security dog pound. Told through lively black-and-white comic panels and punchy dialogue, this fast-paced story delivers lots of slapstick laughs as the unlikely heroes discover that acting like good guys is much harder than it looks.
Ages 6–8
Narwhal and Jelly
by Ben Clanton
Meet happy-go-lucky Narwhal and slightly cynical Jellyfish in this delightful early graphic novel. Despite their opposite personalities, the two sea creatures bond over a shared love of waffles, imaginative make-believe, and playful underwater adventures. Told across three short stories with sweet, simple illustrations, this lighthearted tale charms beginning readers with gentle silliness and a heartwarming celebration of friendship.
Ages 6–11
Cat Kid Comic Club
by Dav Pilkey
Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly host an art class for twenty-one energetic baby frogs to teach them how to make their own comic books. Using a variety of mediums like photography, clay, and haiku, the young frogs learn to express their creativity while navigating self-doubt, failure, and teamwork. Packed with lively graphic novel panels, playful humor, and mini-comics within the story, this book encourages budding artists and readers to embrace their mistakes and keep creating.
Ages 6–8
Enemy Pie
by Derek Munson
Summer is ruined when Jeremy Ross moves in and becomes the neighborhood's number one enemy. Luckily, one dad has a secret family recipe guaranteed to get rid of rivals: Enemy Pie. The only catch is that to make the pie work, a boy must spend an entire day playing with his enemy. Filled with warm illustrations and a gentle, funny perspective on neighborhood rivalries, this picture book shows young readers how spending time with someone new can change how you see them.
Ages 6–8
The Bear and the Piano
by David Litchfield
When a curious young bear discovers a strange object in the forest, he slowly teaches himself to play beautiful music on its keys. His talent eventually takes him far away to the bright lights of the big city, where he finds fame, applause, and huge crowds. Yet despite his incredible new life, he longs for the home and friends he left behind. Richly illustrated and warm-hearted, this gentle story charms young readers with its exploration of pursuing dreams while holding onto the love of true friends.
Ages 6–11
Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey
When a police officer and his loyal police dog are injured on the job, a life-saving surgery creates Dog Man—part dog, part policeman, and wholly dedicated to justice. While struggling with doggy habits like chasing balls, he must protect the city from the scheming villain Petey the Cat. Told through lively, full-color comic panels with interactive flip-o-ramas, this fast-paced story appeals to young and reluctant readers through slapstick humor, warmth, and relentless energy.
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.