Books by genre
Top 12 graphic novels and comics for ages 6 to 9
Graphic novels are often the first books a child will read for fun. The titles here use simple panels, short chapters and a lot of humor. Most are series, so one good book can keep a child reading for months.
Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Dog Man
Dav Pilkey · Ages 6-9
A cop with a dog's head fights crime. Silly, with word games and flip-o-rama.
Watch for: Cartoon violence.
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Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea
Ben Clanton · Ages 5-8
A cheerful narwhal and a grumpy jellyfish become friends. Small stories in one book.
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Zita the Spacegirl
Ben Hatke · Ages 7-10
Zita follows her friend through a portal to another planet. First of a trilogy.
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Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer
Andy Runton · Ages 5-8
A kind owl tries to make friends with a worm. Wordless-feeling and gentle.
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Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Judd Winick · Ages 7-10
A boy with powers falls from the sky into the lives of D.J. and Gina. Funny and kind.
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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
Jarrett J. Krosoczka · Ages 6-9
A school lunch lady fights crime with food. Quick and fun.
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Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm · Ages 6-9
A mouse who dreams big wants to attend a popular girl's party. Pink-accented panels.
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The Bad Guys: Episode 1
Aaron Blabey · Ages 6-9
A wolf and friends try to be good. Very silly and very short.
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Squish: Super Amoeba
Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm · Ages 6-9
An amoeba who loves comics and Super Amoeba faces school life. Light science content.
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Cat Kid Comic Club
Dav Pilkey · Ages 6-9
Baby frogs make comics at the Cat Kid's club. Encourages kids to draw.
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Little Mouse Gets Ready
Jeff Smith · Ages 4-7
A toon book of a mouse getting dressed. Good for early readers.
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Benny and Penny in Just Pretend
Geoffrey Hayes · Ages 4-7
Mouse siblings tell stories and squabble. A gentle early graphic reader.
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More lists
Top 14 graphic novels for ages 10 to 14
The best middle-grade graphic novels deal with friendship, family, identity and history.
Top 14 funny books for kids ages 6 to 12
Funny books are how many reluctant readers become readers.
Top 16 wordless picture books
Wordless books let a child tell the story in their own voice and are a good fit for children of any language.
Top 14 adventure books for kids ages 6 to 12
Adventure stories put a child in a hard place with a problem to solve: a wilderness, an island, a quest, a chase.
Top 12 fantasy books for ages 6 to 8
These are talking animals, magic doorways and small heroes, written plainly enough for new independent readers or good as a read-aloud.
Top 15 fantasy books for ages 9 to 12
The middle-grade years are the peak of fantasy reading.
Top 14 fantasy books for younger teens (ages 12 and up)
These are the bridge from children's fantasy to adult epic fantasy.
Top 11 fairy tale collections and retellings for kids
Fairy tales come in two kinds here: the old collections, and newer novels that retell or play with them.