Books with pictures for my 8 year old
August 3, 2019 12:46 AM Subscribe
My 8 year old loves reading. She just finished Nimona and thought it was great (and hilarious in parts. I agree.) She also liked Lumberjanes. She does fine with books that have pictures. But, she won‘t read books without pictures, which rules out some really great recommendations like Harry Potter and Tiffany Aching. Can you recommend books with sophisticated content (not for 5 year olds) that have a picture on every page?
Harry Potter comes in illustrated versions that are gorgeous (hardcover has more pictures than the softcover). Raina Telgemeier has her autobiographical graphic novels (smile etc) as well as the adaptations she has done of the Babysitters club that are both hugely popular and well-written (there is a new babysitters little sister series by a different author that just came out but I have not seen it personally). My daughter just recently finished the graphic novel adaptation of Little Women by Ray Teciero and loved it. The Luz series by Claudia Davila is a nice graphic novel with a sustainable theme. Many books have pictures throughout them such as the Thea Stilton books, Dog Man, Wimpy Kid etc. Elements of genius, Nikki Tesla and the ferret death ray is a promising start to a new series. Go check out your local library together and talk to the children’s Librarian!
posted by saucysault at 1:43 AM on August 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by saucysault at 1:43 AM on August 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
Look into graphic novels. “middle-grade” is another useful search term —- it’s the age range of the books not an evaluation of their contents. Here’s a list to get you started.
posted by CMcG at 3:47 AM on August 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by CMcG at 3:47 AM on August 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: We don‘t live in an English speaking country, so the library (or bookshops) aren‘t a good option. I‘m looking for recommendations for buying.
posted by Omnomnom at 4:21 AM on August 3, 2019
posted by Omnomnom at 4:21 AM on August 3, 2019
Graphic novels are having a moment!
Wimpy Kid and Dogman are big in this area.
posted by k8t at 5:00 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Wimpy Kid and Dogman are big in this area.
posted by k8t at 5:00 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Ursula Vernon. The Hamster Princess books.
posted by jeather at 6:04 AM on August 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by jeather at 6:04 AM on August 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
Moomins!
posted by matildaben at 6:31 AM on August 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 6:31 AM on August 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
Nthing graphic novels; there are so many great ones. El Deafo was a particular favorite in our house. Oh, and Captain Underpants. Disregard any teachers who don’t think of them as “real” books.
posted by Empidonax at 6:32 AM on August 3, 2019
posted by Empidonax at 6:32 AM on August 3, 2019
My kid is similar. He likes Dogman, Captain Underpants, Amulet, the Wings of Fire graphic novels, the Avatar The Last Airbender graphic novels (knowledge of the TV show is helpful), and nonfiction books about animals (usually loaded with pictures).
The illustrated Harry Potters (1-3 are currently out) are gorgeous but were a smidge past his reading level, which I assume is at a similar place to your daughter since he also loves Lumberjanes. If you are looking for something to edge your daughter into chapter books, the Lumberjanes novel is sweet and has some pictures but isn’t a graphic novel.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:36 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
The illustrated Harry Potters (1-3 are currently out) are gorgeous but were a smidge past his reading level, which I assume is at a similar place to your daughter since he also loves Lumberjanes. If you are looking for something to edge your daughter into chapter books, the Lumberjanes novel is sweet and has some pictures but isn’t a graphic novel.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:36 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Does she like video games? The Cucumber Quest books are a big hit with our graphic-novels-only kid. They play a lot with the tropes in that area.
Kid Marfa also loved The Witch Boy and the follow-on The Hidden Witch by Molly Ostertag, The Prince and the Dressmaker by Molly Wang, and the Gunnerkrigg Court books by Tom Siddell.
She also read El Deafo several times, but we gave it to her in the context of connecting with Dad. My partner is hard of hearing, so they were able to talk about how he wore the same kind of assistive device in school and went through the same things as the main character. She hasn't re-read it over and over like the others, but it was very useful for us.
posted by marfa, texas at 6:50 AM on August 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
Kid Marfa also loved The Witch Boy and the follow-on The Hidden Witch by Molly Ostertag, The Prince and the Dressmaker by Molly Wang, and the Gunnerkrigg Court books by Tom Siddell.
She also read El Deafo several times, but we gave it to her in the context of connecting with Dad. My partner is hard of hearing, so they were able to talk about how he wore the same kind of assistive device in school and went through the same things as the main character. She hasn't re-read it over and over like the others, but it was very useful for us.
posted by marfa, texas at 6:50 AM on August 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
The Phantom Tollbooth was great at 8, and lots of the Roald Dahl books have enough illustrations - oh and Little House on the Prairie et al. Not pictures on every page but enough to keep it spicy. 2nding the illustrated Harry Potters as well.
posted by nkknkk at 7:35 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by nkknkk at 7:35 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Big Nate, Dogman, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and the series of graphic novels on the Greek Gods by George O'Connor.
Also, Calvin & Hobbes holds up really well to these requirements. My 10 year old is on his second read through.
I'd give Hilda the Troll a shot. The Geronimo Stilton books don't have pictures on every page, but they have very interesting visual text -- all caps, bright colors, etc. May be worth a shot.
posted by zizzle at 9:00 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, Calvin & Hobbes holds up really well to these requirements. My 10 year old is on his second read through.
I'd give Hilda the Troll a shot. The Geronimo Stilton books don't have pictures on every page, but they have very interesting visual text -- all caps, bright colors, etc. May be worth a shot.
posted by zizzle at 9:00 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Real Friends; there's a second book coming out.
Pashmina.
posted by BibiRose at 9:05 AM on August 3, 2019
Pashmina.
posted by BibiRose at 9:05 AM on August 3, 2019
There are graphic novel versions of the Rick Riordan books on Amazon and BN as well.
posted by tilde at 10:10 AM on August 3, 2019
posted by tilde at 10:10 AM on August 3, 2019
I wouldn’t push her. I was an avid reader, but I can distinctly remember flipping through books at the library and rejecting them if they didn’t have at least a few pictures. That was at about age nine or ten. She will enjoy Other books when she is ready for them.
posted by SLC Mom at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2019
posted by SLC Mom at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2019
This book about the inventor of potato chips:
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor
It's got great illustrations, the invention of potato chips!!, speaks to my chef heart about difficult customers (ha!), as well as inequality. The Teachers Guide link above has great multi-level ways to interact with different ages of kids reading or being read this book.
posted by twentyfeetof tacos at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2019
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor
It's got great illustrations, the invention of potato chips!!, speaks to my chef heart about difficult customers (ha!), as well as inequality. The Teachers Guide link above has great multi-level ways to interact with different ages of kids reading or being read this book.
posted by twentyfeetof tacos at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2019
There's a recent take on The Jungle Book that has beautiful, plentiful illustrations.
Quentin Blake illustrated most of Roald Dahl's stories and lots of other authors' too. You might poke around on his website and see if you can find anything likely.
There's some really beautifully illustrated books ok for an eight-year-old by Terry Jones (of Monty Python) and Michael Foreman.
The How to Tame Your Dragon series are lively reading and have a lot of illustrations in a scratchy black and white.
posted by glasseyes at 4:40 PM on August 3, 2019
Quentin Blake illustrated most of Roald Dahl's stories and lots of other authors' too. You might poke around on his website and see if you can find anything likely.
There's some really beautifully illustrated books ok for an eight-year-old by Terry Jones (of Monty Python) and Michael Foreman.
The How to Tame Your Dragon series are lively reading and have a lot of illustrations in a scratchy black and white.
posted by glasseyes at 4:40 PM on August 3, 2019
My 8-year-old reads lots of graphic novels & comic-type books, and she also liked Nimona; here are some of her (and my) other favorites:
Seconding Molly Ostertag's Witch Boy and Hidden Witch
Luke Pearson's Hilda books (Hilda and the Troll, Hilda and the Midnight Giant, etc.; the 5th one comes out in September. Small caveat: compared to all the sequels, the first book is a bit underwhelming in both story & drawing; the books get more complex & more beautiful as they go on.)
All things Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters, Drama, Ghosts, etc.; the new Baby-Sitters Club books, by her and now by Gale Galligan, are also pretty good)
Ben Hatke, Zita the Spacegirl!
Dana Simpson's Phoebe and Her Unicorn is lighter fare and may fail the "sophisticated content" criterion, but it's age-appropriate & much fun
posted by miles per flower at 7:36 PM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Seconding Molly Ostertag's Witch Boy and Hidden Witch
Luke Pearson's Hilda books (Hilda and the Troll, Hilda and the Midnight Giant, etc.; the 5th one comes out in September. Small caveat: compared to all the sequels, the first book is a bit underwhelming in both story & drawing; the books get more complex & more beautiful as they go on.)
All things Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters, Drama, Ghosts, etc.; the new Baby-Sitters Club books, by her and now by Gale Galligan, are also pretty good)
Ben Hatke, Zita the Spacegirl!
Dana Simpson's Phoebe and Her Unicorn is lighter fare and may fail the "sophisticated content" criterion, but it's age-appropriate & much fun
posted by miles per flower at 7:36 PM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
The graphic novel of a Wrinkle In Time
The Sassafras and Zoey books (also great science methodology books)
Bone by Jeff Smith
posted by benzenedream at 11:43 PM on August 3, 2019
The Sassafras and Zoey books (also great science methodology books)
Bone by Jeff Smith
posted by benzenedream at 11:43 PM on August 3, 2019
My youngest read her copies of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels to tatters. My son liked Doug TenNapel's graphic novels, especially Creature Tech, and Artemis Fowl, which I believe has a graphic novel version.
As far as "children's" books which reward a more sophisticated reader would be Maira Kalman's books, especially the Max Stravinsky series.
And the best illustrated kids' book I can think of is a rather obscure one (I think) called "Who Needs Donuts?" by Mark Stamaty. His illustrations are so full of detail that you can peruse each page for at least a half an hour. Simple quirky story, great message, and the book itself is a work of art.
And, as a potential "bridge" from illustrated books to "novels," the Lemony Snickett books Series of Unfortunate Events have short chapters and frequent (but not every page) pictures.
posted by cross_impact at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2019
As far as "children's" books which reward a more sophisticated reader would be Maira Kalman's books, especially the Max Stravinsky series.
And the best illustrated kids' book I can think of is a rather obscure one (I think) called "Who Needs Donuts?" by Mark Stamaty. His illustrations are so full of detail that you can peruse each page for at least a half an hour. Simple quirky story, great message, and the book itself is a work of art.
And, as a potential "bridge" from illustrated books to "novels," the Lemony Snickett books Series of Unfortunate Events have short chapters and frequent (but not every page) pictures.
posted by cross_impact at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2019
Response by poster: So many recommendations! Thank you!
For a start, I got Real Friends and Hamster Princess. They both are great!
And the illustrated first Harry Potter book because so pretty. (We both like pretty).
posted by Omnomnom at 11:35 AM on August 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
For a start, I got Real Friends and Hamster Princess. They both are great!
And the illustrated first Harry Potter book because so pretty. (We both like pretty).
posted by Omnomnom at 11:35 AM on August 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:33 AM on August 3, 2019 [1 favorite]