Comic books/graphic novels for an 8 year old
May 20, 2023 4:45 PM Subscribe
Suggestions for reading material for a boy who likes Dave Pilkey, The Bad Guys, and Jeffrey Brown’s Neanderthal books?
Educational value would be nice, especially emotional/social health, but not strictly necessary. I’d like to avoid stuff that doesn’t have prominent female characters. Something like The Hamster Princess series would be great, but those books are a little too advanced for him, he tends to lose interest unless I read them aloud.
His other interests are pretty typical: dinosaurs, Star Wars, super heroes, space, fighting/war, ninjas, that sort of thing.
Educational value would be nice, especially emotional/social health, but not strictly necessary. I’d like to avoid stuff that doesn’t have prominent female characters. Something like The Hamster Princess series would be great, but those books are a little too advanced for him, he tends to lose interest unless I read them aloud.
His other interests are pretty typical: dinosaurs, Star Wars, super heroes, space, fighting/war, ninjas, that sort of thing.
Best answer: Also, Marvel has some great, young female-centered series. I recommend:
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl .
The Unstoppable Wasp.
Both are not specifically for young children but very accessible (and have no 'adult' elements) and you can enjoy them without having read 45 years of Marvel comics beforehand.
posted by signal at 5:10 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl .
The Unstoppable Wasp.
Both are not specifically for young children but very accessible (and have no 'adult' elements) and you can enjoy them without having read 45 years of Marvel comics beforehand.
posted by signal at 5:10 PM on May 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: On mobile so no links, sorry.
InvestiGators
How Mirka got her Sword
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Jeffrey Brown has a space series as well but we have not read it.
posted by Vatnesine at 5:10 PM on May 20, 2023
InvestiGators
How Mirka got her Sword
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Jeffrey Brown has a space series as well but we have not read it.
posted by Vatnesine at 5:10 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: Oh right, Jeffrey Brown's Jedi Academy books.
posted by signal at 5:13 PM on May 20, 2023
posted by signal at 5:13 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: Seconding Bone. I got it for a nephew and he devoured it. I've also gotten him books from the Hildafolk series, also previously mentioned.
If you aren't familiar with the blog Good Comics for Kids, it's very much worth a browse, and tends to be one of my first stops when looking up, well, good comics for kids.
posted by May Kasahara at 5:19 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you aren't familiar with the blog Good Comics for Kids, it's very much worth a browse, and tends to be one of my first stops when looking up, well, good comics for kids.
posted by May Kasahara at 5:19 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My almost-ten-year-old loves Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Science Comics, and Sanity and Tallulah.
posted by arrmatie at 5:40 PM on May 20, 2023
posted by arrmatie at 5:40 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: Abby Howard's trilogy about dinosaurs and early mammals is legit hilarious, interesting, and stars a woman and girl.
Kondo & Kezumi series
The First Cat in Space Are Pizzaa>
Max and the Midknights series
Hilda is great!
posted by Geameade at 7:06 PM on May 20, 2023
Kondo & Kezumi series
The First Cat in Space Are Pizzaa>
Max and the Midknights series
Hilda is great!
posted by Geameade at 7:06 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: The Tree House series is another one.
My kid started Jeff Kinney around 9 or 10.
posted by aetg at 8:03 PM on May 20, 2023
My kid started Jeff Kinney around 9 or 10.
posted by aetg at 8:03 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: Zita the Space Girl! Really everything by Ben Hatke.
Red's Planet
Sparks
The Cardboard Kingdom
Star Scouts
I also strongly second Squirrel Girl. And I don't know if this applies to you, but my kid was very much into Pokemon and he really loved reading all the Pokemon manga.
posted by gideonfrog at 8:03 PM on May 20, 2023
Red's Planet
Sparks
The Cardboard Kingdom
Star Scouts
I also strongly second Squirrel Girl. And I don't know if this applies to you, but my kid was very much into Pokemon and he really loved reading all the Pokemon manga.
posted by gideonfrog at 8:03 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: My son is 8 and for probably the last 2 years he has been reading and rereading my classic Peanuts books (the first 6 volumes) whenever he has a free minute. He reads other stuff too but there's always an open Peanuts book around.
Other titles he's enjoyed:
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters
Strange Academy
Rocket and Groot
Uncle Scrooge by Carl Barks
What's Michael
One Piece
Mini Marvels
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 8:17 PM on May 20, 2023
Other titles he's enjoyed:
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters
Strange Academy
Rocket and Groot
Uncle Scrooge by Carl Barks
What's Michael
One Piece
Mini Marvels
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 8:17 PM on May 20, 2023
Best answer: My 7.5 year old girl recently liked El Deafo.
posted by vunder at 11:11 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by vunder at 11:11 PM on May 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If he is not ready for Hamster Princess, he is also not ready for LumberJanes but keep that on your radar for later because it is awesome.
Baby Mouse is good for that early graphic novel group.
He could maybe do some of the Raina Telgemeier stuff. It’s a little bit ahead of Dav Pilkey but has a following around that age so he might be more invested in it.
N’thing Hilda.
He also might enjoy Narwhal: unicorn of the sea, because it has a silly sense of humor, which can be part of the appeal of the Dav Pilley books.
posted by donut_princess at 2:54 AM on May 21, 2023
Baby Mouse is good for that early graphic novel group.
He could maybe do some of the Raina Telgemeier stuff. It’s a little bit ahead of Dav Pilkey but has a following around that age so he might be more invested in it.
N’thing Hilda.
He also might enjoy Narwhal: unicorn of the sea, because it has a silly sense of humor, which can be part of the appeal of the Dav Pilley books.
posted by donut_princess at 2:54 AM on May 21, 2023
Best answer: Zita The Space Girl is great. Lots of adventure and unexpected turns in the story.
posted by mediareport at 6:52 AM on May 21, 2023
posted by mediareport at 6:52 AM on May 21, 2023
Best answer: Stuff my kid liked around that age:
Doug TenNapel stuff: Bad Island, Cardboard, Ghostopolis, Nnewts, etc.
Bone
Wings of Fire (total garbage, but he liked it)
Mighty Jack / Zita the Spacegirl stuff
Hilo
5 Worlds series
Cardboard Kingdom
Hilda
posted by thinman at 11:13 AM on May 21, 2023
Doug TenNapel stuff: Bad Island, Cardboard, Ghostopolis, Nnewts, etc.
Bone
Wings of Fire (total garbage, but he liked it)
Mighty Jack / Zita the Spacegirl stuff
Hilo
5 Worlds series
Cardboard Kingdom
Hilda
posted by thinman at 11:13 AM on May 21, 2023
Best answer: Amulet is a graphic novel series that is almost as popular with my students as Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
posted by mai at 12:15 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mai at 12:15 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Giants Beware! by Jose Aguirre (and the other Chronicles of Claudette books)
Hilo by Judd Winick
Lunch Lady
posted by Kriesa at 6:05 PM on May 21, 2023
Hilo by Judd Winick
Lunch Lady
posted by Kriesa at 6:05 PM on May 21, 2023
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Hilda, ditto on a tv show.
Bone. Very cool, long form story.
posted by signal at 5:05 PM on May 20, 2023 [3 favorites]