25 Best Graphic Novels for Kids Aged 6 to 12 Year Olds

Whether your child loves comic book stories or they’ve fallen down into the rabbit hole of the rapidly expanding graphic novel genre this awesome list is sure to be a hit! With a broad range of titles suitable for children aged between six and twelve years of age, this list of awesome graphic novels for kids

Graphic Novels Vs Comic Books

But what is the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book? Is a graphic novel just a fancy term for a comic book? And is reading either a comic book or a graphic novel really reading?

As a general rule, both graphic novels and comic books share their stories using a visually based comic strip format. But where a comic book is generally a serialized periodical – with an ongoing story shared across regularly released issues, graphic novels tend to feature a more detailed, involved story shared in entirety within the one volume.

Whilst both comic books and graphic novels predominantly share fictional stories, more and more diverse titles are appearing, including personal memoirs, historical tales, and even non-fiction, factually based texts.

As I shared in our previous collection of Graphic Novels for Tweens Aged 9-12 Years;

“Thanks to the recent publication of titles by a fabulous collection of tween/middle school focused authors, graphic novels provide a great springboard for inviting discussion around important social and historical themes and issues relevant to children within the 9-12 year old age group.”

Many child readers find the fun, visual elements of comic books and graphic novels engaging – and getting kids into books can be half the issue in raising regular readers – but these same elements can also act to provide important contextual support for less confident readers.

It’s important to note however that comic books and graphic novels aren’t just for struggling readers. My eleven year old is an independent reader who LOVES graphic novels, and my fluent seven year old reader recently discovered the genre and is most definitely intrigued! And there’s no denying that both comic books and graphic novels have the potential to provide readers with a lighter, literary escape than their text-heavy counterparts, whatever their reading level.

And yes, reading a comic book or graphic novel is still reading! Whatever gets your child excited to keep turning the page is a win, if you ask me!

Best Graphic Novels for Kids Age 6-12 Years

As with each of the book collections in our Best Books for Kids library, each title below is linked to both Amazon and The Book Depository (these are affiliate links) where you can find further reviews for any you might not be personally familiar with.

Catstronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockington With the world is thrust into darkness due to a global energy shortage, a bold plan is devised to set up a solar power plant on the moon. But someone has to go up there to set it up, and that job falls to the CatStronauts – the best space cats on the planet! (Age 6+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar Before Teen Titans, there were Tiny Titans! Through bright and colourful comic book panels , this installment shares the stories of the pint-sized heroes at their school, Sidekick Elementary. (Age 6+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties and adventures. Each book in this fun graphic novel series features three stories and interesting sea-worthy facts. (Age 6+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Sonic the Hedgehog by Ian Flynn If your kids love the Sonic video games, they will enjoy following the beloved hedgehog on his journey into graphic novel form! As Dr. Eggman’s rogue robots continue to attack small villages around the world, Sonic will need the help of his friends Tails, Knuckles, and Amy, along with some new and surprising allies, to save the day. (Age 7+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Minecraft by R Ste Monster If your child loves Minecraft, then they will love this graphic novel of Minecraft stories! Tyler, along with his friends Evan, Candace, Tobi, and Grace have been going on countless adventures together across the expanses of the Overworld and are in need of a new challenge. They decide to go on the Ultimate Quest-to travel to the End and face off against the ender dragon! (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise series by Gene Luen Yang This beloved childhood cartoon in graphic novel form is one your kids are sure to love! In the first exciting installment, Aang and friends face off against the Fire Nation that threatens to throw the world into another war, testing all of Aang’s powers and ingenuity! (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Cucumber Quest Series by GiGi DG This series was adapted from a popular webcomic series by Gigi D.G. The seven kingdoms of Dreamside NEED a legendary hero. Instead, they’ll have to settle for Cucumber, a nerdy magician who just wants to go to school. As destiny would have it, he and his way more heroic sister, Almond, must now seek the Dream Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Queen Cordelia’s Nightmare Knight. (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Hilda Series by Luke Pearson A short, whimsical comic tale, the first in the Hildafolk series, Hilda and the Troll, follows the magical adventures of a young girl named Hilda and her companion, Twig. A great first introduction to the graphic novel genre. (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy by Alessandro Ferrari Star Wars fans will love seeing the prequel movies come to life in this graphic novel! These tell the story of the early Star Wars movies in comic book form. (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Abigail and the Snowman by Roger Langridge Abigail and the Snowman follows a classic story that is filled with both laughs and a little bit of heart. This story follows a little girl who befriends a Yeti and their amazing adventures together. (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Nameless City, The Stone Heart and The Divided Earth by Faith Erin Hicks The Nameless City series tells a story of good versus evil in a brave quest for good! With deft world-building, frantic battle scenes, and a gentle and moving friendship at its heart, the Nameless City has earned its place as one of the great fantasy series of our time. (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing When Charles moves to Echo City he’s glad to meet monster mediator, Margo Maloo, who helps him fight back against the monsters who sneak into his room, steal his things and even try to eat him! (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Adventure Time by Ryan North What happens when Finn and Jake get a hold of Princess Bubblegum’s time machine and travel to go to the future? Follow Finn and Jake as they fight against evil and fight to save the world! (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi Emily and Navin move in with their mother after tragedy strikes their family. After a mysterious creature kidnaps their mother, determined to rescue her, Emily and Navin are led into a world of robots, talking animals, flying ships, new friends and enemies! Emily learns that she is a Stonekeeper and essential to the survival of this world. (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag An unconventional tale exploring the traditional themes of friendship and growing up, The Witch Boy, tells the story of Aster and his family and friend’s adjustment to his rather unconventional talent for witchcraft – within a community where boys are generally shapeshifters. (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

5 Worlds series by Mark Siegel The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there’s more to themselves, and more to their worlds, than meets the eye! (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke Jack might be the only kid in the world who’s dreading summer! His mum takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. Which is super boring because Maddy doesn’t talk. But then, one day Maddy tells Jack in no uncertain terms to trade their mum’s car for a box of magic beans. It’s the best mistake Jack has ever made. (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, our fearless heroine, Zita, leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. But saving her friend may just result on Zita herself being stranded in this strange land, never to see Earth again! (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel When amazing child scientist Olga crosses paths with a weird creature and becomes the first person to discover the species olgamus ridiculus, she is ecstatic! What does an olgamus eat? How does it poop? Why does its burp sound like the word rubber? With her trusty observation notebook Olga sets out to do science-learning the facts about her smelly, almost-furry pal (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Baby-Sitter’s Club graphic novel series The beloved series of four best friends and their business -The Baby-Sitter’s Club – written by Ann M. Martin and reimagined for a new generation in this fabulous graphic novel series featuring best selling illustrator’s Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan. (Age 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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Epic Zero: Tales of a Not-So-Super 6th Grader by R. L. Ullman This comic follows the story of a boy who lives in a family full of superpowers. Everyone has one – even his dog! Everyone except for him. Elliott feels ever-so-ordinary, until a mysterious girl changes everything. With menacing supervillains and globe-conquering aliens closing in fast, will Elliott find the power to be the epic hero he’s always wanted to be-or will he always be just an Epic Zero? (Age 10+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Sheets by Brenna Thummler A young girl’ fight, even when all parts of her world seem to be conspiring against her  proves that second chances are possible, even when life feels over… or life is over. But above all, it is a story of the forgiveness and unlikely friendship that can only transpire inside a haunted laundromat. (Age 12+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are. (Age 12+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Runaways by Brian K Vaughan They were six normal teenagers linked only by their wealthy parents’ annual business meeting until a chance discovery reveals a shocking truth: their parents are the secret criminal society known as the Pride! Now on the run from their villainous parents, Nico, Chase, Karolina, Gertrude, Molly and Alex have only each other to rely on. (Age 12+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Be sure to also check out our Best Chapter Books for Kids collection where you’ll find booklists such as 45+ Chapter Books for 9 olds and 40+ great Books for 10 Year Olds!

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