Suggested Graphic Novels by Grade Level

 

Just starting out in Graphic Novels? Try checking out one of these graphic novels. Grade levels are suggested, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level. Under each grade is a link for even more titles.

Kindergarten

Baloney and friends by artist Greg Pizzoli

Follows Baloney the pig as he tries to do a magic trick, plays a video game, goes swimming, and gets involved in other activities with his best friend, Peanut the horse, along with Bizz the bee and Krabbit, the grumpy rabbit.

Catwad : it's me by artist Jim Benton

 

Collects the adventures of Catwad, a grouchy blue cat, and his best friend, a happy-go-lucky cat named Blurmp who can see the bright side of anything.

Fox & Rabbit by Beth Ferry

Easygoing Fox and anxious Rabbit seem like total opposites, but they are the best of friends, discovering their favorite things, and overcoming their fears together.

InvestiGATORS by illustrator 1975- John Green
Also available in: e-book

Meet the InvestiGators. With their gadgets, know-how, and super-fast transportation system (they flush themselves down toilets to speed through the sewers!), Mango and Brash are the scourge of the super-villain landscape! As vest-wearing employees of the Special Undercover Investigation Teams, they solve all kinds of mysteries and frequently butt heads with their archnemesis: a former agent known as Crackerdile. Riddled with puns, potty humor, absurdism, and hilarious twists, InvestiGators is the perfect series for Dog Man fans looking for their next great read! It's kid-friendly comics at their best.

Owly : the way home by artist Andy Runton

Owly is a good-natured little owl, and he's always helping those around him. But despite his kindness, he seems to frighten would-be friends away before they even give him a chance, just because he's an owl. That all changes, though, once Owly meets Wormy. Like Owly, Wormy is in need of a good friend, too -- someone who can be counted on for a helping hand, a good laugh, and a great adventure!

Need more suggestions?  See this list of Suggested Graphic Novels for Kindergarten.

First Grade

Alison has built Robot to simply help her have fun, but it's not so simple. It turns out she has to teach Robot about life, mainly from the point of a 7-year-old girl. Join the cast of Alison, Robot, five penguins and a monkey friend Andrew, an 80's music loving father, a serious mom that just wants a break, a cartoon Alton Brown and a cartoon Fred Chao.

Introduces readers to a duck who teams up with a confused orange juice sales clerk to navigate snake-themed nightmares, fix malfunctioning appliances, and help save the world.

Drawn together by 1979- Minh Lê

A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.

Marmalade, a trained architect who also happens to be an adorable kitten, finds allies in other construction-trade cats when her plans for the new mayor's mansion are rejected by the city planner.

Narwhal : unicorn of the sea by artist 1988- Ben Clanton

A happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving narwhal and a cynical, no-nonsense jellyfish forge an unlikely friendship and share adventures while exploring the ocean together.

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Graphic Novels for First Grade.

Second Grade

Alien Nate by artist Dave Whamond

When Alien Nate's ship crashes down on Earth during a winter storm, he's befriended by Fazel, who takes him to school and introduces him to human life. Nate soon discovers that there are many things that make Earth and Earthlings great. He studies human customs, gorges himself on human food and tries to find a way to fix his ship to return to his home planet, Vega. But all the while he's chased by the Men in Beige, who desperately want to get Nate into their lab. Fortunately, Nate's human friends are eager to help him get back to Vega, where he promises to spread the word about planet Earth, the wonderful humans who live here - and his new favorite pizza!

Aster is bored at her new home in the mountains in the middle of nowhere--until she meets an odd old shepherdess and her woolly dogs, a sneaky trickster, and an angry fox.

Karen Brewer's imagination gets the best of her when she decides that her neighbor, Mrs. Porter--who has wild gray hair, wears black robes, and has a garden full of mysterious herbs--must be a witch.

Bird & Squirrel all tangled up by artist James (James R.) Burks

When Bird and Squirrel are charged with taking care of Bird's daughter, Birdie, the three decide to have some fun and venture out into the forest in search of the elusive Bigfoot.

Kodi by artist Jared Cullum

Katya and her Meema are spending another summer at their cottage in Alaska, when a chance accident leaves Katya face-to-face with the biggest creature she's ever seen... an enormous kodiak bear with a gentle heart and a knack for fishing. But when Katya must suddenly return home to Seattle, the two are torn apart, leaving Kodi to do whatever it takes to reunite with his fragile human friend. It's a wild journey packed with breathtaking views, brave new companions, and adventure around every turn. 

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Graphic Novels for Second Graders.

Third Grade

Also available in: e-book

A graphic biography of America's first president blends true facts with humorous illustrations to bring American history to life.

Dewdrop by artist Katie (Cartoonist) O'Neill
Also available in: e-book

It's time for the annual pond sports fair. Dewdrop the axolotl can't wait to cheer on his friends. But as the big day gets closer and his friends get nervous, will he be able to remind them that doing their best is the most important part?

Also available in: e-book

Lois Lane and her friend Kristen want to promote their friendship video channel at the big neighborhood barbecue and bike race but when the fireworks go missing and a new girl takes up all of Kristen's attention, Lois tries to face her challenges and still celebrate the summer.

Red Panda & Moon Bear by artist Jarod Roselló

Red Panda and Moon Bear are used to handling lost cats and bullies, but they will need some new friends to deal with ghosts, robots, and alien invaders.

When an evil version of their mechanical superhero dog Sparks arrives in town and begins wreaking havoc, Charlie and August, the two cats who control the real Sparks, endeavor to uncover the truth to clear their robot dog’s name.

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Third Grade Graphic Novels.

Fourth Grade

All my friends are ghosts by S. M. Vidaurri

Effie is lost and only feels like a ghost - till she discovers an actual ghost school in the nearby woods and begins an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.

Antioreh by Kate Karyus Quinn

Piper Pájaro is strong and longs to be a superhero while Sloane MacBrute puts her smarts to use for her villainous grandfather, but when a mission to steal an experimental technological device brings the two 13-year-old girls face to face with each other, the device sparks and the two girls switch bodies.

The Breakaways by artist Cathy G Johnson

 

When a popular student encourages her to join the soccer team, Faith signs up even though she has never played the game, and learns about loyalty and friendship.

Donut The Destroyer by artist Sarah Graley

In a world where everyone is born with a special abilities, Donut, the super-strong daughter of infamous villain parents, surprises her family and scheming best friend by deciding to attend the Lionheart School for Heroes.

Kerry gets lost on his way home and has to navigate through a fantastical forest to find his way out, only most the creatures in the forest are not there to help him.

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Fourth Grade Graphic Novels.

Fifth Grade

Batman : overdrive by Shea Fontana
Also available in: e-book

Teenage loner, pre-Batman Bruce Wayne hones his detective and combat skills as he scours the underbelly of Gotham looking for clues, and begins building the Batmobile while still processing the pain of his parents' death.

Catherine's war by Julia Billet

As France buckles under the Nazi regime, budding photographer Rachel Cohen must change her name, go into hiding, and bear witness to the atrocities of World War II.

The deep & dark blue by artist Niki Smith

When a political coup causes them to flee, Hawke and Grayson assume new identities as Hanna and Grayce to find the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women, and the twins hatch a plan to avenge their family and retake their home.

Shirley & Jamila save their summer by artist Gillian Goerz

When ten-year-olds Shirley and Jamila meet, Jamila is simply hoping for a friend in her new neighborhood but Shirley is a detective and together they seek a missing gecko.

Snapdragon by artist Kat Leyh

When Snap rescues a family of baby opossums, she asks the town witch, Jacks, for help caring for them, but as Snap starts to get to know Jacks, she realizes that Jacks may have a connection with Snap's family past.

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Fifth Grade Graphic Novels.

Sixth Grade

All summer long by artist Hope Larson

When her best friend, Austin, goes to soccer camp over the summer, thirteen-year-old Bina finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, Charlie.

Twelve-year-old goblin and witch-in-training Beetle enlists her former best friend, Kat Hollowbones, to help stop Kat's sorceress aunt from demolishing the mall where Beetle's friend Blob Ghost is trapped.

The crossover by Kwame Alexander
Also available in: e-book

Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

Adora and her friends search for a lost runestone with a dark past, determined to find it before Catra and the Horde can use it against Etheria.

Green Lantern : legacy by 1979- Minh Lê
Also available in: e-book

When thirteen-year-old Tai Pham inherits his grandmother's jade ring, he soon finds out he has been inducted into a group of space cops known as the Green Lanterns.

Need more suggestions? See this list of Suggested Graphic Novels for Sixth Grade.