Comics about friends

• Pizza and Taco books in order by Stephen Shaskan

  Ages 5–8 · the publisher's age 11 books. Big panels with a line or two of speech in each bubble, split into short chapters.

• Owly books in order by Andy Runton

  Ages 5–8 · Peabody's own estimate 5 books. Almost wordless pictures where pictures and small symbols in the speech bubbles tell the story, so a child can read it with no words at all.

• Narwhal and Jelly books in order by Ben Clanton

  Ages 6–9 · Peabody's own estimate 10 books. Very short comics in big panels with only a line or two of text each, plus sea-creature facts at the end of some chapters.

• Pea, Bee, & Jay books in order by Brian "Smitty" Smith

  Ages 6–10 · Peabody's own estimate 6 books. Short books of big panels with very few words in each bubble and puns on every page, made for new readers.

• Babymouse books in order by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

  Ages 7–10 · the publisher's age 20 books. Comic panels with short speech bubbles and a few lines of narration.

• Hilda books in order by Luke Pearson

  Ages 7–11 · the publisher's age 6 books. Rich, detailed pictures with a little text on each page; the story is easy to follow and the wording is plain.

• Squish books in order by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

  Ages 7–10 · the publisher's age 8 books. Comic panels with short speech bubbles, plus a comic-within-the-comic and a few science facts.

• Bird & Squirrel books in order by James Burks

  Ages 7–10 · Peabody's own estimate 7 books. Colourful comic panels with short speech bubbles and a lot of action, so the story is easy to follow.

• The Tea Dragon Society books in order by Katie O'Neill

  Ages 7–11 · Peabody's own estimate 3 books. Soft, quiet panels with a little speech on each page, and a slow, gentle pace.

• Mr. Wolf's Class books in order by Aron Nels Steinke

  Ages 7+ · Peabody's own estimate 6 books. Clear comic panels with short speech bubbles and everyday school scenes, easy to follow one panel at a time.

• Wings of Fire graphic novels in order by Tui T. Sutherland, drawn by Mike Holmes

  Ages 8–12 · the publisher's age 9 graphic novels. Full-colour comic pages with more words than Dog Man, and one long story across the books.

• The Last Kids on Earth books in order by Max Brallier, drawn by Douglas Holgate

  Ages 8–12 · the publisher's age 10 books. A novel with a big drawing on most spreads and a few comic pages.

• The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels graphic novels in order by Ann M. Martin (adapted by Raina Telgemeier and other artists)

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 19 graphic novels. Comic panels with chatty speech bubbles and a lot of feelings, and a new cast member to learn in most books.

• Hilo books in order by Judd Winick

  Ages 8–12 · the publisher's age 11 books. Bright comic panels with short speech bubbles, quick jokes and a bigger story that builds across the books.

• Phoebe and Her Unicorn books in order by Dana Simpson

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 24 books. Short comic strips and a few longer stories, with witty dialogue in small panels and a joke every few lines.

• Big Nate novels in order by Lincoln Peirce

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 8 novels. Short chapters of plain, chatty text on every page, with cartoons and comic strips mixed in.

• Zita the Spacegirl books in order by Ben Hatke

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 3 books. Full-page comic scenes with short speech bubbles and quiet pictures that tell much of the story.

• Click books in order by Kayla Miller

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 7 books. Bright, easy-to-read comic panels with short bubbles, about one girl's worries.

• Smile, Sisters and Guts graphic memoirs in order by Raina Telgemeier

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 3 graphic memoirs. Full-colour comic panels with short speech bubbles and a little narration, about one child's real life.

• Sunny graphic novels in order by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 6 graphic novels. Colourful comic panels with short speech bubbles, set in a girl's everyday life.

• Lightfall books in order by Tim Probert

  Ages 8–12 · Peabody's own estimate 4 books. Detailed comic panels with short speech bubbles, a lot of invented places and a long story that builds.

• Sanity & Tallulah books in order by Molly Brooks

  Ages 8–12 · the publisher's age 3 books. Colourful comic panels with a lot of speech and science words, and a mystery to follow.

• Real Friends graphic memoirs in order by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

  Ages 9–13 · Peabody's own estimate 3 graphic memoirs. Comic panels with short speech bubbles, in the first person from the author as a child.

• The Cardboard Kingdom books in order by Chad Sell (with co-writers)

  Ages 9–12 · the publisher's age 3 books. Full-page comic panels with a lot of dialogue, split into short chapters that each follow a different kid.

• Berrybrook Middle School books in order by Svetlana Chmakova

  Ages 10+ · Peabody's own estimate 5 books. Manga-style panels read left to right, with short speech bubbles, lots of facial expressions and a few pages of heavier feeling.

• Space Boy books in order by Stephen McCranie

  Ages 10+ · the publisher's age 23 books. Long, quiet comic pages with a lot of talking and feelings, and a big story that builds over many volumes.

More kinds: Funny comics and graphic novels · Comics about animals · Adventure comics · Fantasy comics: dragons, magic and other worlds · Comics about school · Comics set in space · Mystery comics. Or let Peabody pick three.