It might seem counterintuitive for a place that sells books to actively direct its customers to to the library , but a) we love libraries, b) we love the medium of comics and want to spread that joy around however we can, c) New York apartments mean that none of us has room to buy all the books we’d like, and d) there are some great graphic novels out there that we couldn’t sell you if we wanted to–but are available to you for free at Brooklyn Public Library.
Since the Hey Kids Comics shop in Greenpoint is small, we’re used to being quite selective in what we stock. So we put on our curator hat and dug through the extensive collection of comics in the BPL’s catalog whittled it down to this list of 50 Great Graphic Novels for Young Readers . Overall, the books here are chosen on strength of storytelling and quality of art, with some being just the first volume of multi-book series that could sustain you for years, and others being highlighted because they’re out of print or incredibly hard to find.
The list is loosely organized according to reading level: starting with early readers and ending with books for teens. Clicking on an image or a title takes you through to the Brooklyn Public Library’s site where you can reserve the book for pickup at your local branch!
Enjoy!
Owly - The Way Home Loved by early readers, the word balloons in this comic cleverly include visual clues that help kids understand what’s written. Otto's Backwards Day Another great one from Toon Books, this one written by underground comix legend, Jay Lynch. Dog Man Look, there’s a reason why when a new Dog Man book comes out it becomes that year’s best seller: because they’re good. The conceit here is that the Dog Man comics are made by George & Harold–characters from the Captain Underpants book series. As such, it has the occasional misspelling and use of potty humor. That’s a feature not a bug. Little Lulu: Working Girl Lulu Moppet is an outspoken and brazen young girl who doesn't follow any rules--whether they've been set by her parents, the neighborhood boys, or society itself. It’s a classic! Yotsuba&! - Vol. 1 This one was recommended to us by Manu creator Kelly Fernandez, and it’s a total delight. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find. Luckily, you have a great library system which can hook you up! It features the slice-of-life adventures of a young girl named Yotsuba as she learns about the world around her. Pokémon - Volume 1 There’s more Pokémon manga than you can shake a stick at. Here’s some older stuff you won’t commonly find on store shelves. Moomin Builds a House Never as big in the States as in Europe, the work of Tove Jansson has a growing legion of fans here, and for good reason. The Moomin comic strips & books are quirky and delightful, and fun for all ages. Out From Boneville Sometimes the best books for young readers are those that weren’t meant for young readers. Jeff Smith’s epic Bone series was originally printed as black and white “floppy” comics sold only in comic shops. Scholastic / Graphix later published these full-color volumes, and decades later, they’re still finding new readers. Bone: Coda This one is out of print, so make sure to return it! Splatoon - Vol. 1 Many comics that are video game tie-ins are surprisingly good. This is an example. Copper If you’re an Amulet fan, you won’t want to miss these adventures of a boy and his dog. Cleopatra In Space- Target practice We got into this on a recommendation from J onna and the Unpossible Monsters creator Chris Samnee. When a young Cleopatra finds a mysterious tablet that zaps her to the far, REALLY far future, she learns of an ancient prophecy that says she is destined to save the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of the evil Xaius Octavian. My neighbor Totoro Great comic adaptation of the anime feature, and a wonderful introduction to the world of Hayao Miyazaki Big Fat Little Lit Before Toon Books was Toon Books, Art Spiegelman & Françoise Mouly were publishing amazing comics for kids by some of the greatest living comic artists in a series of books called Little Lit. This out of print paperback volume collects some of the best. Sailor Moon 1 Read the manga that inspired the animated series / global phenomenon of the 1990s and beyond. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy Nathan Hale, the author's historical namesake, was America's first spy, a Revolutionary War hero who famously said "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" before being hanged by the British. In the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series, author Nathan Hale channels his namesake to present history's roughest, toughest, and craziest stories. Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades When Eowulf, the pint-sized descendant of monster slayer Beowulf, decides to slay Cerberus, young Nico, Lula the sphinx, and Buck the unicorn must stop her or face the zombie apocalypse.By Brooklyn’s own Mike Cavallaro! The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo First in a series by Brooklyn artist Drew Weing. After moving to Echo City, Charles finds himself at the mercy of the town's monsters, but lucky for him there is Margo Maloo, monster mediator. Hilda and the Troll You’ve probably seen the hit Netflix show. Now read the original comics it’s based on! The Little Prince We honestly didn’t know this existed until we asked Google if such a thing existed. It exists, is a very cleverly-handled adaptation, and is totally out of print! Dragon Ball Z. Vol. 1 A perfect example of a classic manga series whose early volumes are tough to find in the marketplace, but not at the library. Thanks BPL! The Witch Boy The first of Molly Knox Ostertag’s Witch Boy series. Naruto - Vol. 1, In 2003, when Shonen Jump started publishing in English in the US, millions of American kids were introduced to the boisterous character that is Naruto. Early volumes of this series are hard to find, so take good care of them! Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Incredible visual storytelling for young and old by Chris Samnee & Laura Samnee. Rainbow has been looking for her younger sister, Jonna, for over a year--since the monsters appeared and the world began to dry up. Going from settlement to settlement, Rainbow asks every survivor she meets: Have you seen my sister? Then, one day, Jonna is spotted out in the wild: nearly feral, and stronger than ever before. Strong enough to knock back a towering monster with one punch. All this time, she's been surviving. On her own. Without Rainbow. Without anyone. But there are more dangers in the world than monsters, and when the two sisters reunite, they'll discover the secrets of this new and terrifying world firsthand. Sweaterweather & Other Short Stories Short stories, essays, and journal entries, revealing the whimsical world of Sara Varon, where anthropomorphic animals walk the streets of Brooklyn Lumberjanes V1 - Beware the Kitten Holy Best friends Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley spend a fun summer at Lumberjane scout camp where they encounter yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons while solving a mystery that holds the fate of the world in the balance. Battling Boy Indie comics legend Paul Pope’s 2013 YA graphic novel in which a twelve-year-old demigod is sent to help the people of Arcopolis, a city infested with monsters. Goosebumps : Creepy Creatures If you like a good scare, you’ll enjoy this comic adaptation of the R.L. Stine’s classic Goosebumps series. Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane: Sophomore Jinx Here’s an out of print Spidey story written by Terry More (in case the cover didn’t make that clear). As Mary Jane starts her sophomore year of high school, she contends with her ongoing crush on Spider-Man, her difficult family life, relationships with classmates, and her new identity as Limo Girl. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 1 The pandemic-era “great manga shortage” is certainly illustrated by how difficult it is to find early volumes of Demon Slayer. In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal until his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his family and turns his sister into another demon, forcing Tanjiro on a dangerous journey to destroy the demon and save his sister. My Hero Academia. Vol. 1, Izuku Midoriya: Origin Perhaps the single most popular manga series of the moment, which also means its early volumes are hard to find at comic shops & bookstores. What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called "Quirks" at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless? Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn't got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny. The Unbelievable Gwenpool - Volume 1: Believe it Gwen Poole used to be a comic book reader just like you...until she woke up in a world where the characters she read about seemed to be real! But that can't be, right? This must all be fake, or a dream or something, right? And you know what that means...NO CONSEQUENCES! Could Gwenpool truly be Marvel's least responsible and least role-modely character to date? She can if she tries! Superman Smashes the Klan: the Graphic Novel This Eisner award-winning book by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Gene Luen Yang is all its cracked up to be. When Dr. Lee moves his family to Metropolis in the 1940s, his son Tommy adjusts to the new neighborhood while daugher Roberta feels out of place, so when the evil Klan of the Fiery Cross begins a string of terrorist attacks on the city, Superman fights them, and Roberta and Superman soon learn to embrace their own unique features that set them apart. One Piece - Vol. 1 From the pages of Shonen Jump, it’s pirate manga that in 2015 claimed the Guinness world record for most copies published of the same comic book series by a single author. And still… early volumes are hard to come by! The Wrenchies Sherwood and Orson should never have gone into that cave. That day, a door was opened from our world into a dark and profane realm...and earth's destiny was changed forever. In this demented future, whatever life remains on earth is oppressed by the evil shadowsmen. Only a gang of ruthless and powerful children called the Wrenchies can hope to stand against them. When Hollis, a lonely boy from our world, is magically given access to the future world of the Wrenchies, he finally finds a place he belongs. But it is not an easy world to live in, and Hollis's quest is bigger than he ever dreamed of.