In the tradition of Narwhal and Jelly, here is a playful and humorous graphic novel series about two besties who could not be more different from each other.
Penguin and Panda should not be friends. The very idea is absurd. Penguin likes to build things and Panda likes to nap. Panda munches bamboo and Penguin gobbles cheese puffs and jam-banana sandwiches. Penguin never powers down and Panda has a hard time powering up. There is no way their friendship would ever work. Except somehow, it does.
Penguin and Panda demonstrate kindness, understanding, and support for each other, showcasing the positive aspects of companionship. The books are infused with humor, often through Penguin’s whimsical outlook on life and Panda’s more pragmatic responses.
Each book is composed form multiple short stories and STEM related fun facts. The graphic novel format makes the series accessible to a wide range of readers, including those who may be transitioning from picture books to chapter books.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
A graphic novel featuring a penguin and panda as friends? Yes, please. This contains a few different stories detailing the adventures of these two, along with little facts and tidbits here and there. It’s absolutely adorable and the art style is colorful and fun. I thought the addition of guides on how to draw both characters was a nice touch as well.
A group of friends go on a mission in the Florida Keys to uncover a lost treasure and end up getting more than they bargained for.
What happens when a bunch of teens get together at the Florida Keys for an unforgettable summer of Treasure hunting?
After obsessing over a history lesson at school, Joshua enlists his two best friends to travel to the Florida Keys for the summer to hunt for the treasure of Our Lady of Atocha, a Spanish treasure galleon and the most widely known vessel of a fleet of ships that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. Staying up, sneaking out, and searching for a legendary buried treasure is just the beginning of the summer of their lives!
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
This one ended up being such a cute and fun read. In it we follow three teenagers on the cusp of entering high school, all three of them very much in a space where they are figuring out their own identities, but also scared of change and what those revelations might mean. Josh is the leader of the three and he becomes obsessed with the recent discovery of a shipwreck and the fact that the fabled treasure that should have been inside the ship is not there. He hatches a plan for he and his friends to visit his grandfathers for the summer so that they can go on their own treasure hunt. Lots of hijinks ensue as they search down the clues and find amazing things, get roped in by a questionable group and face the consequences of lying to their grandfathers. It’s a fun story, full of adventure as well as heart.
Like a graphic novel version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , this collection of original horror tales is packed with urban legends, terrifying twists, and delightfully haunted stories by one of the biggest stars in webcomics. Each story will make you scream for more!
A new take on a classic format, Bad Dreams in the Night is an updated, illustrated take on the horror anthologies the author grew up with as a kid, such as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and In a Dark, Dark Room . These self-contained stories grew rapidly in popularity among the author’s online audience, and even inspired production of a motion picture from Buzzfeed Studios and Lionsgate Films. Filled with spine-tingling, pulse-increasing tales of mystery and supernatural occurrences, this book of never-before-seen comics will be the perfect gift for people who love Black Mirror and Stranger Things and listened to podcasts like Welcome to Nightvale and Rabbits.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
I have enjoyed some of Adam Ellis’ art in the past, so I was excited to see this type of book from him. I wouldn’t necessarily call these stories spine tingling personally, if you’re looking like actual scary stories these may not be what you’re looking for. That being said, most of the stories did have a good hook or twist and were enjoyable. I liked the differing color palettes that helped to vary the styles of the stories. Also, the notation of what inspired each story at the end of them was interesting as it can be insightful to know where the inspiration came from. Overall I enjoyed it and didn’t regret reading it, but it didn’t satisfy my hope for scary stories.
Author-artist Fern Haught weaves an enchanting, gentle fantasy tale of friendship, determination, and respecting nature in their debut graphic novel.
Juniper and Hadley have a good thing going in Larkspur, spending their respective days apprenticing at a little bakery and performing at the local inn. But when a stranger places an unusual order at the bakery, the two friends (and Hadley’s pet snake, Fern) set out on a journey to forage the magical mushrooms needed to make the requested galette pastries.
Along the way, Juniper and Hadley stumble across a mystery too compelling to ignore: Something has been coming out of the woods at night and eating the local farmers’ crops, leaving behind a trail of glowing goo. Intent on finally going on an adventure that could fuel their bardic craft, Hadley tows Juniper into the woods to investigate.
What started as a simple errand to pick mushrooms soon turns into a thrilling quest to save some furry new friends―and their caretaker, a soft-spoken little fey named Thistle―who are in danger of losing their home.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
If you enjoy graphic novels such as The Tea Dragon Society and others that are similar, you will probably want to pick up this one. It’s exactly as described, a cozy fantasy adventure, and so wholesome and wonderful. I loved Juniper and Hadley’s little adventure and their misadventures, especially Hadley’s enthusiasm throughout. They played really well off of each other and were wonderful companions. The art style is whimsical and a joy to read, suiting the cozy world and characters that Fern Haught created. I’ll definitely be looking for more of their work in the future.
A heartrending graphic memoir about a young Jewish girl’s fight for survival in Nazi occupied Poland, The Girl Who Sang illustrates the power of a brother’s love, the kindness of strangers, and finding hope when facing the unimaginable.
Born to a Jewish family in a small Polish village, Estelle Nadel―then known as Enia Feld―was just seven years old when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. Once a vibrant child with a song for every occasion, Estelle would eventually lose her voice as, over the next five years, she would survive the deaths of their mother, father, their eldest brother and sister, and countless others.
A child at the mercy of her neighbors during a terrifying time in history, The Girl Who Sang is an enthralling first-hand account of Estelle’s fight for survival during World War II. She would weather loss, betrayal, near-execution, and spend two years away from the warmth of the sun―all before the age of eleven. And once the war was over, Estelle would walk barefoot across European borders and find remnants of home in an Austrian displaced persons camp before finally crossing the Atlantic to arrive in New York City―a young woman carrying the unseen scars of war.
Beautifully rendered in bright hues with expressive, emotional characters, debut illustrator Sammy Savos masterfully brings Estelle story of survival during the Holocaust to a whole new generation of readers. The Girl Who Sang is perfect for fans of March , Maus , and Anne Frank’s Diary .
I’m a firm believer that books about events in the past that are significant, especially books which are accessible to all ages, should be available. When I saw that this was not only a memoir but a graphic memoir of a holocaust survivor, I definitely wanted to give it a read. Sadly we have reached a point in time where the number of people who lived through World War II are very few, so it’s important that their stories are told and that people continue to learn about those events. Estells/Enia’s story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, starting before the war and progressing through her loss. She lost most of her family as so many did, and had to survive through horrible and scary things, relying on people who could have turned on her at any moment. It’s also the story of those who did help her and her brothers to survive, those who risked themselves to keep the children as safe as they could. The artwork is beautiful and informative, many details of specific places and customs woven into the story. Since it’s a graphic memoir it is accessible and easily read, but full of Estelle’s impactful story and should be shared and read for a personal view on the events of the holocaust.
Goodreads currently has a giveaway running for this book, so be sure to check that out! The Girl Who Sang comes out on January 23rd, so make sure to pick up a copy.
Fans of comics, and heartwarming stories—not to mention cats!—will love Kitten Ninja, the origin story of the incredible Cat Ninja!
Before Cat Ninja grew up and became Metro City’s greatest defender, he was tiny, adorable Kitten Ninja and he battled…much tinier foes. (Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, right?)
In this spin-off prequel to the enormously popular Epic Original Cat Ninja series, our favorite feline hero takes on everything a kitten-size ninja has to battle on the way to his heroic a sun spot that won’t stay put, an irresistible ball of yarn, and—every cat’s archenemy—snow!
I was excited to see something new from the author of Katie the Catsitter, and since it was cat themed it was a win win for me! This is an adorable graphic novel with a few different shorts so to speak, all about Kitten Ninja and their adventures. The art is colorful and adorable, perfectly suited to stories about an adventurous kitten. If you love cats definitely give this a read, it’s quick, fun and adorable.
A gripping nonfiction graphic novel that follows the stories of Jewish children, separated from their parents, who escaped the horrors of the Holocaust. From the Sibert Honor and YALSA Award–winning creator behind The Unwanted, Drowned City, and others. In the tightening grip of Hitler’s power, towns, cities, and ghettoes were emptied of Jews. Unless they could escape, Jewish children would not be spared their deadly fate in the Holocaust, a tragedy of unfathomable depth. Only 11% of the Jewish children living in Europe before 1939 survived the Second World War. Run and Hide tells the stories of these children, forced to leave their homes and families, as they escaped certain horror. Some children flee to England by train. Others are hidden from Nazis, sometimes in plain sight. Some are secreted away in attics and farmhouses. Still others make miraculous escapes, cresting over the snow-covered Pyrenees mountains to safety. Acclaimed nonfiction storyteller Don Brown brings his expertise for journalistic reporting to the deeply felt personal narratives of Jewish children who survived against overwhelming odds
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
The further we get from the horrific events of the Holocaust, the more books and media like this are important. Not just for the cliché of learning from history so you don’t repeat it, which shows up pretty much every day – but because events like this need to be taught and understood. This book did give an important timeline of events with the overall war, but specifically centered on the things that had to be done in order to try to save Jewish children during World War II. People had to go to extreme lengths and risk their lives in order to save children, often children they didn’t know or have any personal connection to. In this format the information is more easily consumed and I think very accessible to anyone that wants to learn about different facets of World War II.
Following Brenna Thummler’s bestselling and critically acclaimed graphic novels Sheets and Delicates, Marjorie, Eliza, and Wendell the ghost are back to uncover the secrets of Wendell’s human life in the third and final heartwarming installment of the Sheets trilogy.
Marjorie Glatt’s life was forever changed the day she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. One of those ghosts was Wendell: a lonely phantom turned Marjorie’s best friend. When he and Marjorie are joined by ghost-enthusiast Eliza Duncan, the three friends band together in friendship, bravery, and all things paranormal.
Wendell died far too young and now must wander the Land of Humans with nothing more than a sheet for a body. He knows how he died—a tragic drowning accident—but lately he’s grown curious about his past life. He wants to know more about why he died, not just how he died. It’s not easy, though, since Wendell’s memory of his human life has grown increasingly blurry. With Marjorie and Eliza’s help, they set out on a journey to find out more. When they hear a rumor about Wendell’s death, they wonder if it might not have been an accident after all. Meanwhile, Marjorie and Eliza’s friendship is tested when Marjorie starts to befriend the very people who used to bully Eliza.
In the third and final installment of the Sheets trilogy, Wendell will finally uncover the truth of his human life. Marjorie and Eliza will learn that some people really can change. Most of all, they start to see that everything can cast shadows, but if you look hard enough, you can find the light.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments in this trilogy I was really excited to see the third one coming out. I really loved that in this one we saw more of Wendell’s past and what led to him becoming a ghost. We also see real growth with both Marjorie and Eliza, with a special emphasis on how you can have different types of friends that you do different things with, and that’s ok. Not only was this a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy, it was wonderful to see where Marjorie started and where she ended up by the end. A wonderful coming of age story on multiple fronts.
Paper Girlis a heartrending middle-grade graphic novel about a girl’s ill-fated wish to fit in, perfect for readers of Stargazing and Pashmina.
All Yuna wants is to belong. She wants to go to sleepovers, have a smart phone, and go to summer camp—just like her friends in middle school.
Furious at her Umma for never packing her a “normal” American lunch, they get into yet another fight. Out of options and miserable, Yuna remembers a legend that her grandma, Halmoni, told her. If you fold 1,000 paper stars, you will be granted one wish.
When she reaches 1,000 paper stars, Yuna wishes for her family to move back to Korea, where she can finally be normal. Seconds later: a knock at her door. It’s her sister with devastating news. Halmoni has died and they must go back to Korea to attend the funeral.
Yuna knows this is all her fault. As her guilt builds, her body begins to turn into paper. Yuna realizes she must undo her wish and bring her Halmoni back—or turn into paper forever.
Wholly heartbreaking and with light touches of magic realism, Paper Girl is a captivating graphic novel about identity, family, and the love that can bridge generations.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
I was so excited when I was able to get a copy of this book as I could tell from the synopsis that it would be something I would enjoy, and I did! I loved the story and Yuna’s struggle with the feeling that she didn’t belong anywhere because she didn’t quite fit in in either America or Korea, and her longing for that feeling of home. This also really delves a bit into grief and sudden loss of a loved one as well and overall was a beautiful but heart wrenching story. The art style was beautiful, with different palettes for different types of scenes, such as memories being differently shaded than things happening in the present. I also really enjoyed the touches of Korean culture that the author included, shaped by their own experiences.
Emma, Lily, and Fadila want to save the planet . . . but no one around them seems to care. Frustrated, they name themselves the Green Girls, take to social media, and launch a series of bold protests. Alongside their classmate and aspiring Green Girl Silas, the crew risks getting in trouble (and stirs some up) to raise awareness about container ship pollution, palm oil overproduction, and more environmental hazards. With a mix of livestreams, spray paint, and bungee cords, they’re out to make a difference―and get their followers to do the same.
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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I enjoyed the overall premise of this book, it’s a great subject to explore to encourage kids/teens to make a change in the world and stand up for causes they care about; however, I did take some issues with some of the methods the teens used in the story to achieve their goals. Sure, when you’re doing activism of any kind there is the possibility that you’ll cross some lines for the cause, but I’m not sure some of their actions should be presented as acceptable such as lying and vandalism.
That aside, I really enjoyed the art, story and characters overall. It was a quick and enjoyable read about sparking the idea of activism and taking action to stand up for what you believe.
The Wandering Wordsmith 