Age rating and parents' guide:The Bad Guys
by Aaron Blabey
Ages 6–8
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey is best for children aged 6–8. It has mild violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Mild cartoon mischief.
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.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- None
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Mild cartoon mischief
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Graphic novel
- Part of the The Bad Guys 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
- Humor & Comedy
- Art & drawing
- Friendship
Reading mood
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Good to talk about
- Friendship
- Emotions & empathy
Books like The Bad Guys
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
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
Ivy + Bean
by Annie Barrows
Seven-year-old Bean is convinced she will never be friends with Ivy, the quiet girl across the street who sits on her porch reading big books. But when Bean needs a quick escape after playing a trick on her older sister, Ivy comes to the rescue with a surprisingly wild imagination. Together, the two girls cook up playful neighborhood schemes, proving that opposites often make the best partners in crime. Early readers love the humor, relatable sibling dynamics, and energetic mischief.
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.
Ages 6–8
Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish
Amelia Bedelia is starting her first day as a housekeeper for the Rogers family, armed with a list of household chores. Because she takes every instruction completely literally, she dresses the chicken in tiny clothes, dusts the furniture with dusting powder, and draws the drapes on a sheet of paper. Early readers delight in the silly mix-ups and wordplay, giggling along as Amelia Bedelia turns an ordinary day of housework upside down.
Ages 6–8
Press Start!
by Thomas Flintham
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.
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.
On these book lists
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.