Best graphic novels and comics for kids

The best graphic novels for kids include Narwhal and Jelly, Dog Man and Zita the Spacegirl. Comics are real reading: children follow a plot, read dialogue and infer from pictures, and many move on to longer books from here.

12 books, checked for age-appropriate content. Updated 24 September 2026.

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken.

1
Ages 6–8
Narwhal and Jelly
by Ben Clanton
Cheerful Narwhal and practical Jelly explore the ocean, sharing waffles, imaginative adventures, and an unlikely friendship.
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2
Ages 6–11
Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey
Dog-headed police officer Dog Man battles absurd villains while learning loyalty, kindness, and self-control.
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3
Ages 9–11
Zita the Spacegirl
by Ben Hatke
Zita leaps through a portal to rescue her abducted friend and becomes an unlikely hero on a strange planet.
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4
Ages 6–11
Captain Underpants
by Dav Pilkey
Two prank-loving boys hypnotize their principal into becoming Captain Underpants, an enthusiastic superhero wearing only briefs and a cape.
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5
Ages 9–11
Secret Coders
by Gene Luen Yang
Twins Hopper and Eni discover their strange new school is built on coding puzzles and a dangerous secret.
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6
Ages 9–11
Max and the Midknights
by Lincoln Peirce
Dreamy Max is recruited by retired knights to save Byjovia from an evil king and dangerous creatures.
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7
Ages 9–11
Big Nate
by Lincoln Peirce
Middle-schooler Nate Wright pursues greatness through school schemes, sports, friendships, and frequent clashes with teachers.
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8
Ages 12–14
Sheets
by Brenna Thummler
Marjorie struggles to save her family’s laundromat until a lonely ghost named Wendell accidentally makes everything more complicated.
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9
Ages 9–11
Roller Girl
by Victoria Jamieson
Astrid joins roller derby camp without her best friend and learns resilience, teamwork, and confidence.
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10
Ages 6–11
Phoebe and Her Unicorn
by Dana Simpson
Daydreaming Phoebe befriends vain unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, creating a funny partnership across school and magical adventures.
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11
Ages 6–8
The Bad Guys
by Aaron Blabey
A graphic novel exploring themes of redemption, friendship, teamwork, and humor. The visual format supports reluctant or visual readers and adds emotional depth through illustration, panel pacing, and visual storytelling.
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12
Ages 6–8
Press Start!
by Thomas Flintham
Video-game hero Super Rabbit Boy races through colorful levels, battling enemies and rescuing friends from King Viking.
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Not sure which one to pick?

Answer a few questions about your child: their age, what they are into, how they feel about reading and anything to avoid. Bookstaken's free quiz picks seven books matched to them from 300+ children's books.

More book lists for kids

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Questions parents ask

Q: Are graphic novels bad for reading?

No. Graphic novels build vocabulary, sequencing and inference, and they are often what turns a reluctant reader into a keen one. Keep them in the mix alongside other books.

Q: How are the books on this list chosen?

Every book comes from Bookstaken's catalogue of 300+ children's books, where each title is rated for violence, fear, romance and language. A book only appears here if it fits the ages on this page and stays within the content limits for the youngest of them. Popular, well-reviewed books and series come first, and the list mixes Indian authors with international favourites.

Q: Where can I buy these books in India?

Each book has a Get book button that opens it on Amazon India. Most are also in bookshops, on Flipkart and in school and public libraries. Outside India, search the same title on your local Amazon or bookshop site.

Q: Can I get a list made for my own child?

Yes. Bookstaken's free book recommendation quiz asks about your child's age, interests, reading level and anything to avoid, then picks seven books matched to them. It takes about two minutes.