Pro-social comics/comic books for preschoolers
March 13, 2025 11:28 AM Subscribe
My son and daughter-in-law asked me to query the MeFi Hive Mind. Here's their question regarding their son, my grandson, who is 3½, very bright, with relatively sophisticated language skills. He loves books and being read to (I read to him over Facetime). Their question:
"Pre-schooler has been really enjoying Calvin & Hobbes but we're noticing that he's starting to mimic some of the meaner behaviour Calvin has. A lot of the content in the comic either goes over Pre-schooler's head or he doesn't understand that it's satirical. Since he really likes the comic format, would you please ask if there are some more pro-social comics that would be appropriate for him?"
I know they have lots of books at home from some of the most highly regarded children's authors. In my collection for my grandkids (I've got 2, and they're only 8 months apart) I have Robert Munsch, Dr Seuss, Phoebe Gilman, and the pre-literacy "Bob" books which I plan to expand as my grandkids' reading skills develop, and that I learned about here on AskMe.
I saw the previous question on Comic Books for Children, but wondered if they were meant for kids a bit older than my grandson. And it's been over 10 years since that question was posted.
"Pre-schooler has been really enjoying Calvin & Hobbes but we're noticing that he's starting to mimic some of the meaner behaviour Calvin has. A lot of the content in the comic either goes over Pre-schooler's head or he doesn't understand that it's satirical. Since he really likes the comic format, would you please ask if there are some more pro-social comics that would be appropriate for him?"
I know they have lots of books at home from some of the most highly regarded children's authors. In my collection for my grandkids (I've got 2, and they're only 8 months apart) I have Robert Munsch, Dr Seuss, Phoebe Gilman, and the pre-literacy "Bob" books which I plan to expand as my grandkids' reading skills develop, and that I learned about here on AskMe.
I saw the previous question on Comic Books for Children, but wondered if they were meant for kids a bit older than my grandson. And it's been over 10 years since that question was posted.
What about Peanuts? I don't know if he would think it is funny but other than Lucy taunting Charlie Brown it is a pretty gentle sense of humor. This set, featuring Snoopy might be a good place to start.
posted by metahawk at 12:09 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
posted by metahawk at 12:09 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
On second thought, Family Circus is a classic comic that might be an even better fit - accessible humor and pro-social values.
posted by metahawk at 12:11 PM on March 13
posted by metahawk at 12:11 PM on March 13
I've been through the exact thing with our now 6 year old. She really loves the Babysitter's club graphic novels, both the original series and the Little Sister series. She was just shy of 5 when she got into them.
Mo Willems would be a good author to look at. They're not technically comic books, but they are comic-strip like. Elephant and Piggie are very popular for a reason; ditto the Pigeon (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, etc.).
posted by damayanti at 12:18 PM on March 13 [5 favorites]
Mo Willems would be a good author to look at. They're not technically comic books, but they are comic-strip like. Elephant and Piggie are very popular for a reason; ditto the Pigeon (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, etc.).
posted by damayanti at 12:18 PM on March 13 [5 favorites]
Mutts is about cats and dogs and is very sweet.
posted by toastyk at 12:38 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
posted by toastyk at 12:38 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
Seconding Owly and the Pigeon books. You could also try Pocket Peaches, Cat & Cat Adventures, Narwhal and Jelly, and Press Start. There are also dozens of volumes of Adventure Time graphic novels which might hit the Calvin and Hobbes spot.
My 8 year old just discovered Baby-Sitters Little Sister and is nuts for it but I think 3 would be too young.
posted by velocipedestrienne at 1:23 PM on March 13 [3 favorites]
My 8 year old just discovered Baby-Sitters Little Sister and is nuts for it but I think 3 would be too young.
posted by velocipedestrienne at 1:23 PM on March 13 [3 favorites]
- The Adventures of Anders, by Gregory Mackay
- Rutabaga the Adventure Chef, by Eric Colossal
- Chi's Sweet Home, by Kanata Konami
- Bea Wolf, by Zach Wienersmith
- Baby-Sitters Little Sister, by Katy Farina
- Baby-Sitter's Club, by Ann M. Martin
- Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen
- Fae and the Moon, by Catherine & Sarah Satrun
- Ghost Book, by Remy Lai
- The Tea Dragon Society, by K. O'Neill
- The Moth Keeper, by K. O'Neill
- Beetle & the Hollowbones, by Aliza Layne
- Sorceline, by Sylvia Douyé
- Wings of Fire, by Tui T. Sutherland
- My Neighbor Totoro film comic, by Hayao Miyazaki
- Hilda, by Luke Pearson
- Dragonbreath, by Ursula Vernon (comic-style chapter book)
- Back, by K.C. Green (a bit crude, but generally pro-social)
posted by Phssthpok at 2:03 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
Owl Diaries! They’re not quite comics / graphic novels, but there are tons of pictures on every page interspersed with text. My kid loved them around age 5-6 and my mom used to read them to her on FaceTime, so I know they work for that.
posted by maleficent at 2:25 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
posted by maleficent at 2:25 PM on March 13 [2 favorites]
Diary of a Pug. Unicorn and Yeti. Lemon bird.
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:58 PM on March 13
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:58 PM on March 13
- Detective Beans, by Li Chen
- Cryptid Club, by Sarah Andersen
- Pepper & Carrot, by David Revoy
- Dewdrop, by K. O'Neill (good for a younger audience)
posted by Phssthpok at 12:45 PM on March 14
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I'll tag this as resolved and send the link to my son and daughter-in-law for them to peruse and sample all the recommendations. I'm sure there'll be some new reading adventures here for my grandson.
posted by angiep at 12:47 PM on March 14
posted by angiep at 12:47 PM on March 14
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And maybe try the Baby-Sitters Little Sister graphic series, which seems to be aimed at a younger audience.
posted by hovey at 11:37 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]