Graphic Novels are a bit shunned in the Homeschooling World especially the CM circles. I’m not surprised, there are quite a lot of harmful twaddle out there marketed towards children but not really child friendly.
I was determined to see if I could find “Living Books” in the Graphic Novel Category. My criteria was to avoid anything violent, scary or bloody, no big emphasis on romance or anything that went against our family’s values (no crude language, bad guys should not win, etc). I was also picky about the artwork as that should also be pleasing to the eye. I did not avoid magic elements in the themes as long as it felt like a fairy tale and not dark in any way.
I think if your child is reluctant to pick up books for pure joy and especially if there is a learning difference or disability that these books would help them to see how enjoyable reading can be and help them love reading!
For Young Elementary (these books can be enjoyed any age)
-The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld
-Little Robot by Ben Hatke
-Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer
-Bolivar by Sean Rubin
– Animal Rescue Friends by Gina Loveless
-Amazing Cows by Sandra Boynton
-Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo
-The Coldfire Curse by Jordan Quinn- kingdom of wrenly fans will be delighted (highly recommend the early chapter books too!
-Magic Tree House, the graphic novel series (highly recommend the early chapter book series too)
For Older Elementary & Beyond
-History Comics World War II : fight on the home front- some heavy themes but very educational. I DO NOT recommend the entire series but this one was well done.
-Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden
-My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun
-Goldilocks: Wanted Dead Or Alive by Chris Colfer (there is a quick kiss but the focus is not romance, I also do not recommend the whole series because I haven’t read them but this book stuck to our family values)
Marcia Williams has a wide variety of books but occasionally one might say “stupid” or something similar so while they can be enjoyed by younger children too, I’m putting them into the Older Elementary list.
Some of her books we enjoy are
-The Adventures of Robin Hood
-King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
-Charles Dickens and Friends
-Bravo, Mr. William Shakespeare!
-Hooray for Inventors
These books are great for Middle and Highschoolers. I felt these just had a little more heavier like fighting against animal abuse or insects attacking other bugs themes but felt still valuable in content. But I invite you to read them with your children and perhaps these will be perfect for your younger children, actually my 7 year old loves the Hobbit and Redwall the best!
-Saving H’non by Jeet Zdung and Trang Nguyen (there is more in this series too I’m sure they are just as good)
-The Hobbit: The Graphic Novel by Chuck Dixon
-Around the World by Matt Phelan
-The Way Of The Hive
-Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques
-Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer Book by Trina Robbins
-Anne of Green Gables by Mariah Marsden
The Secret Garden by Mariah Marsden
The Usborne Graphic Novel series is great too!
-Alice In Wonderland
-Three Musketeers
-King Arthur
-Hamlet
While there is A LOT of twaddle and down right harmful graphic novels there are living ones! I hope this list provides some joy to all those kiddos who love graphic novels while still holding the high standard of Living Books!
