Children's, Teenage & Young Adult Comic Strips & Graphic Novels

Comic books and graphic novels are essentially a different medium of storytelling. Comics employ storytelling through sequential art. A medium that dates back 17,000 years to the cave paintings of Lascaux, but we must keep ourselves from digressing, so more on that later. 

In this collection; we are looking at comic books and graphic novels as a literary genre for children, teens and young adults. Whilst the general assumption is that comics are perfect for reluctant readers; they are also enjoyed by a wide range of ages, abilities and interests. We at Books2Door believe that comic books and graphic novels are for everyone—from reluctant readers to bookworms. It is important to remember that there are many types of comic books and they cater to different types of readers.

Comics and graphic novels are a vibrant and dynamic art form. As a genre within literature; they combine the power of the written word with the potential and joy of visual art. The grammar of comics is very different from that of other books. For instance there are newspapers and there are digital portals; both of which are literary mediums but they are vastly different from one another. Similarly, comics and graphic novels too, are their own medium. And like any medium of communication, they also communicate an infinite range of ideas, experiences and stories. Comics also make the readers experience a host of emotions. They can be hilarious, terrifying, thrilling or ridiculous, or all of those things all at once. Comic and graphic novels are an incredibly effective way of communicating and entertaining all age groups but especially children.

Reading comics and graphic novels has several benefits for children. From improving their vocabulary to their cognitive development; comics can be an incredibly powerful weapon in the arsenal of any parent or educator looking at improving literacy. But there is more, because not all benefits are measurable. Comics also allow you the pleasure of watching your child get completely engrossed in different universes, stories and characters. 

Here are some of the best children’s comic books and some of the best graphic novels for kids and teens from our exclusively curated collection…

Bunny vs Monkey Collection By Jamie Smart 5 Books Set for children aged between 7-9. A children's comic series created by Jamie Smart; Bunny Vs Monkey centres around a rivalry between a group of animals in a forest. It features eccentric characters, like Bunny, Monkey, Weenie the Squirrel and many others, who are constantly getting into hilarious and chaotic adventures. The first book of the series, Bunny vs Monkey: Let the Mayhem Begin, starts with Monkey escaping from a nearby lab, where he was genetically modified to be super intelligent. After his escape, he stumbles upon the forest and claims it as his own. This starts a never-ending battle between Bunny and Monkey, with the other animals getting caught up in their antics. Through the series, Bunny and Monkey engage in various competitions to determine who is the ultimate ruler of the forest making the series a fun ride for little readers. 

Raina Telgemeier Five Book Collection Graphic Novels Box Set for children aged 9 and up. Perfect for Middle Schoolers and pre-teens; this graphic novel set of 5 steller books will prove to be highly relatable for your child. The first book in the set, Smile ventures into the true story of how Raina severely injured her two front teeth when she was in the sixth grade, and the dental drama that followed. Whilst the second book in the set, rightly titled Drama will give your pre-teen a glimpse of how dramatic the high school is about to be. Callie is the set designer for her middle school's spring musical, and is determined to create a set worthy of Broadway. Both onstage AND offstage drama ensues! The other three books in the set also explore the emotions and relationships that middle schoolers experience, thus making it a relatable read that will make sure to tell your pre-teen that they are not alone in their experiences.

Alice Oseman Heartstopper Collection 10 Book Set for teens aged 13+

A collection of ten graphic novels for teenagers; these are all about the dramatic lives of teens and their very real problems. Sports, movies, families, friendships, elite universities and of course love—there is a lot happening in the lives of our central characters as they step into their teens and begin to experience all the new life experiences that await. Things are about to get real and dramatic as each book covers an important teen experience that your teenager is going to relate to. If you are having a tough time talking to your teenager and want to help them deal with their teen issues, simply get them this book set. We bet your young teen will find friends in the heartstopper characters of this book set.