Great Recent Graphic Novels for Children 2012
Annotation:Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, and Kazu Kibuishi are just a few of the contributers to this collection of disparate tales featuring mystical boxes that hold gateways into the unknown. My personal favorite out of the bunch is a story smack dab in the middle called "The Keeper Treasure" by Jason Caffoe.
Annotation:A story of a young boy genuis who loves inventing complicated machines and his dog who loves, well... food of any kind. This story is a follow up to Mal and Chad: The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever! which introduces us to these characters. After inadvertantly unleashing Chad's evil dream demon, Mal has to save Megan and her boy-hating friends.
Annotation:This particular graphic novel actually depicts two different stories, both involving the same character. The first is a story of a young boy who gets caught shoplifting in the 1970's while the second follows an Asian-American boy the same age whose family is relocated to a Japanese internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Annotation:Imagine a world without parents. Sounds fun, right? It's not for Lisa and Todd, a brother and sister who wake up one day to discover no one over the age of 12 has survived a mysterious virus. Attempting to survive in a tribal-like society, filled with gangs and looters, Lisa takes charge and attempts to establish a safe place than can fend off interlopers.
Annotation:She still has to contend with the villainous Tom Logan, an old enemy who has it out for her and longs to take away everything she's built. Filled with expressive illustrations, this story adapts a 1970's children's novel that kind of reminded me of The Walking Dead (minus the zombies) meets Lord of the Flies.
Annotation:Lou is kind of a wacky girl. A 12 year old girl who makes her own clothes, it's pretty clear that she marches to a much different drummer than the rest of the kids in her class. Her mom Cat is her best friend and partner in crime. She's a writer... when she finally takes a break from all her video games.
Annotation:The girls deal with crushes, parties, and even their stick-in-the-mud grandma. Their small shared apartment is an enviornment most New Yorkers will appreciate. With bring colors and snappy dialogue, Secret Diary is a great title to give to any boy-crazy girl that needs convincing that there's a graphic novel out there for her, too.
Annotation:Bud just moved to a new town, mainly so his scientist father can work in a gigantic field of satellites. On his first day, Bud accidentally gets on the wrong bus... right into outer space!
Annotation:Making fast friends with new buddy Gort, Bud has to master alien classes, the mysterious Zero-Ball, and hide from an entire school of Earth-hating creatures! A wild adventure story, this graphic novel will appeal to kids of many ages just like last year's Zita the Spacegirl did.
Annotation:Squirrel just wants to get all his food stored up for winter, which becomes difficult when he meets up with the zany Bird who seems to ruin his every attempt. Bird eventually convinces Squirrel to head south for the winter, but the monstrously fat Cat is right on their heels, determined to make them his next meal. Even stranger, this unlikely duo end up becoming best friends.
Annotation:When evil penguins plot to make a tropical paradise their own private igloo, is there anyone who can stop? Leave it to Ace and Bud, two beavers more usually concerned with surfing and napping than anything else. After stumbling upon the penguins' nefarious scheme, however, the brothers step up and stop them.
Annotation:Going to school is hard enough, but trying to stop the evil Venomous Drool and protect a giant toenail? That's Fangbone's destiny! Transported from Skullbania to the motley crew in class 3G, Fangbone soon learns he's a lot more cut out for our world than he originally thought. Forming an "army" with his new classmates, he also finds a lot of new friends, too.
Annotation:After abducting the beautiful Kore and throwing her mother Demeter into despair, Hades takes her on a tour of his realm. Kore takes a secret delight in finally being out of her mother's watchful gaze and in Hades' attention, deciding to rename herself Persephone. O'Connor's fushion of several Greek myths all in one will leave readers quite satisfied.
Annotation:One night, a brother and a sister go to sleep. When they wake up, they are in a forest where a stone frog is warning them to stay on the path behind him. Young Alan predictably veers off the path, and it's up to his older sister Leah to save him. Having a fantastic adventure, this bittersweet chimera will leave you breathless.
Annotation:Seifer is torn from everything he's ever known and loved and forced to replace a prince he just happens to recognize. He's much of a skullball player than a monarch, so there's a definite learning curve when it comes to him making decisions for an entire kingdom.
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Did you know that for the past few years there has been a great list of annual graphic novel selections for kids on the Children's Books: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list? I'm helping out on the committee this year, so I've been reading a bunch of comics aimed at younger readers. While not all of these titles will make our year end list, I thought I might share with you a few of my favorite books so far.
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