7 New Graphic Novel Series for Young Readers

Narwhal and Jelly Book Series, by Ben Clanton
Animal lovers will go wild for Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly Book series, which launches this October. The first installment, Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, is about a happy-go-lucky narwhal and a no-nonsense jellyfish and includes three stories about friendship (and the team’s shared love of waffles, parties, and adventure.) Clanton’s warm and friendly illustrations of these lesser-known sea creatures will delight early readers, who can look forward to more books in the series next year.

Cici: A Fairy’s Tale, by Cori Doerrfeld and Tyler Page
Early readers will also love this new series about Cici, a girl who wakes up with fairy wings on her tenth birthday just as her parents are splitting up and her Abuela is moving in. The second book, Truth In Sight, released this month and follows Cici as she learns about friendship, feelings, and how to use her fairy powers.

Varmints, by Andy Hirsch
This fast-moving, wild west adventure is about squabbling siblings, Opie and Ned, who are on the hunt for the man who shot their Ma. When they learn about the “crime kingpin of the west”, who just happens to be their mysterious Pa, the bickering duo decide to track him down. Hirsch’s explosive graphics tell this hilarious and poignant tale, which launches on September 27th.

Mighty Jack, by Ben Hatke
The New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the beloved Zita the Spacegirl trilogy is back with a colorful new take on Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack’s boring summer babysitting his kid sister takes a wild turn when he trades his Mom’s car for a mysterious box of seeds. Soon he finds himself in a magic garden of onion babies, biting pumpkins, and mystical dragons, and this nail-biting adventure takes flight. With a two-volume series planned, kids can look forward to the second book next fall.

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo, by Drew Weing
This new series based on Weing’s popular web comic is all about avid-blogger Charles and the witty Margo Maloo, a monster mediator, who both take on supernatural cases in Echo City. With trolls, ogres, and ghosts teeming all over the urban landscape, the dynamic duo take on three cases in this first volume with more creepy, funny, and clever antics to come.

Secret Coders, by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
Paths & Portals, the new book in the new Secret Coder’s series, follows coding wizards Hopper, Eni, and Josh as they solve the mysteries lurking beneath Stately Academy. In addition to a page-turning plot, young readers can enjoy logic puzzles and basic coding instruction. The team’s coding adventures will continue with Secrets & Sequences, which is set to hit shelves next spring.

The Golden Compass Graphic Novel, by Phillip Pullman and Stephanie Melchior
This international bestseller is now in graphic novel form and the second volume hit shelves on September 20th. With beautiful, dream-like watercolors, the visual representation of this epic fantasy about a girl named Lyra and her role in the fate of multiple worlds is perfect for middle grade readers who may not be ready to take on the heft of Pullman’s original series just yet, and it’s sure to inspire a new generation of fans.
What new graphic novel series are you (and your kids) excited about?