30 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 has plenty of titles to keep kids reading!

And it really is just a jumping off point – below you’ll find links to heaps of our awesome, themed graphic novel collections!

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 graphic novel titles are appearing, including personal memoirs, historical tales, and even non-fiction, factually based texts. In fact, we’ve collected together over 30 Historical Fiction Graphic Novels and 15 Graphic Novel Adaptations of Classics for tweens & teens for your convenience.

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 fourteen and ten year olds are both independent readers who LOVE graphic novels.

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.

The Cat Kid Comic Club (book 1 of a series) by Dav Pilkey When Li’l Petey, Flippy, and Molly introduce 21 eager baby frogs to the art of comic making, the lesson progresses with many funny mishaps and re-directions. Children will learn lessons about the importance of mistakes, practice and persistence. (Age 5+ years.) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Catstronauts: Mission Moon (book 1 of the series) 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

The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin Plan (book 1 of the series) by Maxwell Eaton A group of evil penguins steals beaver Ace’s surfboard just before a big surfing competition. When Ace and his brother, Bub, follow the penguins in order to rescue the surfboard, they discover the penguins evil plan to destroy the whole island. How will the beaver brothers stop them?! (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

For more like the titles above, check out our big list of the best graphic novels for early readers.

Minecraft (book 1 of the series) 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  |  The Book Depository

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. 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

Hilda and the Troll (book 1 of the Hilda series) by Luke Pearson A short, whimsical 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

Dog Man (book 1 of the series) by Dav Pilkey Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. And this hero, well when a police dog and a policeman are in an accident and both are close to dying, doctors decides the only way to save them is to sew them together! As for the villain, we’ll that’s the very sneaky Petey the Cat who likes to cook up mischief in his secret lab. Can Dog Man put a stop to the evil plans of this crooked cat? (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale 11 year old princess, Diana (aka Wonder Woman), is the only child on an island of immortal Amazons. And she’s bored. When she hears the story of how she was made out of clay, Diana decides to make her own clay best friend. Enter Mona….who may not be the best influence of Diana. Diana makes some bad decisions that could put the whole idyllic Amazonian world in danger! (Age 8+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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The Nameless City (book 1 of the series) 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 Amulet series 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

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson Roller Girl is all good! It cleverly explores growing apart from childhood friends, finding new friends, standing up for yourself and others, the importance of positive role models, defining who you are as a person as you grow up, facing your fears and surviving them! (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 (book 1 of the series) 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

Click! (book 1 of the series) by Kayla Miller Olive’s fifth grade class is having a talent show and all her friends have paired off with other kids for their act, leaving Olive on her own. Now Olive must find away to either fit in with her friends or find her own path. 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

El Deafo by Cece Bell El Deafo is the fabulous, semi-autobiographical story of Cece as she adjusts to life as a deaf person. Cece is trying to find ways to cope as the only deaf student in her school – a job made especially difficult thanks to the giant hearing aid strapped to Cece’s chest! The story is funny, deeply honest and a fabulous lesson in learning to accept individual differences. (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

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in a refugee camp in Kenya. When Omar is given the opportunity to go to school, he hopes it could be the change for their future that the brothers need. Heartbreak and hope exist together in this wonderful biographical graphic novel about family and hope. 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

For more great graphic novels like The Babysitter’s Club, check out our lists – Graphic Novels for Fans of Raina Telgemeier and 45 Graphic Novels with Strong Girls.

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 9+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Comic fans, be sure to also check out our collection of the 21 Best Comic Books for Kids.

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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

White Bird by R J Palacio As part of Julian’s school assignment he asks his grandmother to share her story as a teenage Jewish girl in southern France during WWII. Her story of survival is a remarkable tale of human kindness and unspeakable bravery. (Age 10+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Target Practice (book 1 in the Cleopatra in Space series) by Mike Maihack Cleopatra, Cleo to her friends, is transported from Egypt into the future to the planet Mayet. There she is seen as the saviour to this world, and she has been chosen to defeat the evil dictator ruining civilisations on the planet. But first Cleo must attend an intergalactic school to learn the skills she will need to fulfill her destiny of saving the universe. (Age 10+ years) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Drama by Raina Telgemeier Drama is about embracing what you love, courage and dedication. It shares the story of Callie – a seventh grader who loves the theatre, and the work, friendships, crushes and drama that develop backstage during the school musical production. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir and Sarah Andersen Years after their respective returns from Wonderland, Neverland, and Oz, Alice, Wendy and Dorothy meet at boarding school, Cheshire Crossing. Now teenager, the trio are soon dashing from one magical universe to the next, leaving havoc in the wake, and accidentally creating a deadly super-villain love match that they now must overcome. Age 12+ 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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