all age graphic novel | Page 2 of 3

The Coldfire Curse, a graphic novel that elementary ages will want to read

I just read an illustrated book to a first-grade class. It was a pleasant enough book. They enjoyed it because they knew the story so well that they memorized the words and it represented a time when they don’t have to work. The book was also far too easy for them. Some of the kids were so bored that they simply put their heads on their desks and listened to an all too enthusiastic substitute teacher read it to them. In my experience teaching children, it’s not that they don’t want to read, it’s that they want to read books that are entertaining. The Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly, The Coldfire Curse by Jordan Quinn is a graphic novel that classes like that would devour during their free reading time.

This all-age graphic novel is the dragon bomb, great for ages 5 and up

Fox & Rabbit: Make Believe is elementary confidence and fun

Brothers and sisters don’t just exist in living beings. There are some books that have their perfect pair. It’s those books that are similar, but not identical, and have the right things in common that fans of either book want to see. If your elementary school reader is not hip to Mr. Wolf’s Class they are missing out. It’s an original graphic novel series on Graphix that is entertaining, builds the reader’s confidence, is on a level that they can easily understand, and doesn’t talk down to them. Fox & Rabbit: Make Believe is the second book in this series by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Gergely Dudas and will strike the same chord of interest in those first through third-grade readers.

If your elementary-aged reader is looking for a great read try this

Peter & Ernesto Sloths in the Night, caps this all age series with a grin

A kid’s first graphic novel is a great thing. We include the all age graphic novels in our run down of the week’s new all age comic books. Early through upper elementary school-aged kids want to have a graphic novel that they can read and appreciate. This is something that is their jam. The older kids might like it too, but this the kind of graphic novel that they can enjoy without any assistance from mom, dad or their older sibling. Peter & Ernesto is one of two elementary school based graphic novels that pop up in my mind. The third and final entry in the series, Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night is out and caps the series in a perfectly happy and friendly manner that will leave ages 6-10 grinning from ear to ear.

If you’re looking for a great graphic novel series for elementary school ages this is the sign

Attack of the Stuff is one of the best (& oddest) graphic novels this year

Jim Benton is a bestselling cartoonist and author. Elementary aged audiences know him for Catwad, Dear Dumb Diary, Clyde, Dog Butts and Love, Franny K. Stein, his Victor Shmud books or something else that’s most likely funny, cartoonish or creative. In Attack of the Stuff, Benton offers up a standalone all-age graphic novel that is unlike anything you’ve ever read. Some readers’ fingers will burn with anticipation through the pages of the book so quickly you’ll need a cup of ice next to it to cool them down at the end of it. Other readers will simply laugh at the puns, illustrations and sheer ridiculousness of the plot. We’re firmly in the first camp and have read the graphic novel several times, finding something new to laugh about each time.

Gird your loins-this is all age graphic novel greatness

Investigators, the new 500 pound gorilla in all age graphic novels

Waves are a common thing amongst the tides, life and publishing. There will never be another middle grade book series as this. The best all age comic book that we’ve seen in ages has just ended its run. There are no new great all age graphic novels. We have points to counter all of those, but let’s tackle that last one first. A great all age graphic novel is one that’s fabulously entertaining for elementary aged readers without babying down the content. This way it can also be enjoyed by those in middle school, high school and those adults that read to children. For all of those in that sentence check out Investigators by John Patrick Green. This is legitimately laugh out loud funny for adult readers, but is probably intended for readers as young as six.

Investigators runs from the start, it’s one of the best graphic novels of the year.

Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl, everything you wanted it to be

The pregnant pause that older readers hear that two excellent, thought out characters will be in the same book can be painful. On one hand you want to see them in the same book, but you also hold your breath, in hope that the author is skilled enough to accomplish what fans want from the series. Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl gave me a huge grin and hope for the team up when I heard that the third book in Jack’s series would be the team-up. If you know this series of graphic novels from Ben Hatke, the news probably did the same for you. Rest easy and read on, Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl is everything you’d hoped it be and more monsters.

This is a great ending, jumping on point or continuation for readers of this awesome series for ages 8 and up

Kitten Construction Company, A Bridge Too Fur, pun for ages 6-10

Mewberg has its brand-new, stat of the art sports stadium and it was built by cats. That’s what happened in Kitten Construction Company as the House Kittens that no other company could complete. Sampson, the engineer, Professor von Wigglebottom on masonry, Bubbles the plumber and the architect Marmalade. In the Kitten Construction Company: A Bridge Too Fur, the crew takes on a tougher challenge-to build the new Mewberg bridge. For a variety of elementary school aged readers this series will entertain them or give them motivation to read.

A Bridge Too fur, graphic novel for the non-super elementary kid

Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout, an excellent all age graphic novel

If you’ve listened to our podcast then you’ve probably heard us talk about all age graphic novels vs. kid’s graphic novels (or graphic novels for kids, if you prefer). Laser Moose is a series of original graphic novels from Doug Savage on Andrews McMeel Publishing that is as great as an all age graphic novel can get. If Marvel Action: Spider-Man from IDW Publishing is one of our go-to examples for a great all age comic book (and it is), then Laser Moose is its graphic novel equivalent. “Name a great all age graphic novel”, some yeehaw might ask me at a party. Without hesitation I’d say this series from Savage, especially this addition, it’s most time-travelled episode yet, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout.

Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout is the perfect intersection of humor, action, oddities, and anthropomorphics in this all age graphic novel.

If you’re looking for a textbook example of a great, original all age graphic novel, this is it