Graphic novels are a powerful way to keep 4th and 5th graders excited about reading. This curated list for ages 9–11 features stories filled with humor, heart, and relatable moments. They are perfect for readers ready for a little more depth while still enjoying the visual storytelling they love.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Paws: Gabby Gets It Together by Nathan Fairbairn; illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn
A new graphic novel series with inclusive characters who display impressive problem-solving skills, financial responsibility, and navigate the ins and outs of friendship? Yes, please!
Gabby, Priya, and Mindy are three friends whose love of animals and frustration at not being allowed to have a pet drive them to start a dog walking business. They encounter several obstacles that they solve with quick wits, a hard work ethic, and helpful adults. The realistic scenarios are mixed with comical situations creating an entertaining and empowering read.
Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur
Hooky is a magical and fast-paced fantasy graphic novel about twin witches Dani and Dorian, who accidentally miss the bus to magic school and become caught up in an unexpected adventure filled with danger, friendship, and powerful magic. With cliffhangers and twists at every turn, this is an enchanting story that keeps readers flipping the pages.
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Shawn Harris
Silly shenanigans ensue as a courageous cat enters space to stop a group of evil rats from eating the moon. Our family loves Mac Barnett’s sense of humor, so my son couldn’t wait to get his hands on this new graphic novel and it did not disappoint. This one is a ton of fun!
Max and the Midnights by Lincoln Peirce
Max and her loyal band of friends embark on an epic quest to save her Uncle Budrick and become the hero she always knew she was destined to be. Full of magic and adventure, this one has a ton of kid appeal.
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Princess Academy is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation of the beloved fantasy story about Miri, a mountain girl who is sent to a royal academy where one student will eventually become the prince’s bride. As Miri navigates friendship, jealousy, and newfound confidence, she discovers the power of education, community, and believing in herself. Filled with adventure, heart, and empowering themes, this enchanting graphic novel is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy fantasy stories with strong female characters and rich worldbuilding.
The Mighty Onion by Mark Crilley
This hilarious and wonderfully original graphic novel features truly standout illustrations and tons of kid appeal. Eliot Quigley is determined to create the greatest superhero comic ever, and he’s convinced he has a winner with The Mighty Onion, a superhero whose powers come from eating onions. But when he teams up with his classmate Pamela Jones, their seemingly perfect creative partnership quickly runs into conflict as creative differences begin to emerge. Filled with humor, friendship drama, imaginative storytelling, and fast-paced adventure, this wildly entertaining graphic novel is a fantastic choice for readers who love quirky superheroes, expressive artwork, and laugh-out-loud stories.
T
he CLICK series by Kayla Miller
I’ve been so incredibly impressed with the CLICK series and how authentically it navigates nuanced friendship challenges in a way that’s both engaging and accessible.
Olive is a fantastic character and role model who navigates life’s ups and downs with grace. No matter the challenge, she remains kind, stays true to herself, and confidently speaks up for what she believes in. The social dynamics at her school are equally refreshing, with diverse, realistic characters and friendship groups that are generally supportive of one another.
In the first installment, Olive’s class is preparing for a talent show and she quickly realizes that even though she has a lot of friends, she’s not part of a particular group
Sidekicks by Dan Santat
This hilarious, action-packed graphic novel features superhero Captain Amazing and his equally amazing pets. When his dog, cat, hamster, and chameleon suddenly develop superpowers, they each set out to prove they deserve to be Captain Amazing’s next sidekick. Filled with humor, adventure, and heart, this wildly entertaining story is a fantastic choice for readers who love superheroes, friendship, and laugh-out-loud graphic novels.
Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
Bree may not know how to swim, but when she is forced to take Swim 101 has her elective, she has no choice but to learn quickly. To her surprise, she loves swimming and becomes a fierce competitor for her middle school team. This graphic novel dives into important themes like trying new things, facing your fears, making new friends, and racism.
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth (series) by Judd Winick
D.J. and his friend Gina consider their lives boring until they meet Hilo, a robot from another planet who looks like a boy. Together the three friends try to unlock the secrets to Hilo’s past while also battling giant robotic insects. This fast-paced story is funny, adventurous, and full of heart resulting in a winning combination. Lexile 460/ Fountas & Pinnell: O
Katie the Cat Sitter by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Stephanie Yu
Desperate to join her friends at camp, Katie takes a part-time job as a catsitter to earn the money for the final weeks. But this is no ordinary gig. Her new workplace houses 217 cats, all owned by a mysterious woman who may or may not be a secret villain. Katie’s journey of juggling changing friendships with her first job is a humorous and engaging story that my daughter and I both could not get enough of.
InvestiGators (series) by John Green
With its fast-paced plot, slapstick humor, and pun-filled dialogue, kids won’t be able to resist this comical tale of two alligator spies! Armed with super cool spy technology, Mango and Brash work for S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigator Teams) and are challenged with finding a missing chef in their first adventure. Lexile 390
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Based on her childhood, Cece Bell reinvents her younger self as a rabbit navigating elementary school with a hearing aid. With humor and heart, it’s hard not to love this courageous Cece as she forms friendships, develops a crush, and discovers her hearing aid gives her a special superpower.
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales (series) by Nathan Hale
This engaging graphic novel uses humor to teach children all about history. When Nathan Hale is magically gifted the knowledge of the future, he inform a British military officer and a goofy executioner of the outcome of the Revolutionary War. This graphic novel uses playful illustrations and entertaining stories to bring history alive to readers.
The Baby-Sitters Club books have been extremely popular for good reason. With relatable characters navigating friendships, middle school, family, and identity, there’s a lot to love. Each member of the club brings a unique personality, allowing readers to connect with a variety of girls as they face the challenges of growing up.
Amulet: The Stonekeeper (series) by Kazu Kibuishi
After the death of their father, siblings Emily and Navin move into their great-grandfather’s old house with their mother. Here they find a secret world filled with danger, strange creatures, and secrets.
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter
Maggie wants a pet more than anything in the world, but when she goes to adopt one, she discovers she has severe allergies. Now she must navigate a new friendship with a neighbor, prepare to welcome another sibling, and come to terms with her allergies.
The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln
This spooky and suspenseful graphic novel follows twins Page and Turner Reed, who discover that a mysterious library is filled with dangerous magical secrets. When strange creatures begin escaping from the books, the siblings must uncover the truth about their family and work together to stop the chaos before it spreads. Filled with eerie atmosphere, fast-paced adventure, and striking illustrations, this engaging graphic novel is a fantastic choice for readers who love mystery, fantasy, and stories with strong sibling dynamics.
Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs; illustrated by Anjan Sarker
Due to his extraordinary gaming and math skills, Ben Ripley is recruited to the CIA’s Academy of Espionage. He quickly discovers there is danger and deception lurking at every corner. As he sharpens his skills and makes new friends, he must also find his way through several comical mishaps and discover who is framing him for a crime.
This one is perfect for kids who want to experience the thrill of Spy School, but aren’t ready for the full chapter book.
Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright
Maureen and Francine Carter aren’t just twins they’ve also always been best friends. As they begin middle school, however, Francine starts to change, shortening her name to Fran and exploring new interests that no longer perfectly align with Maureen’s. This heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story beautifully explores identity, growing independence, family, and the evolving nature of friendship.
Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than
(Ages 8 and up)
This imaginative story is perfect for kids who love a little humor and a whole lot of mythical creatures. Set in a hospital for fantastical beings like trolls, unicorns, and giants, it follows doctor-in-training Kara Orc as she faces a big moral dilemma when a human arrives in need of help. Her mother, who is chief of medicine, is convinced that humans are dangerous, but Kara believes all creatures deserve care.
With its lively cast of characters and meaningful message about compassion and doing what’s right, Creature Clinic is both entertaining and heartwarming. It’s a great pick for readers who love imaginative worlds with a little emotional depth.
The Cartoonist Club by Raina Teigemeier and Scott McCloud
This engaging tale follows a group of kids who come together to create comics while learning about storytelling, illustration, and collaboration. As they navigate friendship, self-doubt, and the creative process, they discover the power of sharing their own unique voices and ideas. Packed with humor, expressive artwork, and behind-the-scenes cartooning tips, this is a fantastic choice for 4th and 5th graders especially creative kids who love drawing, graphic novels, or making up their own stories.
Zita the Spacegirl (series) by Ben Hatke
When a mysterious red button appears in front of Zita and her friend Joseph, they can’t resist pushing it and are transported to an alien planet. With its imaginative story line and quirky humor, it is hard to resist this engaging book! Lexile 310
Housecat Trouble by Mason Dickerson, 2022
When a pampered housecat’s home is suddenly overrun with spirits, two scrappy strays step in to save the day bringing plenty of chaos (and laughs) along the way.
The cute, cartoony artwork perfectly matches the tone, delivering fast-paced excitement and playful humor. It’s an engaging, high-energy pick that will especially appeal to graphic novel fans and animal lovers alike.
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
This inclusive and imaginative story may not have a lot of text, but it is bursting with creativity. It follows a diverse group of children who transform ordinary cardboard boxes into incredible creations while role-playing the characters who live there. Full of kid appeal and imaginative play, this charming story instantly captivated my daughter, who couldn’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.
Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder
Creaky Acres is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that follows Nora as she adjusts to a new home, builds unexpected friendships, learns from her mistakes, and gradually grows into a leader on her equestrian team. While the story is fun, warm, and highly engaging, it also thoughtfully explores deeper themes of prejudice, belonging, and economic differences. Filled with expressive artwork and relatable characters, this meaningful graphic novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Sweet Valley Twins Francine Pascal, illustrated by Knack Whittle, adapted by Nicole Andelfinger
I know so many people that loved this series growing up and the graphic novel adaptation is just as fun and addictive as ever. The series follows twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield as they navigate middle school drama, shifting friendships, and all the emotional ups and downs of growing up, My daughter is completely hooked on these books and rereads them constantly.
The Aquanaut by Dan Santat
Award-winning author and illustrator, Dan Santat, has created another imaginative tale filled with humor, heart, and marine animals! Five years after her father disappeared with his boat at sea, Sophia is approached by a mysterious person in a dive suit who turns out to be a group of sea creatures on an urgent mission. Santat’s illustrations shine in this engaging story!
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Iman Geddy
This is a deeply moving and beautifully told graphic novel inspired by Omar Mohamed’s real-life experiences growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Through expressive illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, this powerful book explores resilience, family, hope, and the transformative impact of education. This is an unforgettable read that builds empathy and sparks meaningful conversations.
Chickenpox by Remy Lei
Twelve-year-old Abby’s summer plans are completely derailed when she and her siblings come down with chickenpox and are stuck quarantining together at home. Filled with sibling drama, humor, and relatable family moments, the story perfectly captures the boredom, chaos, and creativity that can come from being cooped up together.
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